This is my first blog post and I am posting a playlist I made in iTunes many years ago. These are the songs that made the Jonny we all know today. A good portion of these songs were on mixtapes that my cousin made me in the early 90s.
"Never Lose That Feeling" by Swervedriver is my favorite song ever. Support SWD here
"Changes" by Sugar was the b-side on the first 7" 45 I ever bought. This was purchased at Down in the Valley in Golden Valley. I had no idea at the time that this would lead me to Husker Du and on to Bob Mould Solo for many years to come. Support Bob Mould Here
"Minor Threat" by Minor Threat was on the first mixtape my cousin Brian made me a mixtape entitled ROCKIN AT THE SANDS. It is crazy to think about how much Minor Threat shaped my life going forward after I got into this band.
"Waiting Room" by Fugazi was also on the mixtape Brian made me. Fugazi is hands down my all-time favorite band. Support Minor Threat and Fugazi Here
"Final Expression" by Unbroken I discovered as I dug deeper into Punk Rock and Hardcore. Unbroken is a very important band to me as they had so many diverse influences which made it ok for a punk rock kid to also listen to bands like The Smiths, Morrissey, Joy Division, and New Order. After Eric Allen passed away a group of us flew out to the tribute show in California on 11.28.98. R.I.P. Eric Allen. Support Unbroken Here
"Half a Person" & "We Hate it When Our Friends Become Successful" by The Smiths and Morrissey. Through Unbroken I found The Smiths. The first Smiths CD I ever bought was Louder Than Bombs. I believe that this was because it was the one that Dustin Perry told me to buy. Glad it was my first introduction to them. Through The Smiths I got into Morrissey's solo material as well. I spent many years buying and collecting all the Smiths and Morrissey I could get my hands on. I even flew to London to see Morrisey at The London Forum with my friend Adeet in 1999. More recently It has came out that Morrissey is really not a good person and I don't agree with his politics. So my good friend Mike Paradise helped me sell off the majority of my Smiths and Morrissey collection so I could donate those funds to a variety of causes like the SPLC to help fight racism. Support the SPLC Here
"Warsaw" & "Regret" by Joy Division & New Order were also found through Unbroken's influence on me. I do remember seeing the video for "Regret" on VH1 numerous times and liking it a lot. It just took me years to connect the dots from New Order to Joy Division. Dustin Perry told me to buy the Joy Division CD Substance and it was my introduction to them. Support New Order Here
"Sporting Life" by The Sea and Cake was introduced to me by Dustin Perry. It was so exciting to go record shopping with Dustin. He always pointed me in the right direction and really made it OK to listen to music other than Punk Rock and Hardcore. Support The Sea and Cake Here
"Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" by Kate Bush. I love Kate Bush so much. Technically the first time I heard Kate Bush and this song was as a sample used in the song "Something Good" by Utah Saints. But I didn't even know what a sample was at that time. I was re-introduced to Kate by a coworker of mine many years later when he let me borrow his 'Hounds of Love' cassette. I was hooked and have been collecting her records for decades now. Its great to see her having a resurgence again due to Stranger Things on Netflix. Support Kate Here
"Thieves" by Ministry. One of the first songs ever to actually scare me. I didn't know that there was music like this when I heard it. They also played the first concert I ever attended. The 1992 Lollapalooza festival with my cousin Brian. It was mind-blowing. Support Ministry Here
"Dead Skin Mask" by Slayer was the first Slayer song I ever heard and it was on ROCKIN AT THE SANDS from Brian. This song is still a favorite for me and I will always be a life long Slayer fan. Support Slayer Here
"Walk" by Pantera. The video for this song grabbed my attention the first time I saw it. It was so heavy and intense. I bought the Vulgar Display of Power cassette. Pantera has always been huge for me and yes I do have a Pantera Tattoo. Support Pantera Here
"Wasn't Born To Follow" by The Byrds I discovered this song from the Easy Rider Soundtrack. This song is just so peaceful and melodic its infectious. Find more Byrds Here
"I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash. I got into Johnny Cash from my moms Orange Blossom Special record when I started play her collection. I rediscover Johnny Cash when his American Records started coming out years later. I have "I Walk the Line" tattooed on my arm. Support Johnny Cash Here
"Lord Kill The Pain" by Red House Painters. I discovered Red House Painters from a mix that Dustin Perry made me. I have "Lord Kill The Pain" tattooed on my forearm. Support Red House Painters Here
"Sunless Saturday" by Fishbone. Fishbone has always been a favorite of mine. I think I first heard them on 120 Minutes with the song "Swim" Fishbone is by far one of the best live bands you could ever see. Support Fishbone Here
"Ain't No Right (Live)" by Jane's Addiction. I am pretty sure I got into Jane's Addiction through a tape that a friend of my brother made me. This song is so catchy and intense I still love it and Perry's banter is classic. Support Jane's Addiction Here
"I Don't Want To Grow Up" by Descesdents was on A TAPE FULL OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC from my cousin Brian. After hearing it on the mixtape I went to Down in the Valley and had my mom buy me Liveage on cassette before going up north on a family trip. That cassette was on repeat the whole weekend. Support Descendents Here
"Last Caress" by Misfits. I originally heard Misfits through A TAPE FULL OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC which had the song "Where Eagles Dare" on it. A punk rock band with Danzig singing? Yes, please. I was hooked and after buying the Walk Among Us CD I went back and bought the Box Set at Extreme Noise Records. Support Misfits Here
"Dot" by ALL was on A TAPE FULL OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC as well. It did take me years to figure out the connection between ALL and Descendents. Both bands I love so much to this day. Support ALL Here
"Regret" by Samiam is my favorite Samiam song and that is a really hard one for me to pick. Support Samiam Here
"Doublewhiskeycokenoice" by Dillinger Four is on this mix because "Dedication" by Man Afraid is not on Spotify. Both of these bands had a huge impact on me and I got to see them both so many times growing up. Mike Griffin was one of the first people to really be cool to me at a show at The Whole. R.I.P Mike. Support Dillinger Four Here
"I (Live)" by Bad Brains I first heard from my friend Jonas who turned me on to The Youth Are Getting Restless live album. Support Bad Brains Here
"Stay Free" by The Clash I first got into The Clash when I fell in love with their cover of "I Fought The Law" My dad bought me that tape at the Edina Best Buy. Which many years later I ended up working at in their Media Department at that location selling CDs. Support The Clash Here
"Grey Cell Green" by Ned's Atomic Dustbin I got into through my brother while he was in college. We had the God Fodder cassette and listened to it all the time. Pete actually got to see them at First Ave and I am still jealous. Support Neds Here
"I've Got So Much To Give" by Barry White. Barry White is one of my all-time favorite singers. I got into Barry while reading David Cassidy's Book "Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus" David mentioned Barry White in that book. Being a David fan after getting his autograph at a book signing I figured I better check out this Barry White guy that David was listening to with his girlfriends. Support Barry Here
"I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. I loved the Bodyguard Soundtrack when I was a kid. Her voice is so powerful and amazing it is timeless. Support Whitney Here
"Fallen" by The Hope Conspiracy. The Hope Conspiracy guys are dear friends of mine and I spent years touring with them around the country as their merch guy / roadie. Most of that touring was done for the "Endnote" album which is why "Fallen" in on this playlist. Support my friends Here
"Concubine" by Converge. Converge are also friends of mine and I even got to tour with them when Converge, The Hope Conspiracy, and American Nightmare toured together on the Jane Doe Tour. I made some great life long friends on that tour. Support my friends Here