HE’S one of rock’s most interesting characters, a man with a passion for looking at the stars.

And yet Wilko Johnson, original guitarist with Dr Feelgood, has spent much of the last year looking back at his own life.

In the year he turns 65, Wilko is putting the finishing touches to his autobiography.

“To be honest, it started out as a bit of merchandising we could flog along with the T-shirts at shows,” he said. “It was just going to be a few pictures but then I started asking people to find photos for me and it suddenly became a proper autobiography.

“I’d not planned it but I suddenly found myself having to delve into my childhood and revisit things I’ve never really addressed before.

“I’m not the kind of person to dwell on times gone by. I blame Julien Temple for starting all this.”

Temple was the filmmaker behind the award-winning documentary Oil City Confidential, which looked at the early days of Dr Feelgood, one of the most influential R&B bands ever.

“The autobiography sort of followed on from there,” said Wilko.

“I’ve also been working with EMI for a re-release of the first four Dr Feelgood albums, which also involved listening to old tapes and going back over things.

“It’s stirred up a lot of strange emotions. After I parted company with Dr Feelgood I never dwelt on it but now I’ve had to.”

Wilko will be coming to The Grand, Clitheroe next weekend with his band — bassist Norman Watt-Roy and drummer Dylan Howe, both also known for their work with The Blockheads.

As well as his music and his autobiography, WIlko has also found fame in the blockbuster fantasy TV series Game of Thrones, which returns to Sky Atlantic on Monday, in which he plays a mute executioner.

“Again, I think it came about after Oil City Confidential,” he said. “I was invited to audition and the director told me to glare into the camera.

Glaring’s what I do and I got the part.

“I didn’t know much about it. I knew it was for American TV but I thought it would be something like Xena Warrior Princess and I might get a nice leather jacket out of it. I didn’t realise it was this massive budget production with amazing special effects.

“I’m not an actor and never will be but the cast were really good towards me. One or two were fans but they all helped me along the way.

“We flimed most of the episodes in Belfast at the former Harland and Wolfe shipyards, which was amazing, although we did get a couple of days in Malta when I chopped Sean Bean’s head off!”

So does a career in the movies beckon?

“Unless there is a great demand for mutes who stare a lot and kill people, probably not,” said Wliko.

Wilko Johnson, The Grand, Clitheroe, Saturday, April 7. Details from the box office on 01200 421599. Dr Feelgood’s All Through The City (with Wilko 1974-1977) 3CD and DVD set is out via EMI on April 16