Johnny Patterson was the founding member of one of San Francisco's most well know punk bands in the late 1970s. His Band No Alternative put out a number of singles and CDs during their four year existence betweem 1978 and 1982. After that, he formed the Swinging Possums who would play many shows with Chris Isaacs, The Blasters, and Los Lobos. He continued to play until an industrial accident maimed three fingers on his right hand. He was forced to spend years learning how to play again. He know plays blues and does soundtrack work. His latest album, "Black Smoke Rising," will be out in late December 2008;
My first professional gig was singing for KGB which consisted of Zippy Pinhead (The Dils, DOA), Jeff Reese (No Alternative) and Ron Ramos (The Assissins). I also played rythym guitar for the OFFs. After KGB broke up, I formed No Alternative with Jeff Reese on Bass and a rotating list of drummers (Bobby Barage, Andy Freeman, and Chris Coon). We were finally able to secure Greg Langston from Tuxedo Moon. No Alternative was one of the most actively playing/touring bands from the early San Francisco Punk Rocks days. We played with X, DOA, The Circle Jerks, Black Flag, The Cramps, to name a few. While No Alternative was still playing I formed the Swinging Possums which was a roots/rockabilly band. We opened for the Blasters at the Kabuki Theater here in San Francsico. A few years later I formed The Watchmen with Rick Tanner (Hellbillies/Demented Are Go). After that it was People's Temple with members of the Toiling Midgets and Bomb. I am currently playing with No Alternative and a new band featuring Greg Ingraham (the Avengers), Klaus Fluoride (Dead Kennedy's) and Greg Langston (No Alternative, Insaints). My solo projects include a Blues and Country CD and a CD of instruments for movie sound tracks. Yes I did a brief stint as a teacher (Chemistry). I am also an expert on allexperts.com (electric guitars) and a contributor to guitarmylife.com (the guitar player's website). Music posted here will be a combination of old and new material. Bands that have recorded my songs include Picture frame Seduction, The Adolescents, The Hellbillies, Fang, and another 20 or so groups. You Can Hear the latest Solo recording Blind Orange Johnny: Black Smoke Rising only here on myspace. the CD will be released in December. It features Johnny Genocide playing all the instruments. All songs are original. The CD was recorded on location in Clarksdale Mississippi, which is where the blues all started. We recorded it at the Hopson Plantation in a share cropper's shack. I want to thank Bill and Guy of the "Shackup Inn" for letting me record there and always showing me that great Mississippi hospitality every time Jennifer and I go down there. It's the only place to stay in the South, so grab some corn liquor and check it out. Tell them I sent you and they'll charge you double! All the CD liner photographs and the cover are shot on location at the Shackup Inn. Most of the photographs on this page were taken by Jennifer Lohman (with the exception of one taken by 200 pockets).
Yeah, there is nothing like playing live and feeding off of the audience's energy. I am lucky in that I've been playing so long that I only get good shows here in San Francisco. This means I get paid well, get on great bills and play some of the town's best clubs. I guess my favorite moment was hanging around with some of the guys from the E Street Band after a show and just shooting the breeze. It was man, many years ago but it was just one of those magic moments.
I am influenced by all the old Lomax recording of the Delta Blues boys, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Wilsey, Albert King, anything on the Chess and Stax record label. If it's good blues I like it.
Gretsch Customized RockJet, An ES-175, A Gold Top with a 13.5 neck radius and classic p90s, Vox and Marshall Amps
I play the blues every single day. I learn licks from everyone I can find. There is no such thing as too much practice (unless you're Eric Clapton and I'm sure even he practices).
