Alain Johannes Explained

Alain Johannes
Birth Name:Alain Johannes Mociulski
Birth Place:Santiago, Chile
Birth Date:2 May 1962
Genre:Alternative rock, blues rock, experimental rock, hard rock, electronic
Occupation:Musician, songwriter, producer, recording engineer
Years Active:1980s - present
Instrument:Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, saxophone
Label:MCA, Interscope, Rekords Rekords, Sire, Ipecac
Associated Acts:Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, Anthym, What Is This?, Them Crooked Vultures, Eagles of Death Metal, Chris Cornell, Arctic Monkeys, Firekind, PJ Harvey, Sound City Players, Ten Commandos, Big Scenic Nowhere

Alain Johannes Mociulski (born May 2, 1962) is a Chilean-American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, whose primary instruments are guitar and bass. He is a founding member of several bands, including the alternative rock group Eleven, and has been involved with acts such as hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, PJ Harvey, Chris Cornell, Arctic Monkeys, Mark Lanegan and The Desert Sessions, both as a musician and as a producer.

Alain Johannes is nephew of Chilean Spanish; Castilian: [[nueva ola]] musician Peter Rock.[1] He was born in Santiago de Chile.[2] He was married to Natasha Shneider from 1987 until her death in 2008.

Career

In his teen years, Johannes formed the band Chain Reaction (later Anthym) with Hillel Slovak, Todd Strassman, and Jack Irons.[3] This band was later renamed What Is This. Todd Strassman was replaced by Flea, who was replaced, upon leaving the band, by Chris Hutchinson.

In 1987, Johannes and Natasha Shneider released the album Walk the Moon under the MCA label. Reportedly, Chris Hutchinson and Jack Irons played on some of its tracks.

Eleven was formed in 1990 and released their debut album Awake in a Dream in 1991, which included the pop based singles "Rainbows End" and "All Together". They followed this with regular releases Eleven in 1993, Thunk! in 1995, Avantgardedog in 2000, and Howling Book in 2003.

Johannes was the only other contributor on the 1996 debut album by Jason Falkner, Jason Falkner Presents Author Unknown. He was also a significant contributor to Chris Cornell's 1999 solo album, Euphoria Morning as a guitarist, writer and producer. He also toured as part of Chris Cornell's band in support of this album. He mixed and played on Jack Irons' first solo record, Attention Dimension, released in 2004, and he co-wrote on Danish stoner rock outfit The Royal Highness.[4]

In 2005, he joined Queens of the Stone Age to play guitar as well as bass on Lullabies to Paralyze. He had previously guested on Lullabies predecessor, Songs for the Deaf, having also co-written the track "Hanging Tree" during one of The Desert Sessions. He would participate in the tour for the album and appears on the live DVD, Over the Years and Through the Woods in the main concert. Johannes once again contributed a main role to Lullabies' follow up, Era Vulgaris, but he opted to concentrate on Eleven with Natasha Shneider, and the pair bowed out of touring before the album's promotion started.

In 2007, Johannes became a part of Brody Dalle's post-Distillers effort, Spinnerette.[5]

In August 2009, he joined Them Crooked Vultures, with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and former Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones. Johannes contributed guitar, bass, keyboards, and backing vocals on their 2009–2010 tour, often playing his own solo guitar section during the set.

In late 2008, a song he co-wrote with Shneider, Time for Miracles, was recorded by Adam Lambert and used in the movie 2012.

On October 5, 2010, he released his solo debut album Spark, a tribute to the late Natasha Shneider.

On September 5, 2012, Jimmy Eat World announced that he would be a producer/engineer on their 8th studio album.[6]

In 2013, he became a player in Dave Grohl's Sound City Players project, writing and recording a song for the album, and playing a major role in the live performances.

On November 11, 2014, he released his second solo album, Fragments and Wholes Vol. 1, drawing inspiration from the death of his parents as well as that of Natasha Shneider.[7]

Johannes began working with PJ Harvey in 2014. From 2016 to 2017, Johannes was a part of PJ Harvey's touring ensemble for her world tour in support of her album The Hope Six Demolition Project. He also played on the album itself.

In 2015, he was the producer of K's Choice album The Phantom Cowboy, [8] and Edith Crash's Partir.[9]

In 2016, he composed and performed the soundtrack for the Ubisoft game, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands.[10]

In 2020, his third solo record Hum was released on Ipecac Records to favorable critical reviews [11]

On September 3, 2022, Them Crooked Vultures reunited for a performance at Wembley Stadium in honour of Foo Fighters' late drummer Taylor Hawkins and again on September 27, 2022 at the Kia Forum for the second tribute show.

In May 2024, Alain was playing with Masters of Reality. He was also their support act, solo on stage with his 'cigar box' guitar.

Selected discography

Throughout his career Johannes has worked with a wide range of artists and bands in various genres as a musician, record engineer and producer.[12]

Band or artistAlbumYearCredits
Addie BrikWattsland (EP)1984Vocals, guitar, production
What Is This?Squeezed (EP)Vocals, guitar
What Is This?What Is This?1985Vocals, guitar
What Is This?3 Out of 5 Live (EP)
Thelonious MonsterBaby, You're Bummin' My Life Out in a Supreme Fashion1986Flute, saxophone
Walk the MoonWalk the Moon1987Vocals, guitar, saxophone, programming, percussion, e-bow
ElevenAwake In A Dream1991Guitar
Sun 60Only1993
Melissa FerrickMassive Blur
ElevenElevenGuitar, vocals
ElevenThunk1995Guitar, percussion, horn, sitar
Jason FalknerPresents Author Unknown 1996Guitar
Gouds ThumbGouds Thumb
DalbelloWhore
Chris CornellEuphoria Morning1999Guitar, bass, backing vocals, theremin, mandolin, clarinet, tabla, production, mixing
Queens of the Stone AgeRated R2000Mixing
ElevenAvantgardedogGuitar, vocals, producer, engineer
No DoubtReturn of SaturnRecording
The Desert SessionsVolume 7 & 82001Guitar, fiddle, harmonium, saxophone, vocals, clavinet, udu, mixing
LiveVSitar, production
No DoubtRock Steady2002Additional engineer
Queens of the Stone AgeSongs for the DeafOrgan, piano, guitar, theremin, lap steel guitar
UNKLENever, Never, Land2003Remixing
Matt Costa Matt Costa (EP)Mastering
The Desert SessionsVolume 9 & 10 Guitar, bass, flute, vocals, mandolin, e-bow, keyboard
Mondo GeneratorA Drug Problem That Never ExistedEngineer, mixing, mastering
ElevenHowling BookGuitar, vocals
Mark Lanegan BandBubblegum 2004Guitar, bass, drums, organ, keyboards, vocals, mixing, production
SugarcultPalm Trees and Power LinesAdditional guitar
Jack IronsAttention DimensionBanjo, flute, guitar, saxophone, vocals, sarod, engineer, mixing, marxophone, santoor
Janubia[13] Mother TongueMixing, mastering, additional instrumentation
Masters of RealityGive Us BarabbasEditing
Eagles of Death MetalPeace Love Death MetalPiano, vocals, engineering, mastering, mixing
Queens of the Stone AgeLullabies to Paralyze2005Bass, guitar, flute, marxophone
Queens of the Stone AgeOver the Years and Through the WoodsBass, guitar, backing vocals
MillionaireParadisiacMixing, recording
Eagles of Death MetalDeath by Sexy2006Mixing
Wires on FireWires on FireSaxophone, mixing, mastering, engineering
Queens of the Stone AgeEra Vulgaris2007Bass, guitar, fiddle, marxophone, mixing
SilverchairYoung ModernSlide guitar
Hilary DuffDignityMixing
PusciferV is for VaginaGuitar
SpinneretteGhetto Love (EP)2008Bass
Eagles of Death MetalHeart OnHorn, engineer
The Gutter TwinsSaturnaliaRecording
Kelly ClarksonAll I Ever Wanted2009Guitar
NosfellNosfellProducing, mixing, guitar, marxophone, bass, cigfiddle
SpinneretteSpinneretteProduction, mixing, engineer, bass, guitar, cigfiddle
Arctic MonkeysHumbugEngineering
Them Crooked VulturesThem Crooked VulturesRecording, backing vocals
Alain JohannesSpark2010Recording, producing, mixing, guitars, vocals, bass
MannaShackles2011Producer
Mark LaneganBlues Funeral2012Producing, engineering, mixing, guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals
Sound CityReel to Real (soundtrack)2013Bass, vocals on "Your Wife is Calling"; guitar on "Centipede"; vocals, guitars on "A Trick With No Sleeve"
Loading DataDouble Disco Animal Style Producer, backing vocals, drums, keyboards, bass, guitars
Jimmy Eat WorldDamageProducer
Brody DalleDiploid Love2014Co-producer, guitars, bass, piano, trumpet, mellotron, slide guitars
Alain JohannesFragments & Wholes, Vol. 1Recording, producing, mixing, guitars, vocals, bass
K's ChoiceThe Phantom Cowboy2015Producer
Kazuya Yoshii"Chōzetsu Dynamic!"Guitar
Edith CrashPartirProducer
KensicoWhite Sage2015Guitars, e-bow, cigar box, percussions, recording
PJ HarveyThe Hope Six Demolition Project2016Guitar, handclapping, keyboards, percussion, saxophone, vocals (background)
Alain JohannesGhost Recon Wildlands OSTitaru
Mark Lanegan BandGargoyle2017Producer, co-writer, keyboards, guitar, bass, mellotron, synthesizer, percussion, e-bow, vocals (background)
Garry PitcairnThe Gospel2019Mixing, mastering
AureliaSharp Words2019Producer, mixer, guitar, bass, cigar box guitar, keyboards, percussion, e-bow
Big Scenic NowhereVision Beyond Horizon2020Co-writer, guitar, vocals
PatrónPatrón2020Producer, engineer, mixer, keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals (background)
Alain JohannesHum2020Composer, engineer, mixing, primary artist.
Des Rocs Dream Machine2023Producer

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alain Johannes - Emol.com . Buscador Emol . July 16, 2014.
  2. Web site: Featured Content on Myspace . https://archive.today/20120720051932/http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=11776840 . dead . July 20, 2012 . Profile.myspace.com . July 16, 2014 .
  3. Book: Thompson , Dave . Alternative Rock : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion. Miller Freeman, Inc.. 718. San Francisco. 2000 . 978-0-87930-607-6.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20070912002228/http://www.www.theroyalhighness.com/
  5. Web site: Brody Dalle announces new band | News . Nme.com . March 27, 2007 . July 16, 2014.
  6. Web site: Twitter / jimmyeatworld: Today we begin our 1st full .... https://archive.today/20121210162715/http://es.twitter.com/jimmyeatworld/status/243412487536521216. dead. Twitter.com. December 10, 2012. September 5, 2012.
  7. Web site: Heartbreak leads Alain Johannes to 'Fragments and Wholes' | News . latimes.com . January 13, 2015 . August 1, 2016.
  8. Web site: K's Choice - The Phantom Cowboy. Kschoice.be. September 22, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923031741/http://www.kschoice.be/bio.html. September 23, 2015.
  9. Web site: Edith Crash - Partir . Coachellavalleyweekly.com. December 17, 2015.
  10. Web site: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands: The Music Of The Wildlands - Alain Johannes. Youtube.com. May 31, 2021.
  11. Web site: Critic Reviews for Hum - Alain Johannes. Metacritic.com. January 19, 2022.
  12. Web site: Alain Johannes | Credits . AllMusic . July 16, 2014.
  13. Web site: Janubia,Mother Tongue,Official Website,world music, cd . Janubia.com . July 16, 2014.