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Draft:Marc Johnson (rock musician)

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Marc Johnson (born April 14, 1966 in Greencastle, Indiana) is an American musician, screenwriter, film producer, and English teacher. He is best known for his years leading Boston-based heavy metal band Executioner.[1] Johnson later went on to write and produce three feature films, before becoming a high school English teacher.

Biography

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Early life

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At age 2, Johnson moved from Greencastle to Bridgeport, Connecticut. One year later, he moved permanently to Massachusetts. Johnson has lived in Revere, Massachusetts since 2010.

In 1981, Johnson's father took him to see AC/DC at the Orpheum Theater on the opening leg of the band's Back In Black tour. Attending this event proved to be a life-changing event, as Johnson was inspired by lead guitarist Angus Young's performance. Going forward, Johnson became determined to learn guitar and form a band.

Education

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Personal life

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Although engaged once in the mid-1990's, Johnson has never married and has no children. He currently resides in his adopted Massachusetts.

Musical career

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Having played in various cover bands during high school, in 1984, Johnson formed the heavy metal band Executioner with band mates Dan Scannell and Ari Vaino. After having a song "Victims of Evil" included on the New Renaissance Records' Speed Metal Hell compilation album in 1985, Executioner went on to sign with New Renaissance Records, which released the band's debut album,In the Name of Metal, in 1986. A year later, a second album, Break the Silence was released, featuring bassist Seth Putnam.[2]

Executioner toured in the US and Canada[3], reaching as far as Fenders Ballroom in Long Beach, California, where Gary Tovar promoted a bill featuring Executioner along with Voivod, Kreator, Nuclear Assault, and St. Vitus. Executioner also posthumously released a CD in 1998, The Storm After the Calm[4], which featured bassist Tommy Flynn. The CD was released under the band's own label, Empire Records.

The group disbanded in 1990.[5]

Albums with Executioner

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Acting career

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Throughout the mid-1990's, Johnson wrote and produced three feature films[9]: With the Lights Out, Leaving Scars[10], and Pray For Power[11]. The latter two featured Lisa Boyle in the leading role. All three films were released on VHS and DVD formats, and aired on cable television outlets worldwide.[citation needed]

Teaching career

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Johnson retired from the film industry in the early 2000's to focus on teaching high school English. He began as an assistant teacher in Natick, Massachusetts before going on to become a fully-licensed teacher, teaching first in Medford, Massachusetts, then going on to stints at Revere High School, Seacoast High School, and CityLab High School, all location within the city of Revere, Massachusetts.

Asked once about his unusual career trajectory, Johnson commented, "Touring in a metal band and making movies in Hollywood were incredible experiences and I'm grateful for them, but each ran it's course and hopefully made me a better teacher. Now, for over 25 years, I've been lucky enough to work with some of the most amazing students anywhere. I wouldn't trade that for anything...".

Teaching chronology

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  • Natick High School, 1997-1999
  • Medford High School, 1999-2000
  • Revere High School, 2000-2001
  • Seacoast High School, 2001-2022
  • CityLab High School, 2022-2024[12]
  • Malden High School Pathways Program, 2024-Present

References

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  1. ^ Connell, William. "Executioner". amxmetal.tripod.com. Marc Johnson. Retrieved 31 October 2001.[unreliable source?]
  2. ^ Connell, William (2 January 2009). "Executioner". Heavy Metal Time Machine. Retrieved 2 January 2009.[non-primary source needed]
  3. ^ Connell, William. "Bootlegs Speed/Thrash Executioner". HMR Forum. Marco/Ringer of Steel. Retrieved 8 Feb 2019.[unreliable source?]
  4. ^ Connell, William. "Executioner". All Music. allmusic.com. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  5. ^ Connell, William. "The Metal Archives". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Stormrider. Retrieved 16 August 2002.
  6. ^ Executioner - In The Name Of Metal, 1986, retrieved 2025-01-05
  7. ^ Executioner - Break The Silence, 1987, retrieved 2025-01-05
  8. ^ Executioner - The Storm After The Calm, 1999, retrieved 2025-01-05
  9. ^ Connell, William. "Marc Johnson". Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com. Retrieved 27 December 2024.[unreliable source?]
  10. ^ Connell, William. "Leaving Scars". Rotten Tomatoes.
  11. ^ Connell, William (8 June 1998). "Pray For Power". Newspapers.com. p. 36. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  12. ^ Connell, William. "Marc Johnson". CityLab High School. tpetty@reverek12.org. Retrieved 27 December 2024.[non-primary source needed]