The Johnsons - A Band Is Born (1/3) By Michelle Dee

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3),

Once upon a time, in a garage not far away, four young men came together and began to play rock and roll music. In eight days they had a show to do. Time was of the essence and if they could only withstand the pressure, the ambitious foursome, had the chance to make their first appearance, at one of the biggest music events this city had ever seen.

Matt, Tim, Danny and Matty met in the unlikely location, set up camp, and embarked on a musical journey that would see them facing personal and professional barriers. The day was the 3rd January 2005, on that third day of the new-year, whilst others were recovering from festive excess; they played their first notes inside the dusty garage. That day saw the birth of a new band and of a new chapter in musical history.

The gig was the Hull Aid Tsunami Benefit Event and they had the chance to play on a bill alongside some of the biggest names in local music. An historic event, the likes of which had not been seen before. With high flyers, like Turismo and The Bonnits due to play, this was an opportunity the plucky group had to grab with both hands.

Only problem was they had just one song, their bassist had only been playing for a few weeks and the band had never played a note together before that third day in January.

Danny, having once been in the fabled band The Paddingtons, took lead guitar. He and Matt, on vocals, taught the young Matty his first bass-lines, urged on by Tim looming large from behind his drum kit. During that first cramped night, tempers frayed and by the next morning they were about ready to kill each other. The dust was rising in the garage, blood pressures soaring, but somehow through the magic they created as a group, they managed to play on. There's a reason why they call rock n roll dirty, it is inevitably a long tiring process borne out of, blood, sweat and in this case, dust.

On the Thursday they made a practice demo of the four songs they had created that week and a fifth, notably called Time for Heroes, that Danny had brought along with him from his days as a solo-artist. They used the demo to play along to and began to really gel as a band. Danny gave this demo to DJ MAK, one of the hosts of the event who was impressed with it; then they really began to believe they could succeed.

DJ MAK had already featured Misfortunate Love on the popular Sesh CD he put together late 2004. The track was written and recorded in a bedroom with a drum machine by Matt and Danny before the band even had a name.

Continued next page (2/3)

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