Born into a strict military family in Ottawa, Ontario, the young John Wilson rebelled and ran away from home, travelling to Venice Beach, California at the age of 14 in a stolen truck.

In 1987 the band reformed under the name "The Blue Lights", including Sandy Smith on drums, plus Drew Nelson on guitar.

[citation needed] Jeff Healey, Tom Lavin and Emmett "Maestro" Sanders[6] of Koko Taylor's band were among those who showed up to play.

[citation needed] In 1988, Back Alley John fell seriously ill and decided to relocate to Calgary, Alberta, to be near his brother Peter.

[9] Former Ottawa bandmate Sandy Smith joined Back Alley John in Calgary, playing and recording with him regularly.

[16] Back Alley John's career was cut short by respiratory disease, which resulted in him being in continuous third party care for the last two years of his life.

[18] Two months before his death, having "flatlined in an ambulance, he somehow made his way to (Calgary's) Ambassador Motor Inn,[19] where he got onstage for a final performance.

'"[8] As the late[21] Mick Joy, John's last steady bass player, close friend and roommate for seven years recalled, "In the final days, he wasn't getting enough oxygen, but it was amazing.

Holger Petersen, founder and owner of Stony Plain Records, has been particularly supportive, through his Saturday Night Blues program on CBC Radio.