Artist description A reviewer once compared Matthew Mark Luke Johnson's music to "Diamond Dogs"-era David Bowie. Another reviewer compared his music to poop. One of those two assessments is correct.

Music Style Alternative rock, power pop, indie rock

Musical Influences The Who, Paul Weller, Elvis Costello, Guided By Voices, Ween

Similar Artists The Who, Paul Weller, Elvis Costello, Guided By Voices, Ween

Artist History October 1967. Gertrude Éclair, a French-Canadian Krispy Kreme donut heiress, met Lance Boyle Guttenberg "Gordy" Johnson during her first week in a hippy commune in upstate New York. After a long night of smoking peyote, Gertrude, found herself in the family way. Gordy soon left the picture. Later disowned by the Éclair dynasty, Gertrude wandered aimlessly from trailer court to trailer court, selling artwork at various intersection crossings throughout the Midwest. (Her most popular item was the one with the dogs playing poker). Gertrude and her young son eventually landed in Richfield, Minnesota. In 1976, the son, christened Matthew Mark Luke Johnson, made his first attempt at winning over the masses at a local talent show. After singing his rendition of what he called "The Poop Song," accompanying himself on ukulele, a local talent scout prophetically opined that "for those who like songs about shit and trailer homes, your savior has arrived." It wasn't until 1989 that while performing under the shortened name, Matt Johnson, he released his first lo-fi album, The Creative Enema. The album compiled songs he performed with two Minneapolis bands, Waiting For One and Floral Anxiety. Soon thereafter, Johnson took back his full name to avoid confusion with the guy from The The. His second album, The Second Hand Testament, came out in 1990, and included the country-influenced "Trailer Park Romance." Some people (or maybe only one person) believe(s) this song helped kick-start the alt-country movement. The ill-conceived Xerxes album followed in 1991. After resolving creative differences with himself, Johnson released his epic Greetings From Camp Wrongville in 1993. This album contains some of his best work, including "Joe's Got A New Camaro," "The Metal Song," "Forever Man," and arguably the greatest heavy metal song ever recorded on four-track, "Mr. Mephistopheles Hounds From Hell." Itching to collaborate, Johnson connected with Sean McNamee, formerly of Waiting For One and Floral Anxiety, to start Antheap. After two albums with Antheap, a rejuvenated Johnson released Humid in 1996. Hits included the title track and "People Breeding Everywhere." In 1998, A Man Called Horse was released, containing the hits "Manure," "Dirty John," "Rotisserie," "On What's Left Of My Mind," "Mayor of Linden Hills," and "House on Wheels." Mixed reviews of this release followed with one reviewer stating "if you like songs about shit and trailer homes, this album is for you." Luckily, the reviewer's publication soon went under, and the reviewer himself turned up dead soon thereafter. Johnson alleges he was "out of town" at the time of the reviewer's demise. (A more favorable review of the album may be found at www.gajoob.com). Following a 1999 greatest hits compilation entitled Marathon Trailerama and two more Antheap releases, which saw the band's audience grow from 4 to 20 people (approximately), Johnson released Sincerity, Understanding and Meaning in 2001. Recent rumors and celebrations relating to his impending retirement have gone unanswered by Johnson.

Group Members Matthew Mark Luke Johnson--Everything

Albums Sincerity, Understanding and Meaning (2001), Marathon Trailerama (1999), A Man Called Horse (1998), Humid (1996), Greetings From Camp Wrongville (1993), Xerxes (1991), The Second Hand Testament (1990), The Creative Enema (1989)

Location Minneapolis, MN - USA

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