A few words with New York singer-songwriter Johnny Pierre.
Johnny plays guitar, bass and keyboards with his band; Bibby N. Dean (drums / vocals), Luke Beauchamps (various acoustic stringed instruments), Moss Roll (percussion), Edmund Bench (lead guitar / vocals), V. Deferens (keyboards) and Albert Fast Horse (piano / bass / vocals).
Leicester Bangs: Tell us a little about yourself.
Johnny: I've been active on the musical scene in the Long Island area of New York since 1977. For many years, I was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of one of the popular local bands, the Freelance Vandals. After that group disbanded, I've concentrated on a career as a singer-songwriter.
LB: How did you start out making music?
Johnny: I started out as a musician early in life. My first live gig was in 1966 when I was living in Verdun, France. Shortly afterwards, I began writing songs.
LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now?
Johnny: My first influence was the blues shouter Howlin Wolf. His sound was so earthy that it captured my soul. In the early sixties, I was a fan of The Who and The Beatles. By the 1970s, my main focus was on such artists as Van Morrison, Tom Waits, and Terry Reid. I enjoyed pop music as well, listening to Todd Rundgren and The Dwight Twilley Band.
LB: Tell us about your latest release.
Johnny: I've just released a song called "Mystery Street" which is a nostalgic look back at my college days at The University of Dayton in Ohio. I like to look at a lot of my songs as little postcards from heaven.
LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows?
Johnny: I perform several times a month in a variety of formats; sometimes with a strict blues group, sometimes as part of an alternative folk rock band and mainly as a solo acoustic artist. My shows are usually relaxed events filled with lots of good humor and wordplay.
LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy?
Johnny: I enjoy writing songs the most. The recording part can be so much more involved that it requires a totally different mindset than when you just sit yourself down to write some music. I guess it's where one learns to interpret one's ideas, eh?
LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music?
Johnny: My music can be purchased online at…
ITunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/johnny-pierre/id399165835
CD Baby:
www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JohnnyPierre
My official website:
www.johnny-pierre.com
Other places I can be found on the web…
Reverbnation:
www.reverbnation.com/johnnypierre
MySpace:
www.myspace.com/553582771
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