Draft:Johnny 'Tub' Johnson (musician)
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Johnny 'Tub' Johnson | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Anthony Rowland |
| Also known as | Johnny 'Tub' Johnson, Johnny 'Mother' Johnson, Johnny Johnson, Johnny, Tub, Sir Tubbe, John Rowland |
| Born | January 17, 1961 Child's Hill, London, UK |
| Genres | Garage Rock, Punk Rock, Psychobilly, Experimental |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, Bass, Harmonica |
| Years active | 1982 - The Present |
| Formerly of | The Cannibals, The Vibes, The Purple Things, Fire Dept, The Flaming Stars, Thee Headcoats, Ug and the Cavemen |
Johnny ‘Tub’ Johnson also known as Johnny ‘Mother’ Johnson (born John Anthony Rowland, 17 January 1961) is an English musician, song writer and composer.
Career[edit]
Since the late 1970s, Johnson has played guitar and bass in a number of British bands including ‘The Cannibals’, ‘The Vibes’, Fire Dept, The Flaming Stars, and Billy Childish's group ‘Thee Headcoats’. Primarily working in the genres of Trash Rock, Garage Rock, Punk and Psychobilly, Johnson was a prominent member of the Medway Scene. As a composer, he has written works in the field of classical/ experimental and has contributed award-winning soundtracks to independent documentaries and films. He now lives in Sicily, Italy, with his wife.
The Cannibals[edit]
Playing rhythm guitar, Johnny ‘Tub’ Johnson debuted with Mike Spenser's The Cannibals in 1982 at the age of twenty-one. The group, initially offering a punk edged take on R&B music, supported British artists such as 'Gypie Mayo’ and American guitarists ‘Bo Diddley’, and ‘Johnny Thunders’ and was soon to become a regular feature at Dingwalls in North London. In May 1982, with Johnson now on lead guitar, The Cannibals released the Garage Rock/ Trash Rock album … Bone to Pick, which included two songs co-written by Johnson: The Dreaded Lurgy and Mind Your Own Business.[1] However, the album had little success and Johnson soon left the band.
The Vibes[edit]
In December 1984, after having studied classical music at Morley College, Johnson joined 'The Vibes', a Garage Rock band led by drummer, vocalist Gary Bonaface.[2] Fueled with the spirit of punkified blues inspired by the US rock band The Cramps, and playing regular gigs at The Clarendon in Hammersmith,[3] 'The Vibes' released an EP The Inner Wardrobes Of Your Mind which led to a live John Peel session recorded at Maida Vale studios in April 1985.[4] The album that followed, What's Inside, was released that summer on Chainsaw and, featuring Johnson on lead guitar, hit the Top 10 of the UK Independent Charts. A European tour followed.[5]
The Purple Things[edit]
Morphing out of 'The Vibes', and moving away from the sharp sounds of The Cramps to a noisier, more psychedelic vibe,[6] 'The Purple Things' formed in 1985 and, with Johnson on guitar,[7] produced one self-titled album as well as two 12 inch EPs.
The Headcoats[edit]
How Johnson ended up joining the Garage Rock band ‘Thee Headcoats’ was a quirk of fate: Billy Childish, artist, writer and musician, as well as being the founder of the group, says that “We ran into Tub (Johnson) and knowing him from when he was guitarist with 'Mike Spenser and The Cannibals',[8] we asked if he’d like to twang the onion twine.”[9] In fact, Johnson had known Childish for years having first met him in the record shop ‘Rocks Off’ in London when Johnson was in his late teens, and the two had gone on to share a stage in the days of The Cannibals; this when Childish was with The Milkshakes.[10]
Johnson actually joined what is considered the largest of Billy Childish’s musical projects,[11] 'Thee Headcoats', in 1990. [12]
Despite being more than capable as a guitarist, he was asked to play bass as Billy Childish was already the band’s guitar player.[13] Pretty soon, Johnson was to become "the definitive bassist with the band"[14] as well as a backing vocalist.[15] The group would rehearse in May Road, Rochester and Johnson would take his then girlfriend along with him.[16] That’s how the off shoot group Thee Headcoatees was formed: “We were backing vocals originally on the Murgatroyd album and then Billy said we should make a record, just the girls.[17] Johnson played guitar with the resulting female group on a number of albums.
Over an 11 year period,[18] Johnson was to appear on over 14 albums with 'Thee Headcoats', [19] each record showing 'the trio’s (Childish, Brand and Johnson's) raw anger and joyful exuberance'.[20] Keeping up with it all can be a daunting task often laced with humour:[21] Johnson is credited as "Sir Tubbe Johnson on onion twine" on the album Knights of the Baskervilles; his amplified harp (harmonica) was considered suitably "trashy" and his guitar playing as "appropriately cheesy" on the album The Jimmy Reed Experience;[22] and reviewers mention how the "guitar, bass (Johnson) and drums lineup can still kill when handled just right" on the Conundrum album.[23]
There were also numerous tours: Johnson featured with 'Thee Headcoats' on three tours of Japan (1991/1994 & 1998)[24] supporting bands such as Mudhoney,[25] as well as five tours of the USA (1990, 1991, 1997, 1998 & 1999)[26] including a notable evening at Chicago’s The Empty Bottle in 1998. Here, the Chicago Tribune said that one of the key features that drew fans to 'Thee Headcoats' was the “stripped-down, no frills, guitar-bass-drums (bass and drums provided by Johnny Johnson and Bruce Brand, respectively).”[27]
It was Johnson’s departure from the band that caused the eventual breakup of 'Thee Headcoats'.[28] The final show was at London’s Dirty Water Club on the 12th of May 2000.[29] Played in front of a capacity crowd,[30] NME magazine lamented the fact that "the trio of Childish, bassist Johnny Johnson and drummer Bruce Brand must be due a rest from playing Link Wray‘s ‘Comanche’ forever."[31]
Fire Dept[edit]
Johnson took over bass on stage with British Punk rock group Fire Dept around 1994 and would play with the group in live shows for the next few years.[32] He also played bass on Fire Dept's second album, the punk rock concept record Elpee for Another Time, released in 1996.[33]
The Earls of Suave[edit]
The Trash Rock, six-piece group, The Earls of Suave, featuring Johnson on guitar and harmonica alongside others including Bal Croce and Max Décharné, formed in 1992. The group released two singles and one album, The Basement Bar at the Heartbreak Hotel.[34] The album includes the "hilariously titled" Mondo Moodo (Nein Danke) composed by Johnson,[35] who is also credited with co-writing three further tracks: You Can Call (But I Won't Answer), Cheap Wine, and Nobody Knows.
The Flaming Stars[edit]
The Garage Punk band The Flaming Stars had already been going for a year when Johnson joined in 1995.[36] Formed by singer Max Décharné, The Flaming Stars were more of a side-project for Johnson. Playing guitar and occasional harmonica,[37] he featured on one album, a number of singles, as well as a John Peel Session aired on June the 15th, 1995.[38] It was Johnson’s second session for the BBC Radio 1 John Peel Show and featured a track written by Johnson himself: Tub's Twist. Johnson is also the composer of the song Davy Jones' Locker which appears on The Flaming Stars 1995 EP Hospital, Heaven or Hell[39].
Ug and the Cavemen[edit]
Johnson got together with Ug and the Cavemen, a band put together by Bal Croce formerly of The Stingrays, in 1997.[40] Labelled as a "Garage Trash supergroup",[41] the band produced one self-titled album including one song credited to Johnson: Switchblade; as well as a second which he co-wrote with Bal Croce; Tarzan’s Jungle Home[42].
The Headcoats (revival)[edit]
In 2008, the Headcoats trio of Billy Childish, Bruce Brand and Johnson got together for one last fling. Performing 3 songs after a gig by the MBEs (The Musicians of The British Empire) in London, the performance was described as “totally unrehearsed, shambolic, and brilliant.”[43] Further collaborations have followed, most notably the 2023 studio album, Irregularis (The Great Hiatus) about which Johnson is quoted as saying "If I remember correctly, we kicked off role-playing like we detested each other. Then we got started and well, you can hear the result."[44]
Compositions & Soundtracks[edit]
SInce 2019, Johnson has composed a number of soundtracks for films and documentaries. Working as John Anthony Rowland, Johnson’s soundtrack for the Christopher M. Armstrong 2019 film Memory Man[45] won Best Soundtrack for both the Los Angeles IndieX Film Fest August 2019[46] and the London Movie Awards September 2021.[47]
Johnson also contributed music to the soundtrack for Mark Christopher Lee’s 2023 film Inspired! The 30 Second Song Movie,[48] a movie that explores the indie band ‘The Pocket Gods' campaign for fairer royalties from music streaming.[49] In addition, Johnson has also produced numerous soundtracks for short films and documentaries including collaborations with the German Public Radio (ARD) journalist Karl Hoffman,[50] as well as the former drummer from Terminal Cheesecake, Joe Whitney.
Discography[edit]
| Group | Role | Title | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cannibals | Guitar | Led Astray (single, 1982) | Hit (garage revival) F-UK 4[51] |
| The Cannibals | Guitar | Trash Flash (single, 1982) | Hit FREEBEE 1[52] |
| The Cannibals | Guitar | ...Bone to Pick (album, 1982) | Hit Records (5) – F-UK-U2 |
| The Cannibals | Guitar | These Cats Ain't Nothing But Trash (compilation album, 1983) | Big Beat Records – NED 3 |
| The Vibes | Guitar | The Inner Wardrobes of Your Mind (EP, 1985) | EP Chainsaw (2) – TEXT 4[53] |
| The Vibes | Guitar | What's Inside (album, 1985) | Chainsaw (2) – ATEX 6 |
| The Vibes | Guitar | Something ain’t right. (single 1985) | Chainsaw (2) – XATEX 6 |
| The Purple Things | Guitar | Deep in the Mind Of (12 inch mini album, 1985) | Media Burn records MB4 |
| The Purple Things | Guitar | Out of the Deep (12 inch mini album, 1986 ) | Media Burn records MB7 |
| The Purple Things | Guitar | The Purple Things (album, 1987) | Absolutely Free Records – FREE LP 001 |
| The Purple Things | Guitar | King Snake (12 inch single, 1987) | Absolutely free records FREE 001 |
| Thee Headcoats: | Bass | Heavens to Murgatroyd, Even! It’s Thee Headcoats! (Already) (album, 1990) | Damaged Goods DAMGOOD602CD (originally Sub Pop SP82)[54] |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | The Kids Are All Square album, 1990) | Hangman Records (Hang32-Up)[55] |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | W.O.A.H! Bo in Thee Garage album, 1991) | Hangman Records (2) |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Hatred, Ridicule & Contempt (single, 1991) | Sympathy For The Record Industry – SFTRI 138 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Headcoatitude (album, 1991) | Shakin' Street Records – Yeah-Hup 018 |
| Thee Headcoats Sect | Bass | Thee Headcoats Sect featuring Don Crane (EP single, 1991) | Hangman Records (2) – LYNCH 1-EP |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Shouldn’t Happen to a Dog (single, 1991) | IPU 21 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Something Went Wrong (single, 1991) | Dionysus Records – ID074535 |
| Thee Headcoatees and Thee Headcoats | Bass | Lakota Girl (single, 1992) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 1 |
| Wild Billy Childish and the Blackhands | Guitar, harmonica, banjo | The Original Chatham Jack (album, 1992 ) | Sub Pop SP162b |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | My Dear Watson (single, 1992) | Estrus Records – ES726 |
| Wild Billy Childish and the Delta Men | Bass and harmonica | Troubled Times (single, 1992) | SFTRI 181[56] |
| The Earls of Suave | Guitar | A cheat (single, 1992) | Camden Town Records – GNAR 002 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | The Good Times Are Killing Me (album, 1993) | Havasong Music / Vinyl Japan – ASKLP28 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | The Wurst is Yet to Come (live album, 1993) | Sympathy For The Record Industry – SFTRI 221 |
| Wild Billy Childish and the Blackhands | Guitar | The Blackhand (live album in the Netherlands, 1993) | Hangman Records Hang-53 UP |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass and Backing Vocals | Luis Riel (single, 1993) | NardWuar Records – CLEO 6 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Thoughts of a Hangman (single, 1993) | ROY-701 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Conundrum (album, 1994) | Hangman's Daughter – SCRAG 2.LP |
| WIld Billy Childish and his famous Headcoats | Bass | Live! At the Western Room, London (live album, 1994) | Damaged Goods -Damgood LP-30 |
| The Earls of Suave | Guitar and harmonica | The Basement Bar At The Heartbreak Hotel (album, 1994) | Vinyl Japan – ASKLP 42 |
| The Earls of Suave | Guitar | What’s my Name? (single, 1994) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 28 |
| The Earls of Suave | Guitar | In my dreams (single, 1994) | Vinyl Japan – PAD16 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass and backing vocals | The Sounds of the Baskervilles (live album, 1995) | Overground Records – OVER42 |
| Mickey and Ludella | Bass and lead guitar | Bedlam A’ Go-Go (album, 1995) | Vinyl Japan ASKCD 52 |
| The Flaming Stars | Guitar | The Face on the Bar Room Floor (single, 1995) | Vinyl Japan – PAD 28 |
| The Flaming Stars | Guitar and harmonica | Money to Burn (single, 1995 ) | Vinyl Japan – TASKCD 54 |
| The Flaming Stars | Guitar | Hospital, Heaven or Hell (single, 1995) | Vinyl Japan – PAD23 |
| Armitage Shanks | Harmonica | Support Slot (single, 1995) | Damaged Goods Damgood56 |
| Thee Headcoats Sect | Bass | Deerstalking Men (album, 1996) | 1996 Hangman's Daughter SCRAG 8LP |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | In Tweed We Trust (album, 1996) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD LP. 96 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Knights of the Baskervilles (album, 1996) | Birdman Records – BMR 013[57] |
| Fire Dept | Bass | Elpee for Another Time (album, 1996) | Yep! Records (2) – YEP-LP3 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | The Jimmy Reed Experience (mini LP, 1997) | Get Hip Recordings – GH-1029[58] |
| Ug and the Cavemen | Guitar | Ug and the Cavemen (album, 1997) | Media Burn records MB16 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | The Messerschmitt Pilot's Severed Hand (album, 1998) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 140 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Sherlock Holmes Meets the Punkenstein Monster: Thee Headcoats Best Vol. I (compilation album, 1998) | Triad – COCY-80727 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Thee English Gentlemen of Rock & Roll: Thee Headcoats Best Vol. II (compilation album,1998) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 155 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Brother is Dead… But Fly is Gone! (album,1998) | Vinyl Japan – ASKLP 70 |
| Kyra | Bass and lead guitar | Doodlebug (single,1998) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 143 |
| Kyra | Bass and lead guitar | Here I am, I always am (album,1998) | Vinyl Japan – ASKLP 71 |
| Kyra | Bass and lead guitar | Punk rock ist nicht tot (single, 1998) | Damaged Goods - 143 |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | 17% - Hendrix Was Not the Only Musician (album,1998) | Slab-O-Concrete Publications – SLAB 018[59] |
| Budget Girls | Drums and guitar | Miso Hornie (single,1999) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 179 |
| Thee Headcoats Sect | Bass | Ready Sect Go! (album,1999) | Vinyl Japan – ASKCD 99[60] |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | I Am the Object of Your Desire (album, 2000) | COCK 1-UP Friends Of The Buff Medways Fanciers Association label |
| Miss Ludella Black | Bass | She’s out there (album, 2000) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 186 CD |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Elementary Headcoats – Thee Singles 1990-1999 (compilation album, 2001) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 178.LP |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass | Live at the Dirty Water Club (live album, 2000) | Hangman Records (2) – HANG - 54 UP |
| Thee Headcoats | Bass and backing vocals | Irregularis (The Great Hiatus) (album,2023) | Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 587LP |
Awards[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Film Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 (August) | Los Angeles IndieX Film Fest | Best Soundtrack | Memory Man | Won |
| 2021 (September) | London Movie Awards | Best Soundtrack | Memory Man | Won |
References[edit]
- ^ "Bone to Pick". www.music.metason.net.
- ^ "Vibes". www.oldschool-psychobilly.de.
- ^ "The Vibes at the Clarendon". www.setlist.fm.
- ^ "The Vibes on the John Peel Show". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Vibes". www.oldschool-psychobilly.de.
- ^ "The Purple Things". www.maximumrocknroll.com.
- ^ Berenyi, Miki. (2022). Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success. (page 153) United Kingdom: Nine Eight Books. ISBN 978-1-7887-0555-4
- ^ "Heavens to Murgatroyd, Even!". www.roughtrade.com/de-de.
- ^ "Heavens to Murgatroyd". www.tinnitist.com. 17 November 2023.
- ^ "The Cannibals & The Milkshakes". www.45worlds.com.
- ^ "Thee Headcoats: The singles". www.thevinyldistrict.com. December 2022.
- ^ "Thee Headcoats". www.last.fm/es. 4 September 2023.
- ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 107). United Kiingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
- ^ Gassen, T. (2014). The Knights of Fuzz: The New Garage & Psychedelic Music Explosion (page 42). United States: Garage Nation. ISBN 9780979733734
- ^ "Billy Childish". www.encyclopedia.com.
- ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 107). United Kingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
- ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 107). United Kingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
- ^ "Bruce Brand & Thee Headcoats". www.furious.com.
- ^ "Thee Headcoats". ww.last.fm/es. 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Chicago Reader". www.chicagoreader.com. 9 July 1998.
- ^ "Thee Headcoats: The singles". www.thevinyldistrict.com. December 2022.
- ^ "The Jimmy Reed Experience". www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Conundrum". www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 128). United Kingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
- ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 128). United Kingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
- ^ "Thee Headcoats Tour Dates". www.setlist.fm.
- ^ "Thee Headcoats in Chicago". www.chicagotribune.com. 15 July 1998.
- ^ "Billy Childish". www.encyclopedia.com.
- ^ "The Final Show". www.damagedgoods.co.uk.
- ^ "The Final Gig". www.subpop.com.
- ^ "NME review". www.nme.com. 12 September 2005.
- ^ "The Fire Dept". www.damagedgoods.co.uk.
- ^ "About The Fire Dept". www.music.metason.net.
- ^ "Earls of Suave". www.trashwax.com.
- ^ "Basement Bar At The Heartbreak Hotel". www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Melody Maker Magazine, May 6, 1995
- ^ "The Flaming Stars". www.recordcity.jp/es.
- ^ "The Flaming Stars: John Peel Show". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Hospital, Heaven or hell". www.music.metason.net/.
- ^ "Ug and the Cavemen". www.oldschool-psychobilly.de.
- ^ "About Ug and the Cavemen". www.music.metason.net.
- ^ "Ug and the Cavemen Album". www.music.metason.net.
- ^ "Thee headcoats". www.damagedgoods.co.uk.
- ^ "Irregularis (The Great Hiatus)". www.damagedgoods.co.uk.
- ^ "Memory Man". www.filmfreeway.com.
- ^ "IndieX Film Festival". www.indiexfest.com. 24 August 2019.
- ^ "London Movie Awards". www.londonmovieawards.com.
- ^ "30 second song movie". www.tinnitist.com. 15 February 2023.
- ^ "The Pocket Gods Protest". www.hotpress.com.
- ^ "Johnny Johnson Interview". www.stimme-italiens.com.
- ^ "Led Astray". www.45cat.com.
- ^ "Trash Flash". www.45cat.com.
- ^ "Inner Wardrobes of Your Mind". www.45cat.com.
- ^ "Heavens To Murgatrod Even!". www.subpop.com.
- ^ "The Kids Area All Square". www.45worlds.com.
- ^ "Wild Billy Childish & The Delta Men". www.45cat.com.
- ^ "Knights of the Baskervilles". www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "The Jimmy Reed Experience". www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Hendrix Was Not the Only Musician". www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Ready Sect Go". www.allmusic.com.