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{{short description|British singer/songwriter}} {{Short description|British singer/songwriter (born 1961)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox musical artist
| name = Matt Johnson | name = Matt Johnson
| background = solo_singer | background = solo_singer
| image = The The (Matt Johnson) live at Rock City, Nottingham 6th September 2024 (53988501821).jpg
| image = MattWiki.jpg
| image_size = | image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alt = Paris, Matt Johnson, Portrait
| caption = Matt Johnson, Paris, October 2015 | caption = Johnson at ] in ], 2024
| birth_name = Matthew Johnson | birth_name = Matthew Johnson
| alias = | alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|8|15|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/news/history/articles/2010/08/15/today_in_history/ |title=Today in History |work=Boston.com |date=15 August 2010 |access-date=4 November 2015}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|8|15|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/news/history/articles/2010/08/15/today_in_history/ |title=Today in History |work=Boston.com |date=15 August 2010 |access-date=4 November 2015}}</ref>
| birth_place = ], England | birth_place = London, England
| death_date = <!--{{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| death_date =
| genre = ], ], ] | genre = {{hlist|]|]|]}}
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, producer, publisher | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|producer|publisher}}
| instrument = Guitar, piano, organ, percussion | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|keyboards|percussion}}
| years_active = 1979&ndash;present | years_active = 1979&ndash;present
| label = ], ], ], ], ], ] | label = {{hlist|]|]|]|]|]|Lazarus|Cinéola}}
| associated_acts = ], ] | current_member_of = ]
| past_member_of = ]
| website = {{URL|http://www.thethe.com}} | website = {{URL|thethe.com}}
}} }}
⚫ '''Matthew Johnson''' (born 15 August 1961) is an English singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and only constant member of his band ]. He is also a film soundtrack composer (Cinéola), publisher (Fifty First State Press),<ref name=culturetrip/> broadcaster (Radio Cineola), conservationist, and local activist.

⚫ '''Matt Johnson''' (born 15 August 1961) is an English singer-songwriter best known as the vocalist and only constant member of his band ]. He is also a film soundtrack composer (Cineola), publisher (Fifty First State Press),<ref name=culturetrip/> broadcaster (Radio Cineola), and conservationist/local activist.


==Early life== ==Early life==
Johnson grew up with his three brothers, Eugene, Andrew and Gerard, in ]. Much of his youth was spent in or around the Two Puddings, a London pub run by his family over the course of 40 years.<ref name=culturetrip>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/tales-from-the-two-puddings-stratford-s-most-notorious-pub-reveals-all/|title=The Culture Trip - Tales From The Two Puddings|date=24 October 2016|website=Culture Trip}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/aeb4e818-b269-11e7-8007-554f9eaa90ba|title=‘I’ve got to get back to what I love doing’: Matt Johnson on his long-awaited comeback|website=Ft.com|access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref> Johnson grew up with his three brothers, Eugene, ] (the artist Andy Dog Johnson), and Gerard, in ]. Much of his youth was spent in or around the ], a London pub run by his family over the course of 40 years.<ref name=culturetrip>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/tales-from-the-two-puddings-stratford-s-most-notorious-pub-reveals-all/|title=The Culture Trip - Tales From The Two Puddings|date=24 October 2016|website=Culture Trip}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/aeb4e818-b269-11e7-8007-554f9eaa90ba|title='I've got to get back to what I love doing': Matt Johnson on his long-awaited comeback|newspaper=]|date=20 October 2017 |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>


==Music career== ==Music career==
In 1979, Johnson placed an advert in '']'' looking for like-minded fans of ], ] and ] to form a band with him. The The began as a duo, then a four-piece, then a singular entity with a rotating cast of musicians that has included ], ] and ]. "I like to think of The The as a fluid thing", Johnson said in a 1993 '']'' interview. "People can work with me, then stop for a bit, then work again."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2017/may/31/the-the-10-of-the-best-matt-johnson|title=The The - 10 of The Best|date=31 May 2017|website=The Guardian}}</ref> In 1979, Johnson placed an advert in '']'' looking for like-minded fans of ], ] and ] to form a band with him. The The began as a duo, then a four-piece, then a singular entity with a rotating cast of musicians that has included ], ], ], ] of ], and David Palmer of ]. "I like to think of The The as a fluid thing", Johnson said in a 1993 '']'' interview. "People can work with me, then stop for a bit, then work again."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2017/may/31/the-the-10-of-the-best-matt-johnson|title=The The - 10 of The Best|date=31 May 2017|website=]}}</ref>


In 1981, Johnson released the album '']'' on ] under his own name (since re-released under the name The The), still regarded by some as a much overlooked masterpiece. By 1983 Johnson and Keith Laws the artists signed to Some Bizzare that place the record with CBS to distribute Some Bizzare released The The's debut album '']'' now distributed by Sony . By 1986, Some Bizzare produced and released The The their second album ], which reached number 14 in the ] and remained in the chart for 30 weeks, making it the band's most commercially successful album to date. ''Infected: The Movie'' was the screen accompaniment to the album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/2017/matt-johnson-presents-infected-movie|title=Matt Johnson presents: 'THE THE: Infected – The Movie'|date=25 March 2017|website=Edinburgh Film Festival Official|quote=Johnson’s screen accompaniment to THE THE's stunning album of the same name is a vital piece of 1980s British art. Featuring the work of four directors and locations including Peru, Bolivia and New York, the project saw Johnson embark on an epic artistic adventure in an attempt to match his music visually. The enduring power of ''Infected – The Movie'' lies in the intense, dangerous passion that Johnson invested in it at the time.}}</ref> In 1981, Johnson released the studio album '']'' on ] under his own name (since re-released under the name the The), still regarded by some as a much overlooked masterpiece.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} In 1982, ] released their debut studio album called '']'' and Johnson was part of the ensemble put together by ] of ]. By 1983 Johnson and ] the artists signed to ] that place the record with ] to distribute Some Bizzare released The The's debut studio album '']'' now distributed by ]. By 1986, Some Bizzare produced and released their second studio album '']'', which reached number 14 in the ] and remained in the chart for 30 weeks, making it the band's most commercially successful album to date. ''Infected: The Movie'' was the screen accompaniment to the album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/2017/matt-johnson-presents-infected-movie|title=Matt Johnson presents: 'THE THE: Infected – The Movie'|date=25 March 2017|website=Edinburgh Film Festival Official|quote=Johnson’s screen accompaniment to THE THE's stunning album of the same name is a vital piece of 1980s British art. Featuring the work of four directors and locations including Peru, Bolivia and New York, the project saw Johnson embark on an epic artistic adventure in an attempt to match his music visually. The enduring power of ''Infected – The Movie'' lies in the intense, dangerous passion that Johnson invested in it at the time.}}</ref>


The The went on Some Bizzare release further albums through Sony Music including '']'' (1989), ] (1993), ] (1995), '']'' (2000) and compilation album '']'' (2002). The The went on to release further albums through Sony Music including '']'' (1989), '']'' (1993), '']'' (1995), '']'' (2000) and compilation album '']'' (2002).


Johnson's younger brother Eugene died in 1989. The impact of this death on Matt Johnson and his creativity is a subject of the 2017 documentary ''THE INERTIA VARIATIONS'', directed by Johanna St Michaels,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saintmichaelsproduction.se/index.php/news|title=Official Website of Director Johanna St. Michaels|last=St. Michaels|first=Johanna|date=24 June 2017|website=Official Website of Johanna St. Michaels}}</ref> which focuses on the life of Matt Johnson and the team who surround him. The film is named after an original collection of poetry by John Tottenham,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inertiavariations.wordpress.com/|title=The Inertia Variations|last=Tottenham|first=John|date=16 September 2008|website=John Tottenham's Inertia Variations}}</ref> and was later shortlisted for the 'Best Q Film' award in ]'s 'Q' Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.qthemusic.com/q-awards/all-the-winners-from-the-2017-q-awards|title=Q Awards Website|date=15 October 2017|website=Q Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021163730/http://www.qthemusic.com/q-awards/all-the-winners-from-the-2017-q-awards|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Johnson's younger brother Eugene died in 1989. The impact of this death on Matt Johnson and his creativity is a subject of the 2017 documentary ''The Inertia Variations'', directed by Johanna St Michaels,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saintmichaelsproduction.se/index.php/news|title=Official Website of Director Johanna St. Michaels|last=St. Michaels|first=Johanna|date=24 June 2017|website=Official Website of Johanna St. Michaels}}</ref> which focuses on the life of Matt Johnson and the team who surround him. The film is named after an original collection of poetry by John Tottenham,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inertiavariations.wordpress.com/|title=The Inertia Variations|last=Tottenham|first=John|date=16 September 2008|website=John Tottenham's Inertia Variations}}</ref> and was later shortlisted for the 'Best Q Film' award in '']'' magazine's 'Q' Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.qthemusic.com/q-awards/all-the-winners-from-the-2017-q-awards|title=Q Awards Website|date=15 October 2017|website=Q Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021163730/http://www.qthemusic.com/q-awards/all-the-winners-from-the-2017-q-awards|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Despite not releasing any new music as The The over the course of 15 years prior to 2017, Johnson worked as founder and broadcaster of Radio Cineola, and also heavily collaborated with his brother Gerard, composing the full soundtrack for two of Gerard's films; ] (2009) and ] (2014). Despite not releasing any new music as The The over the course of 15 years prior to 2017, Johnson worked as founder and broadcaster of Radio Cinéola, and also heavily collaborated with his brother Gerard, composing the full soundtrack for two of Gerard's films; '']'' (2009) and '']'' (2014).


To coincide with the 2017 release of ''The Inertia Variations'', Johnson collaborated with Johnny Marr again and released The The's first single in over 15 years - 'We Can't Stop What's Coming' under his own record label Cineola. Johnson dedicated this track to his late brother ] who died in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thethe.com/andrew-johnson-andy-dog-6159-18116/|title=Matt Johnson's announcement of Andrew's passing|last=Johnson|first=Matt|date=20 January 2017|website=The The official website}}</ref> To coincide with the 2017 release of ''The Inertia Variations'', Johnson collaborated with Johnny Marr again and released the The's first single in over 15 years – "We Can't Stop What's Coming" under his own record label Cinéola. Johnson dedicated this track to his late brother ] who died in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thethe.com/andrew-johnson-andy-dog-6159-18116/|title=Matt Johnson's announcement of Andrew's passing|last=Johnson|first=Matt|date=20 January 2017|website=The The official website}}</ref>


As well as a new single, Johnson released the Radio Cineola Trilogy Boxset on vinyl and CD format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thethe.com/product-category/vinyl/|title=Radio Cineola Trilogy Box Set|date=25 September 2017|website=Official website of The The}}</ref> In October 2017 The The also announced a comeback series of dates in June 2018 and will be playing live at three venues in London, UK including the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-the-live-dates-tour-june-2018-2139274|title=The The announce first live dates in 16 years|work=NME}}</ref> The The are also due to appear as a headline act at ] in 2018.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} As well as a new single, Johnson released the ''Radio Cinéola Trilogy'' ] on vinyl and CD format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thethe.com/product-category/vinyl/|title=Radio Cineola Trilogy Box Set|date=25 September 2017|website=Official website of The The}}</ref> In October 2017, the The also announced a comeback series of dates in June 2018 and will be playing live at three venues in London, UK including the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-the-live-dates-tour-june-2018-2139274|title=The The announce first live dates in 16 years|work=NME}}</ref> The The appeared as a headline act at ] in 2018. <ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/10/festival-no-6-festival-review-franz-ferdinand-the-the-anna-calvi |title=Festival No 6 review – au revoir to an eccentric, magical gem |date=2018-09-10}}</ref>


In November 2017, Johnson announced that he was hoping to form a new band and release new music by 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/thethe/status/923285810681495552|title=The The Twitter Channel|date=2 November 2017|website=twitter}}</ref> In November 2017, Johnson announced that he was hoping to form a new band and release new music by 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/thethe/status/923285810681495552|title=The The Twitter Channel|date=2 November 2017|website=twitter}}</ref>
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In June 2018, The The kicked off the first three London dates of the tour, which was expanded in-flight to accommodate not only North America but also four Australian dates in both Sydney and Melbourne. The original line-up for the tour was: In June 2018, The The kicked off the first three London dates of the tour, which was expanded in-flight to accommodate not only North America but also four Australian dates in both Sydney and Melbourne. The original line-up for the tour was:


* Matt Johnson - vocals, guitar * Matt Johnson – vocals, guitar
* ] - lead guitar * ] – lead guitar
* James Eller - bass * James Eller – bass
* ] - drums, percussion * ] – drums, percussion
* D C Collard - keyboards * D C Collard – keyboards


During the course of the tour the lineup was changed slightly only twice; due to prior commitments ] was replaced for the Australian leg of the tour by ]. During the course of the tour the line-up was changed slightly only twice; due to prior commitments ] was replaced for the Australian leg of the tour by ].


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/tapedelay00neal/page/93|title=Tape Delay: Confessions from the Eighties Underground|language=en|editor-last=Neal|editor-first=Charles|publisher=SAF Publishing Ltd|year=1987|isbn=978-0-946719-02-0|pages=|via=the Internet Archive}} * {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/tapedelay00neal/page/93|title=Tape Delay: Confessions from the Eighties Underground|language=en|editor-last=Neal|editor-first=Charles|publisher=SAF Publishing Ltd|year=1987|isbn=978-0-946719-02-0|pages=|via=the Internet Archive}}
* Fraser, Neil (2022). ''Long Shadows, High Hopes: The Life and Times of Matt Johnson and The The (Updated Edition).'' ]. <nowiki>ISBN 9781913172442</nowiki>


==External links== ==External links==
* - Official Site * – Official Site
* - Official Site * – Official Site
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000382177}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0425777}}
* *


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Latest revision as of 08:43, 2 October 2024

British singer/songwriter (born 1961)

Matt Johnson
Johnson at Rock City in Nottingham, 2024Johnson at Rock City in Nottingham, 2024
Background information
Birth nameMatthew Johnson
Born (1961-08-15) 15 August 1961 (age 63)
London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
  • publisher
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • percussion
Years active1979–present
Labels
Member ofThe The
Formerly ofMarc and the Mambas
Websitethethe.com
Musical artist

Matthew Johnson (born 15 August 1961) is an English singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and only constant member of his band The The. He is also a film soundtrack composer (Cinéola), publisher (Fifty First State Press), broadcaster (Radio Cineola), conservationist, and local activist.

Early life

Johnson grew up with his three brothers, Eugene, Andrew (the artist Andy Dog Johnson), and Gerard, in east London. Much of his youth was spent in or around the Two Puddings, a London pub run by his family over the course of 40 years.

Music career

In 1979, Johnson placed an advert in NME looking for like-minded fans of the Velvet Underground, the Residents and Throbbing Gristle to form a band with him. The The began as a duo, then a four-piece, then a singular entity with a rotating cast of musicians that has included Sinéad O'Connor, Gail Ann Dorsey, Simon Fisher Turner, Johnny Marr of the Smiths, and David Palmer of ABC. "I like to think of The The as a fluid thing", Johnson said in a 1993 Melody Maker interview. "People can work with me, then stop for a bit, then work again."

In 1981, Johnson released the studio album Burning Blue Soul on 4AD under his own name (since re-released under the name the The), still regarded by some as a much overlooked masterpiece. In 1982, Marc and the Mambas released their debut studio album called Untitled and Johnson was part of the ensemble put together by Marc Almond of Soft Cell. By 1983 Johnson and Keith Laws the artists signed to Some Bizzare Records that place the record with CBS Records to distribute Some Bizzare released The The's debut studio album Soul Mining now distributed by Sony Music. By 1986, Some Bizzare produced and released their second studio album Infected, which reached number 14 in the UK Albums Chart and remained in the chart for 30 weeks, making it the band's most commercially successful album to date. Infected: The Movie was the screen accompaniment to the album.

The The went on to release further albums through Sony Music including Mind Bomb (1989), Dusk (1993), Hanky Panky (1995), NakedSelf (2000) and compilation album 45 RPM: The Singles of The The (2002).

Johnson's younger brother Eugene died in 1989. The impact of this death on Matt Johnson and his creativity is a subject of the 2017 documentary The Inertia Variations, directed by Johanna St Michaels, which focuses on the life of Matt Johnson and the team who surround him. The film is named after an original collection of poetry by John Tottenham, and was later shortlisted for the 'Best Q Film' award in Q magazine's 'Q' Awards.

Despite not releasing any new music as The The over the course of 15 years prior to 2017, Johnson worked as founder and broadcaster of Radio Cinéola, and also heavily collaborated with his brother Gerard, composing the full soundtrack for two of Gerard's films; Tony (2009) and Hyena (2014).

To coincide with the 2017 release of The Inertia Variations, Johnson collaborated with Johnny Marr again and released the The's first single in over 15 years – "We Can't Stop What's Coming" under his own record label Cinéola. Johnson dedicated this track to his late brother Andy Dog Johnson who died in 2016.

As well as a new single, Johnson released the Radio Cinéola Trilogy box set on vinyl and CD format. In October 2017, the The also announced a comeback series of dates in June 2018 and will be playing live at three venues in London, UK including the Royal Albert Hall. The The appeared as a headline act at Festival N°6 in 2018.

In November 2017, Johnson announced that he was hoping to form a new band and release new music by 2018.

2018 comeback

In June 2018, The The kicked off the first three London dates of the tour, which was expanded in-flight to accommodate not only North America but also four Australian dates in both Sydney and Melbourne. The original line-up for the tour was:

During the course of the tour the line-up was changed slightly only twice; due to prior commitments Earl Harvin was replaced for the Australian leg of the tour by Geoff Dugmore.

References

  1. "Today in History". Boston.com. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  2. ^ "The Culture Trip - Tales From The Two Puddings". Culture Trip. 24 October 2016.
  3. "'I've got to get back to what I love doing': Matt Johnson on his long-awaited comeback". Financial Times. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. "The The - 10 of The Best". The Guardian. 31 May 2017.
  5. "Matt Johnson presents: 'THE THE: Infected – The Movie'". Edinburgh Film Festival Official. 25 March 2017. Johnson's screen accompaniment to THE THE's stunning album of the same name is a vital piece of 1980s British art. Featuring the work of four directors and locations including Peru, Bolivia and New York, the project saw Johnson embark on an epic artistic adventure in an attempt to match his music visually. The enduring power of Infected – The Movie lies in the intense, dangerous passion that Johnson invested in it at the time.
  6. St. Michaels, Johanna (24 June 2017). "Official Website of Director Johanna St. Michaels". Official Website of Johanna St. Michaels.
  7. Tottenham, John (16 September 2008). "The Inertia Variations". John Tottenham's Inertia Variations.
  8. "Q Awards Website". Q Awards. 15 October 2017. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017.
  9. Johnson, Matt (20 January 2017). "Matt Johnson's announcement of Andrew's passing". The The official website.
  10. "Radio Cineola Trilogy Box Set". Official website of The The. 25 September 2017.
  11. "The The announce first live dates in 16 years". NME.
  12. "Festival No 6 review – au revoir to an eccentric, magical gem". 10 September 2018.
  13. "The The Twitter Channel". twitter. 2 November 2017.

Further reading

External links

The The
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Categories: