In 1980, Johnson joined Ian Dury's band, The Blockheads. Around 1984 he then re-formed The Wilko Johnson Band, joined by Blockhead bassist Norman Watt-Roy and Italian born drummer Salvatore Ramundo. 'Sav' Ramundo left the band in June 1999 and was replaced by Steve Monti (future Curve and The Jesus and Mary Chain drummer). Johnson's second album, "Ice on the Motorway", was released in 1981, and his EP "Bottle Up and Go!" with Lew Lewis followed in 1983. Several albums were released on European labels over the next decade. In 1992, Johnson appeared at the Eurockéennes music festival, and the following year at GuilFest. The album "Going Back Home" appeared on the Mystic label in 1998. He began to cut back on his concert appearances in 1999, and released the album "Don't Let Your Daddy Know (Live in Japan 2000)" the following year.