Johnny Panic

Biography

Rob Solly: Vocals,Guitar
Matt James: Guitars, B Vox
Nash Francis: Bass, B Vox
Jonny Shock: Drums

In the words of Silvia Plath, "What I fear most, I think, is the death of the imagination.... If I sit still and don't do anything, the world goes on beating like a slack drum, without meaning."

That philosophy isn't lost on Johnny Panic, whose name is taken from that Pulitzer prize-winning author and poet's 'Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams'. 8 years ago they took the glut of musical mediocrity as the inspiration to raise the bar on it all. But as infectious as their pop-rocking grooves may be, they aren't shy about infusing those contagious melodies with a dose of social consciousness. Or beating their drum for all to hear.

"There's an ethic missing from a lot of bands,� says singer Rob Solly. "We live in a society that refuses to question. That's where rock 'n' roll comes in. We're not here to shove them down people's throats, but every single one of our songs is trying to get something across."

And that includes the one about their patronage of a local hooker. But Johnny Panic aren�t making any apologies, and it's probably that same vitriol that led The Fly to reckon that this quixotic quartet has "the polemics of a pre-lard Manics, the trashy anthemics of The Wildhearts, and a Rotten sneer to wipe away all memory of 'I'm a Celebrity'."

But make no mistake - Johnny Panic has always put writing good music front and centre . As drummer Jonny Shock (he�s got a thirst for Aftershocks) explains, "Most of the bands I'd go and see ten years ago were rubbish. Sure, I wasn't playing anything back then, but I'd think 'Jeez� these guys are dull'. I knew I could do better."

Meanwhile, future-front man Solly had just been introduced to The Jam by his older sister, and an obsession with the likes of The Only Ones, The Buzzcocks, The Sex Pistols, and The Clash wasn't far behind. He'd soon have a fateful encounter with Shock - a fellow Sidcup native - who had just purchased his first drum-kit - in fivers.

"The kick-drum had a pair of some geezer's school trousers from when he was 7 years old,� laughs Shock. But that didn't stop the dynamic duo from forging a pact to set the records straight. They'd soon enlist the talents of local bassist Nash Francis - the son of a professional club musician - and the seeds of Johnny Panic were planted. But a critical ingredient was needed before they could describe their erstwhile 'Blondie-sound' into the 'Cheap-trick with depth' that's become their trademark. 'That would come in 2002 in the form of guitarist Matt James, a regular of a Jonny Shocks watering hole, the Hogs Head in Sidcup High St.' like his future band-mates, Matt had already experienced his share of no-hope bands without a future. But that was all about to change.

�We�d had a few people out to jam with us, but Matt�s the only bastard who crashed his car into mine,� explains Shock, referring to a fateful post-audition mishap. But it was Matt's talents on the six-string that made him memorable.

"I�d played with a load of other bands, but nobody really had the hunger" he says. "And then Rob calls me and asks me if I want to join the biggest band in the world. How could I say no?"

Good thing he didn�t, because while they may have yet to achieve the star-studded status of their idols, it looks as if Johnny Panic are already well on their way to hitting the big-time. They've toured the UK far and wide. The video for 'You're A Fool' was recently added to the Kerrang! and Scuzz TV playlists, taken from their debut EP it beat out the Von Bondies for XFM's 'Single of the Week'. And download only single �Chemical girlfriend� was Kerrang!�s �track of the week.� But Johnny Panic aren't bothered if they don't achieve overnight success.

"Any band worth listening to has had to struggle to achieve something" says Solly. "Music needs to keep pushing, keep questioning and there just aren't enough bands doing that. We're bringing these much missed qualities to the table."

What he's referring to is Johnny Panic's very own debut album. Recorded in Hastings� Parkgate Studio with famed producer Al Clay (Pixies, A, Pink), 'The Violent Dazzling' is set for release in March �05. In the words of one Kerrang! journalist, "Their time will come."
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