 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Stimulated by his first taste of the good life as runner up in the 1967 Hawthornden Youth Club Mick Jagger Impersonation Contest, Johnny Black sang with seminal Haggipsych bands Narodniki and Blacklight (actually the same band, but with different names).
In the early 70s, being unemployed full-time as a Whitehall-based civil service sultan of spin, he enjoyed limitless opportunities to wangle short science-fiction stories into magazines as diverse as Interzone and Penthouse.
Somewhere in the mid-70s, he succumbed to a brief but severely debilitating bout of being a press officer for CBS Records, then Head Of Press for Polydor Records. When next he woke up, he found himself combining his two great loves ("music"[copyright Tom Hibbert] and words) by scribbling for the newly-emerging Smash Hits magazine where, among other insights, he predicted that Duran Duran would never have another hit after 'Planet Earth'.
Before long he was being paid to waffle about music, almost like he knew, for publications as diverse as The Times, Observer, Radio Times, Over 21, Listener, Oxford Children's Encyclopaedia, The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Popular Music and two rock monthlies, Q and Mojo.
For Q, as well as album reviews and other general features, he produced monthly Eye Witness features for almost a decade. He also edited its special edition on the Beatles. For Mojo, as well as features and reviews, he was the first editor of its Time Machine pages.
In 1999, his acclaimed first book, Eyewitness - Hendrix, was published. In 2003 he authored the definitive rock chronology, Rock & Pop Timelines, for Backbeat Books, who have subsequently published Reveal - The Story Of R.E.M. He has also been involved as a major contributor to Backbeat's companion volumes Albums and Singles.
Johnny also curates a big, scary, ever-expanding (currently 3.5m words) chronological database, ROCKSOURCE, about which you need to know more.
Lately, the magazines Rock'n'Reel, Shindig, Music Week, Audience and Live UK have survived despite publishing his outpourings but his literary agent still can't quite get his sci-fi novelist career off the ground. So it goes.
He has recently initiated a line of rock-nostalgia related calendars (see below) and sticks his own attempts at "music" on the web at MySpace (see below). If anyone can explain to him why economists employ the phrase "negative growth", he'll be out.
List of articles in the library by artist
Eric Andersen
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Rock'n'Reel, June 2008
P.P. Arnold : AUDIO: P.P. Arnold (2002)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, 2002
Beatles, The : John Lennon: From the Quarrymen to the MBE
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Mojo, October 2000
Beatles, The : The Beatles: Don't Fear The Reeperbahn
Retrospective by Johnny Black, 'The Beatles: Ten Years that Shook the World', 2004
Bee Gees, The : AUDIO: Bee Gee Barry Gibb (2001)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, February 2001
Bee Gees, The : The Bee Gees: The Rogue Gene
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, June 2001
Bee Gees, The : The Bee Gees: You Lookin' At Me?
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, May 2001
Big Country : Big Country
Interview by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, 1984
Blind Faith: Born Under A Bad Sign
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Mojo, July 1996
Blue Nile, The : The Blue Nile: Hats
Review by Johnny Black, Q, 1989
David Bowie: The Story of 'Young Americans'
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Blender, January 2004
Billy Bragg : Red Wedge
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Q, March 1996
Joe Brown
Profile and Interview by Johnny Black, Rock'n'Reel, January 2007
Jackson Browne: The Naked Ride Home
Review and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, November 2002
Byrds, The : Roger McGuinn: Twelve-string Driven Thing
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 2002
Carpenters, The : The Carpenters' 'Superstar'
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Blender, September 2002
Leonard Cohen : Hallelujah, We Love Him So: Leonard Cohen's Comeback
Report by Johnny Black, Audience, September 2008
Cream : AUDIO: Cream's Jack Bruce (1999)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, September 2001
Cure, The : AUDIO: The Cure's Robert Smith (1995)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, 1995
Cure, The : AUDIO: The Cure's Simon Gallup (1995)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, 1995
Cure, The : The Cure: In Search Of El Dorado
Report and Interview by Johnny Black, Q, July 1987
Cure, The : The Curious Case Of The Cure
Interview by Johnny Black, The Times, April 1989
Danny Wilson: Bebop Moptop
Review by Johnny Black, Q, August 1989
Ray Davies: Sadness and A Kind Of Fame
Interview by Johnny Black, Sunday Times, March 1984
Deep Purple: 'Smoke On The Water' (Warners)
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Blender, May 2005
Depeche Mode: Are These Men Really Miserable?
Interview by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, March 1984
Depeche Mode : The Meaning Of Mute
Profile and Interview by Johnny Black, Masterbag, September 1982
Derek & The Dominos : Derek and the Dominos: 'Layla'
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Blender, January 2006
Dodgy
Profile and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, August 1995
Duran Duran: 'Hungry Like the Wolf'
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Blender, 2003
Emerson Lake And Palmer : Emerson Lake & Palmer
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, March 2001
John Entwistle
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 1994
Eurythmics
Interview by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, June 1983
Fairport Convention : AUDIO: Fairport Convention's Dave Pegg (1995)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, June 1995
Fairport Convention
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, August 1994
Fleetwood Mac : AUDIO: Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood (1995)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, November 1995
Fleetwood Mac : Mick Fleetwood
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, December 1995
Fleetwood Mac : Peter Green: The Shape I’m In
Profile by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 1996
Fleetwood Mac : The Shape I'm In: Peter Green
Profile by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 1996
Aretha Franklin : Time Machine: Aretha Franklin
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Mojo, May 1997
John Fred and his Playboy Band : John Fred And His Playboy Band
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, January 1998
Peter Gabriel: World Party
Report by Johnny Black, Q, November 1991
Genesis : AUDIO: Genesis - The Phil Collins Years (2000)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, September 2000
David Gray
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, December 1994
Peter Green : The Shape I'm In: Peter Green
Profile by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 1996
Bill Haley and His Comets: 'Rock Around The Clock'
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, backonthetracks.com, July 2007
Kinks, The : The Kinks: Hellfire Club
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 2000
k.d. lang : AUDIO: k.d. lang (1997)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, July 1997
k.d. lang: National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
Live Review by Johnny Black, Mojo, June 1996
John Lennon: From the Quarrymen to the MBE
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Mojo, October 2000
Lightning Seeds, The : The Lightning Seeds: Dizzy Heights
Review and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, December 1996
Frankie Lymon
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Mojo, February 1998
Mad River : The Mad River Story
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Shindig, August 2008
Manic Street Preachers: More!!
Profile and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, December 1996
John Martyn
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock'n'Reel, August 2008
Paul McCartney : AUDIO: Paul McCartney (2003)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, March 2003
Roger McGuinn: Twelve-string Driven Thing
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 2002
Joni Mitchell: How 'Free Man In Paris' came along
Interview by Johnny Black, Blender, September 2004
Van Morrison : Peter Gabriel: World Party
Report by Johnny Black, Q, November 1991
Van Morrison: The Great Hall, Exeter University
Live Review by Johnny Black, Mojo, April 1994
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The : The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Uncle Charlie And His Dog Teddy
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, August 1997
Laura Nyro: Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best Of Laura Nyro
Review and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, March 1997
Laura Nyro: 1947-1997
Obituary by Johnny Black, Mojo, June 1997
Mike Oldfield : AUDIO: Mike Oldfield (1994)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, November 1994
Pearls Before Swine : Tom Rapp
Profile by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 1999
Pink Floyd
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, November 2001
Pink Floyd: David Gilmour Could Tell His Friends Were Having Problems...
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, August 1997
Pretty Things, The : AUDIO: The Pretty Things' Phil May (1995)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, 1995
Radiohead : The Greatest Songs Ever: Radiohead's 'Fake Plastic Trees'
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Blender, Summer 2003
Reef
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, April 1997
Tom Robinson Band : Red Wedge
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Q, March 1996
Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: How It Happened
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Q, May 1995
Rutles.The : The Rutles: The Making Of All You Need Is Cash
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Q, February 1996
Saint Etienne: Good Humor (Heavenly)
Review and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, June 1998
Scritti Politti : It's The Scritti Political Broadcast
Interview by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, June 1982
Slade : Slade In Flame
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Q, 1999
Smiths, The : The Smiths: No Time Like The First
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, June 2004
Supremes, The : Mary Wilson on The Supremes
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Mojo, April 1997
Screaming Lord Sutch : Loony Institution: Screaming Lord Sutch
Obituary by Johnny Black, Mojo, August 1999
Tears For Fears
Interview by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, December 1982
Traffic : Steve Winwood
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, May 1997
Traffic In The Summer Of Love
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Mojo, Summer 2007
Undertones, The : The Undertones: the Famous Five go to Finland
Profile by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, August 1981
Velvet Underground : Time Machine: Velvet Underground
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, March 1997
Loudon Wainwright III : Professional Confessions: Loudon Wainwright
Review and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, November 1995
Tom Waits: Waits And Double Measures
Interview by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, March 1981
Paul Weller : Red Wedge
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Q, March 1996
Who, The : John Entwistle
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 1994
Who, The : The Who's John Entwistle (1994)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, August 1994
Wilco: 4.00 - 5.00pm: soundcheck/5.00 - 6.00pm: local press/6.00 - 6.05pm: cigarette break
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, July 1999
Kim Wilde: Wilde Life
Interview by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, May 1981
Steve Winwood : AUDIO: Steve Winwood, parts 1-4 (1997)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, February 1997
Steve Winwood
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, May 1997
Wizzard: Making 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day'
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Q, January 1996
World Party: Goodbye Jumbo
Review by Johnny Black, Q, June 1990
World Party: At Shepherd's Bush Empire
Report by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 1997
XTC : Andy Partridge Confronts His Lifelong Enemy - Stagefright!
Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, June 1994
XTC : AUDIO: XTC's Andy Partridge (1994)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, March 1994
XTC: Fossil Fuel
Review and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, September 1996
Yazoo : The Meaning Of Mute
Profile and Interview by Johnny Black, Masterbag, September 1982
Yes : Roger Dean
Essay by Johnny Black, Q, November 1989
Zombies, The : AUDIO: The Zombies' Colin Blunstone (1997)
Interview by Johnny Black, Rock's Backpages Audio, September 1997
Zombies, The : The Zombies: The Class Act List of genre pieces AUDIO: Mickie Most (1997)
Retrospective and Interview by Johnny Black, Mojo, November 1997
Interview by Johnny Black,
CDs: Perfect Sound? Forever?
Report by Johnny Black, Q, July 1992
Concept Albums: A-may-zing!
Overview by Johnny Black, Q, April 1991
Eyewitness: The Twist
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Q, February 1997
I Fought The Law...
Guide by Johnny Black, Mat Snow, Q, November 1993
On The Tube
Report and Interview by Johnny Black, Smash Hits, January 1983
Rock Cinema: It’s Only A Movie
Overview by Johnny Black, The History of Rock, 1984
The Troubadour
Retrospective by Johnny Black, Troubadour, 1997
Various Artists: The Sun Story Vols 1 & 2
Review by Johnny Black, Q, February 1991
Wembley Arenaversary: A Legendary Venue Turns 50
Report and Interview by Johnny Black, Audience, March 2009
Back to LIBRARY
|
||||||
 |
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Magazine Archive | About Us | Press Room | Your Account | Home