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Draft:Johnny 'Tub' Johnson (musician)

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Johnny 'Tub' Johnson
Johnson performing in 2022
Background information
Birth nameJohn Anthony Rowland
Also known asJohnny 'Tub' Johnson, Johnny 'Mother' Johnson, Johnny Johnson, Johnny, Tub, Sir Tubbe, John Rowland
Born (1961-01-17) January 17, 1961 (age 63)
Child's Hill, London, UK
GenresGarage Rock, Punk Rock, Psychobilly, Experimental
Instrument(s)Guitar, Bass, Harmonica
Years active1982 - The Present
Formerly ofThe 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 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]
Johnny 'Tub' Johnson: Recordings
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]
Johnny 'Tub' Johnson: Awards as Composer John Anthony Rowland
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]
  1. ^ "Bone to Pick". www.music.metason.net.
  2. ^ "Vibes". www.oldschool-psychobilly.de.
  3. ^ "The Vibes at the Clarendon". www.setlist.fm.
  4. ^ "The Vibes on the John Peel Show". www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Vibes". www.oldschool-psychobilly.de.
  6. ^ "The Purple Things". www.maximumrocknroll.com.
  7. ^ Berenyi, Miki. (2022). Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success. (page 153) United Kingdom: Nine Eight Books. ISBN 978-1-7887-0555-4
  8. ^ "Heavens to Murgatroyd, Even!". www.roughtrade.com/de-de.
  9. ^ "Heavens to Murgatroyd". www.tinnitist.com. 17 November 2023.
  10. ^ "The Cannibals & The Milkshakes". www.45worlds.com.
  11. ^ "Thee Headcoats: The singles". www.thevinyldistrict.com. December 2022.
  12. ^ "Thee Headcoats". www.last.fm/es. 4 September 2023.
  13. ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 107). United Kiingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
  14. ^ Gassen, T. (2014). The Knights of Fuzz: The New Garage & Psychedelic Music Explosion (page 42). United States: Garage Nation. ISBN 9780979733734
  15. ^ "Billy Childish". www.encyclopedia.com.
  16. ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 107). United Kingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
  17. ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 107). United Kingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
  18. ^ "Bruce Brand & Thee Headcoats". www.furious.com.
  19. ^ "Thee Headcoats". ww.last.fm/es. 4 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Chicago Reader". www.chicagoreader.com. 9 July 1998.
  21. ^ "Thee Headcoats: The singles". www.thevinyldistrict.com. December 2022.
  22. ^ "The Jimmy Reed Experience". www.allmusic.com.
  23. ^ "Conundrum". www.allmusic.com.
  24. ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 128). United Kingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
  25. ^ Holling, S (2021). Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees (page 128). United Kingdom: Spinout Publications. ISBN 9781527284586
  26. ^ "Thee Headcoats Tour Dates". www.setlist.fm.
  27. ^ "Thee Headcoats in Chicago". www.chicagotribune.com. 15 July 1998.
  28. ^ "Billy Childish". www.encyclopedia.com.
  29. ^ "The Final Show". www.damagedgoods.co.uk.
  30. ^ "The Final Gig". www.subpop.com.
  31. ^ "NME review". www.nme.com. 12 September 2005.
  32. ^ "The Fire Dept". www.damagedgoods.co.uk.
  33. ^ "About The Fire Dept". www.music.metason.net.
  34. ^ "Earls of Suave". www.trashwax.com.
  35. ^ "Basement Bar At The Heartbreak Hotel". www.allmusic.com.
  36. ^ Melody Maker Magazine, May 6, 1995
  37. ^ "The Flaming Stars". www.recordcity.jp/es.
  38. ^ "The Flaming Stars: John Peel Show". www.bbc.co.uk.
  39. ^ "Hospital, Heaven or hell". www.music.metason.net/.
  40. ^ "Ug and the Cavemen". www.oldschool-psychobilly.de.
  41. ^ "About Ug and the Cavemen". www.music.metason.net.
  42. ^ "Ug and the Cavemen Album". www.music.metason.net.
  43. ^ "Thee headcoats". www.damagedgoods.co.uk.
  44. ^ "Irregularis (The Great Hiatus)". www.damagedgoods.co.uk.
  45. ^ "Memory Man". www.filmfreeway.com.
  46. ^ "IndieX Film Festival". www.indiexfest.com. 24 August 2019.
  47. ^ "London Movie Awards". www.londonmovieawards.com.
  48. ^ "30 second song movie". www.tinnitist.com. 15 February 2023.
  49. ^ "The Pocket Gods Protest". www.hotpress.com.
  50. ^ "Johnny Johnson Interview". www.stimme-italiens.com.
  51. ^ "Led Astray". www.45cat.com.
  52. ^ "Trash Flash". www.45cat.com.
  53. ^ "Inner Wardrobes of Your Mind". www.45cat.com.
  54. ^ "Heavens To Murgatrod Even!". www.subpop.com.
  55. ^ "The Kids Area All Square". www.45worlds.com.
  56. ^ "Wild Billy Childish & The Delta Men". www.45cat.com.
  57. ^ "Knights of the Baskervilles". www.allmusic.com.
  58. ^ "The Jimmy Reed Experience". www.allmusic.com.
  59. ^ "Hendrix Was Not the Only Musician". www.allmusic.com.
  60. ^ "Ready Sect Go". www.allmusic.com.