Michael Johns Playboy Interview - Rock The Rabbit, 3/09/09 Options

[ainn]

From HERE:

For a certain subset of music fans—and you know who you are—Michael Johns is instantly recognizable. He was one of the most popular American Idol contestants during season seven whose “Bohemian Rhapsody” wowed judges. But Johns is no high school musical reject. Prior to auditioning for Idol, he already had record deals as part of several indie bands. One of those deals, with a band called the Rising, was with Madonna’s Maverick label. So when he crashed out of Idol, it was a beginning, not an end. He suddenly had another shot at pursuing his music career and a new crop of fans and potential backers. He scored a documentary on the flying tomato and wrote songs with household name stars while working on his soon-to-be-released solo record—a blue-eyed soul album championing his love of artists like the Faces, Paul Weller and Joe Cocker.

PLAYBOY: You’ve had several music careers at this point, with three different deals for various bands you were in and then, most recently, American Idol. Your will to make it as a musician must be strong. Where does that resolve come from—was there a moment you realized you wanted to do this?

JOHNS: Yes, I was driving down the freeway when I was 15 and Pearl Jam’s song “Daughter” came on. I don’t know what it was about that song, but I just sung it over and over. The feeling it gave me made me say, “I have to do this for life.” I started a band a few months later.

PLAYBOY: As a singer, there must be people you emulate—and you don’t sound like Eddie Vedder.

JOHNS: I pinched little things here and there. I think all singers do. Eventually you find your own voice. Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Jim Morrison, Michael Hutchence and Neil Finn are probably the people who shaped me the most.

PLAYBOY: Are there artists whose styles affected the way you wish to present yourself?

JOHNS: I always love the visual aspect of what Daft Punk and Gnarls Barkley do. Sophie Mueller makes stunning music videos. I love Scott Weiland and Tom Petty’s style. U2’s live show is always cutting edge too. And—I have to say—seeing Michael Jackson in Perth, Australia in 1996 blew me away. I wasn’t the biggest Jackson fan, but after seeing him live I was converted. I don’t think we’ll ever have a mega mega superstar like that again. All of it—the dancing, the voice, his presence—it was overwhelming.

PLAYBOY: Indie kids might be a bit skeptical about American Idol, but in your case it seems to have been a lifeline—and a help, not a hindrance, to your own indie dreams.

JOHNS: I have had three deals before, and in each case the label folded or the person who handled us got fired before my records could come out. I was very lucky that American Idol was there. It has reopened doors that had been shut. I have another chance at my career. I mean, there is no way to reach a bigger audience than Idol. I was walking in NYC the other day on a Monday morning and saw all these people going to work at a desk somewhere. I just thought, Holy crap! It blew my mind that I had this new chance to continue to avoid that kind of life.

PLAYBOY: That’s certainly one way to gauge success—still being able to do what you want. What about other benchmarks?

JOHNS: One of my goals—and I’m still waiting to achieve it—is being in a full movie theater and having one of my songs played during the most important scene of the film. Fast song, ballad, it doesn’t matter to me—everything sounds better in a theater.

PLAYBOY: Tell us about your concept for the T-shirt design.

JOHNS: When I was asked to design a T-shirt an image came into my head straight away. I thought, How cool it would be to have the outline of the bunny over and over again like a maze—all leading into a heart at the center? It’s something I would want to wear.

You can see Michael's design HERE

[jas89]

thanks! No news though

[Ultimat1]

Thanks Ainn! I need one of those shirts.

[I heart pizza]

Even without new info I gotta say that was a very nice interview. Maybe some guys do buy Playboy for the interviews

[jas89]

Even without new info I gotta say that was a very nice interview. Maybe some guys do buy Playboy for the interviews

[I heart pizza]

did y'all listen to the Fire clip? its a new Fire arragement, I guess its gonna be in the album?


edited cause "Clip" and "Lip" are different things

This post has been edited by I heart pizza: Mar 9th 2009, 4:06 PM

[ainn]

Thanks Ainn! I need one of those shirts.

You're welcome, Ulty!

Even without new info I gotta say that was a very nice interview. Maybe some guys do buy Playboy for the interviews

did y'all listen to the Fire clip? its a new Fire arragement, I guess its gonna be in the album?

I listened to... ahem... about 2 sec . I'll go listen to the whole thing since it's a new arrangement.

[Jubilee200749]

The new arrangement has more of a rock edge and I really like the new arrangement If I am not mistaken the background vocals have changed as well....

[avenue26]

[I heart pizza]

I listened to... ahem... about 2 sec . I'll go listen to the whole thing since it's a new arrangement.

I wasnt gonna listen to it either until I saw comments that it was

The new arrangement has more of a rock edge and I really like the new arrangement If I am not mistaken the background vocals have changed as well....

yeah I like it waayyy better than the old one. Mainly because the dammed horns are toned down

[jas89]

there's a difference? I still don't like it.

[feelingdizzy]

Fire is gonna be in the new album? bummer, I don't like that song

it sounds better, but I still don't like the song

thanks for posting the interview ainn

[DreamOnMJ]

Thanks for the interview ainn. Fire is gonna be in Michael's album? I was hoping for new songs from him.....What a dissapointment!

This post has been edited by DreamOnMJ: Mar 9th 2009, 8:32 PM

[feelingdizzy]

well, it's not really confirmed yet, but I think if he took the effort to re-arrange it then it's most likely gonna be in the new album

[DreamOnMJ]

well, it's not really confirmed yet, but I think if he took the effort to re-arrange it then it's most likely gonna be in the new album

Looks like it.

[silent_dice]

Yes, I was driving down the freeway when I was 15 and Pearl Jam’s song “Daughter” came on. I don’t know what it was about that song, but I just sung it over and over. The feeling it gave me made me say, “I have to do this for life.” I started a band a few months later.

Awww.. thank you Pearl Jam's "Daughter"

I wasn’t the biggest Jackson fan, but after seeing him live I was converted. I don’t think we’ll ever have a mega mega superstar like that again. All of it—the dancing, the voice, his presence—it was overwhelming.

I was a huge Michael Jackson fan when I was a kid.

Thanks Ainn! I need one of those shirts.

Me too.

did y'all listen to the Fire clip? its a new Fire arragement, I guess its gonna be in the album?
edited cause "Clip" and "Lip" are different things

Fire , I still remember him singing it live last November here.

This post has been edited by silent_dice: Mar 9th 2009, 9:17 PM

[DreamOnMJ]

Got to listen to new 'Fire'. It's rockier and better than before but I'm still hoping to hear new Michael songs though...... Oh well, can't have it all I guess.....

This post has been edited by DreamOnMJ: Mar 10th 2009, 9:52 AM

[I heart pizza]

Fire is gonna be in the new album? bummer, I don't like that song

it sounds better, but I still don't like the song

thanks for posting the interview ainn

yeah I like it better now but its still not my favorite, if they wanted to re arrange an old song and use it again I would've gone with Fools Gold. That one could be HOTT

This post has been edited by I heart pizza: Mar 10th 2009, 9:49 AM

[jas89]

well, it's not really confirmed yet, but I think if he took the effort to re-arrange it then it's most likely gonna be in the new album

I'm thinking (a.k.a hoping really hard) that it will be one of the bonus tracks.

[ainn]

Fire is gonna be in the new album? bummer, I don't like that song

it sounds better, but I still don't like the song

thanks for posting the interview ainn

Yeah, it sounds better with the new arrangement, but I'm still not crazy about it. Well... at least it's not Feelin' Alright. Wait, that's probably gonna be on the album too.

You're welcome, Vizzy!

Thanks for the interview ainn. Fire is gonna be in Michael's album? I was hoping for new songs from him.....What a dissapointment!

And we've been waiting for like a year now.

You're welcome, DreamOnMJ!

Awww.. thank you Pearl Jam's "Daughter"

yeah I like it better now but its still not my favorite, if they wanted to re arrange an old song and use it again I would've gone with Fools Gold. That one could be HOTT

Yeah, I agree. But Michael and the fans never seemed to be on the same page.