The Life and Times of Matt Johnson, The The

Matt Johnson is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the founder and frontman of the band The The. Johnson's music is often characterized by its dark, introspective lyrics and its use of experimental and avant-garde techniques.

Long Shadows, High Hopes: The Life and Times of Matt Johnson & The The

by Neil Fraser

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Johnson was born in London, England, in 1961. He began playing guitar at a young age and was influenced by a wide range of musical genres, including punk, reggae, and psychedelic rock. In 1979, he formed the band The The with guitarist Keith Laws and drummer David Ruffy. The band's early sound was heavily influenced by punk, but Johnson soon began to experiment with more experimental and avant-garde techniques.

The The's debut album, Soul Mining, was released in 1983. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish The The as one of the most innovative and influential bands of the 1980s. The band's follow-up album, Infected, was released in 1986 and was even more experimental than its predecessor. Infected featured a wide range of musical styles, including industrial, ambient, and classical music.

The The continued to release critically acclaimed albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The band's most successful album, Mind Bomb, was released in 1989 and featured the hit single "The Beat(en) Generation." The The's music has been praised for its originality, intelligence, and emotional power.

In addition to his work with The The, Johnson has also released several solo albums. He has also worked as a producer for other artists, including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Iggy Pop, and PJ Harvey.

Johnson is a highly respected and influential figure in the music industry. He is known for his dark, introspective lyrics and his use of experimental and avant-garde techniques. Johnson's music has been praised for its originality, intelligence, and emotional power.

Early life and influences

Matt Johnson was born in London, England, in 1961. His father was a jazz musician and his mother was a schoolteacher. Johnson began playing guitar at a young age and was influenced by a wide range of musical genres, including punk, reggae, and psychedelic rock.

Johnson has said that his early influences included the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Velvet Underground. He was also influenced by the punk rock movement of the late 1970s. Johnson has said that he was particularly impressed by the Sex Pistols' album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols.

The The

In 1979, Johnson formed the band The The with guitarist Keith Laws and drummer David Ruffy. The band's early sound was heavily influenced by punk, but Johnson soon began to experiment with more experimental and avant-garde techniques.

The The's debut album, Soul Mining, was released in 1983. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish The The as one of the most innovative and influential bands of the 1980s. The band's follow-up album, Infected, was released in 1986 and was even more experimental than its predecessor. Infected featured a wide range of musical styles, including industrial, ambient, and classical music.

The The continued to release critically acclaimed albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The band's most successful album, Mind Bomb, was released in 1989 and featured the hit single "The Beat(en) Generation." The The's music has been praised for its originality, intelligence, and emotional power.

Solo career

In addition to his work with The The, Johnson has also released several solo albums. His solo albums are often more experimental and introspective than The The's albums. Johnson's solo albums include Burning Blue Soul (1995),The Sound of Blue (2001),and In the Blood (2015).

Production work

Johnson has also worked as a producer for other artists, including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Iggy Pop, and PJ Harvey. Johnson's production work is often characterized by its use of experimental and avant-garde techniques.

Legacy

Matt Johnson is a highly respected and influential figure in the music industry. He is known for his dark, introspective lyrics and his use of experimental and avant-garde techniques. Johnson's music has been praised for its originality, intelligence, and emotional power.

Johnson's legacy is likely to continue for many years to come. He is one of the most important and influential musicians of his generation.

Discography

**Studio albums with The The**

* Soul Mining (1983) * Infected (1986) * Mind Bomb (1989) * Dusk (1993) * Hanky Panky (1994) * NakedSelf (2000) * 45 RPM (2002) * The End (2003) * Tombstone (2011) * The Beautiful Drug (2018)

**Solo albums**

* Burning Blue Soul (1995) * The Sound of Blue (2001) * In the Blood (2015)

**Production credits**

* Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hyæna (1984) * Iggy Pop - Instinct (1988) * PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love (1995) * Marianne Faithfull - 20th Century Blues (1997) * Marc Almond - Tenement Symphony (2007)

Long Shadows, High Hopes: The Life and Times of Matt Johnson & The The

by Neil Fraser

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	33331 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	464 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE