| Metro Club - London If the Libertines took some time out, lost their dick-headedness and returned with a more muscular edge to their songs, they'd sound like Johnny Panic on stage tonight. This Barking four piece couldn't look more at home, romping mightly through riotous punk anthems that spit accusations at idiot acquaintances "You're a fool" and pay homage to famous actresses "Winona" . Bathed in permanent scarlet light, Johnny Panic's singer Rob Solly has enviable versatility, occasionally even morphing into a fiery Johnny Rotten figure. Yes, there are the obvious references flying around, yes, they do sound like the Sex Pistols and The Clash. But there's enough ingenulty in this band to spark references to the Manic's, Suede, The Rolling Stones, hell even Busted get a look in, and this is what will elevate Johnny Panic away from the garage rock scrap heap come the end of the year. Debut album title ' The Violent Dazzling ' couldn't sum up tonight any better MIKE HAYDOCK - Rocksound |
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| 6-07-2004 The Peel, Kingston Johnny Panic took to the stage in Kingston-Upon-Thames, further South than they are used to playing, and give an absolutely stunning performance. Rob Panic prowled the stage like a caged beast as they ripped into "Winona", sending the crowd into jump along heaven. "You're A Fool” prompted the biggest reaction of the night as a mini-moshpit was started and the band lurched around the stage clearly loving every moment of the small intimate venue. The Peel while being a small venue gives a great sound and Johnny Panic gave a great sound straight back. The band was in fine form, pounding out next single "Burn Your Youth" and finishing with the classic "The KKK Took My Baby Away". The band loved it, the crowd loved it, we raise a glass and hope that Johnny Panic will return to The Peel soon...no doubt when they do, the place will be packed to the rafters as the word begins to spread of this incredible new punk band. The spirit of East London burns bright in these boys and the words of Rob Panic sum up the whole gig "NICE ONE!" Ed Walker |
| ULU London, 7th July 2004 We arrived to the venue in Central London at about 7.30, standing in the pouring rain giving out badges and taking email addresses at the door, finding most of the crowd were arriving to see Johnny Panic, the main attraction. We headed upstairs to hand out more badges and gather more addresses only to find more people eager to take badges. We moved into the bar area with our half empty bags of badges to proceed to shell out yet more to the crowd and take pictures of their excited faces whilst doing it.. Many Johnny Panic fans were eager to receive badges and were very happy to receive handfuls of them at the bar, many of them had come because they had heard good things about the band and had come to check them out for the first time. There was quite a buzz about the crowd and most of the people were waiting for Johnny Panic to come on stage throughout the sets of both of the preceding bands who took to the stage before them. The merch table was covered in badges and stickers, most of which went very quickly. The crowd were varied throughout the sets of the first two bands, but nearly everyone seemed to be there for Johnny Panic. When the band came on, the floor of the venue filled up and the bar cleared out, Johnny Panic came to the stage and received the best reaction from the audience yet, they played a selection of their great punk-rock tinged songs and finished with an mind blowing cover of the Ramones “KKK took my baby away”. Everything about the set was brilliant, from “Chemical girlfriend”, which was dedicated by Rob Solly to “all the cokeheads in the crowd” to whom he said ”the only thing you deserve is jail”, to “Shut up” to “You’re a fool” both of which had all the crown singing along to by the end. [But] The song that garnered the best reaction from the crowd was the forthcoming single “Burn Your Youth” Lead singer Rob Solly sang and played with great conviction and held the attention of all of those who were in the room, whilst bassist Nash Francis provided exacting vocals and threw his bass about like a man inspired. The drumming was so fuelled by energy it seemed Johnny Shock couldn’t hit the skins hard enough, and second guitar provided by Matt Bryan proved that you don’t need to be behind the mike stand to hold your own on stage. They rocked hard and bounded across the stage with great energy and mesmerised the crowd, all of whom seemed to be in agreement that the night was all about Johnny Panic. Johnny Panic captured the rare combination of great playing; great songs and amazing stage presence and anyone can easily say they owned the night. Zara - X-taster |
| Black Velvet - You're a fool EP review Johnny Panic formed ‘because I felt a disappointment from most bands I followed or became big and therefore worshipped by others, they let you down’, says vocalist Rob. Right from the first listen of this EP you can spot that JP are better than most UK bands around right now. Sounding like our very own version of Buckcherry in ‘ You’re a fool ‘, Johnny Panic brings the sparkle back into rock. There’s a sexy swagger to their rock’n’roll posturing and their writing skills work so well that you’ll be humming the songs all day. In ‘Winona’, one minute Robs vocals prowl mysteriously over dusky slices of guitar, bass & drums, while in the next refrain it becomes a softer melodious retrospection. While a great sound, name and song writing Johnny Panic could become the band you’ve always wanted to believe in – and they won’t let you down 4/5 |
| ULU 7/7/2004 Outside London’s experiencing gale force winds and pelting rain, and as we take refuge inside ULU it’s clear that the storm’s going to be just as wild on stage. East London four piece Johnny Panic are third band on stage on this blustery Wednesday, and within moments of opening the set, it’s clear they mean business. Bathing in somewhat menacing red light the band charge headlong into their well-honed set. The countless hours of practise they’ve put in over the last few years shows through as the band seem to read each others minds, bouncing off one another in a set that’s both tight and sharp, but sill retains the punk, jagged edge. Frontman Rob Solly keeps the banter to a minimum, and lets the music do the talking, as guitarist Matt James and mohicaned bassist Nash Francis stalk the stage with confidence, repeatedly turning to drummer Johnny Shock –and it’s the fact that they work as a team on stage, not as individuals, that makes them seem stronger still. Songs about drug use and suicide in young males are just some of the subjects raised by Solly tonight, but the serious lyrical content is levelled out by the punky upbeat hooks and almost retro riffs thrown down by the band who cite everything from Guns ‘n’ Roses and The Clash to Blondie as influences. ‘My Chemical Girlfriend’ has a pop punk vibe, that’s quickly torn apart as they tear into heavier material. Diversity’s the name of the game, and whether Solly’s sneering into the mic Johnny Rotten-style or even screaming out with Taking Back Sunday-esque emotion, its clear that this band can put most of the current darlings of NME to shame. Up coming single ‘Burn Your Youth’ shines through as the track of the show. It’s clear that the work-ethic this band is so well known for really has paid huge dividends as track after track rolling off the stage shows single potential, the quality of the song writing is refreshingly high – without the usual bland fillers that some bands rely on. It’s obvious this band have the potential and clear-cut belief in themselves to make it, and even without the fun on-stage banter we’re used to with other bands, they clearly still connect well with their audience. We return from the show with pockets bulging with badges and stickers handed out by a fervently adoring street team, and it’s obvious their self-assured performances have already given them a well deserved fan base. This is a home grown talent to keep an eye on – catch them before they go stellar. By Dee Massey (Caught in the Crossfire) |
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| Johnny Panic Kick Off Fourth Kerrang! Launch Gig Johnny Panic, 22-20s and The Glitterati rocked the Academy for the fourth Kerrang! Freq Show on 23rd June. First to the stage were young London based political rock n rollers 'Johnny Panic,' immediately setting the crowd alight with their snarly Clash-esque vocals and bashing riffs. Every song sounds like a classic, from the politicised 'Burn Your Youth' to the good time rock and roll of 'Automatic Healer.' Tonight Johnny Panic clearly transformed the Kerrang! audience into a new set of loyal fans with inspiring onstage banter from vocalist Rob Solly, and an outstanding punktastic performance from the rest of the band too. Look out for Johnny Panic, a band destined to f**king rock you KerrangRadio. |
| "What I fear most 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." - Sylvia Plath That philosophy isn't lost on Johnny Panic, whose name is taken from the author and poet's Johnny Panic And The Bible Of Dreams. Eight 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. It's probably that same vitriol that led The Fly to reckon that this quixotic quartet has "the polemics of a pre-lard Manics, trashy anthemics of The Wildhearts and a Rotten sneer to wipe away all memory of I'm A Celebrity." Make no mistake - Johnny Panic has always put writing good music front and centre. Future-frontman Solly was first introduced to The Jam by his older sister, and an obsession with The Only Ones, The Buzzcocks, The Sex Pistols and The Clash wasn't far behind. He'd soon have a fateful encounter with Jonny Shock (he’s got a thirst for Aftershocks) - a fellow South-East London native - who'd 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. They'd soon enlist the talents of local artist, come bassist Nash Francis, the son of a club musician “Nash was the coolest looking guy around” notes Shock. 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 meets The Clash’ that's become their trademark. That would come in 2002 in the form of guitarist Matt James. “We’d had a few people out to rehearse with us, but Matt’s the only bastard who crashed his car into mine” says Shock. "I’d played with a load of other bands, but nobody really had the hunger. Then Rob calls me and asks me if I want to join the biggest band in the world. How could I say no?" explains James. Good thing he didn’t, because while they may have yet to achieve the star-studded status of their idols but 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 and it beat out The Von Bondies for XFM's 'Single of the Week'. Johnny Panic's debut album was recorded in 11 days at Parkgate Studio's, Hastings, with producer Al Clay (Pixies, A, Reef), The Violent Dazzling is set for release in the Autumn. In the words of one Kerrang! journalist, "Their time will come." Alex Milas (Drowned in Sound) |
| Rocksound ‘Burn yout Youth review August 2004 Currently making some very big waves on the underground circuit, its easy to see why when Johnny Panic deliver accomplished tunes like these. The perfect balance of old school punk, rebel uproar & unforgettable hooks, this is a summer stormer with a difference. If previous single ‘ You’re a fool ‘ turned heads then this one should catapult them into your consciousness for good. |
BUG JAM 18 24.07.2004 Santa Pod Raceway, Northants Well this was the 18th Birthday Party of the Bug Jam and without a doubt it F**king Owned. I got there on the Friday morning and it was crammed at like 11 am. This without a doubt was the biggest ever I have seen it. I think it had a lot more to offer than last year and it was not just people into VW'S but also people coming away for the weekend for a good time. Well anyway the whole point of this written-up report was to tell you about "Johnny Panic" who performed there. Obviously I have been wanting to see them for a while and just never had the time off or cash to do so. I got sent up there by the street team (powered by x-taster) so thanks people. It was well worth it. The gig was on at 5-ish, which was an hour later than listed. As expected they came out and blew the crowd away. They played quite a few songs I was unfamiliar with but you could still love them from the first time of listening. After the gig I got to talk with the entire band and hang out 'til a lot later that night. The guys are very easy to talk to and are on the level so it was well worth chilling with them after the gig. It was rather funny as Rob drank a fair bit and then went on so many fairground rides and still wasn’t sick. To really take the piss he had a curry afterwards - now that's a stomach of steel. I’m not quite sure how he did it. Everyone with the Johnny Panic team were awesome - all great people. I met some very decent personalities and I can most definately say I am going to go and check them out again. There was so much stuff to list that happened but basically their live performance is amazing and they play every bit as good as you would want to believe. Well worth checking them out. I am heading for London on the 10th to go and see them again. A big band to watch out for - These guys have it all: Style, Skill, Realism, ... and down right Rock and Roll. Thanks guys for a great night - Rock On - I can't wait for the album.You were a great bonus to the Bug Jam event. Roll on London. Chris Avery (x-taster) |
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| Burn your Youth review www.allgigs.co.uk This South East London quartet who takes its name from a piece of Sylvia Plath prose (Johnny Panic & the Bible of Dreams) threatens to rip into the music scene with their thrashing garage rock and hint of punk sound. This follow up to their tempting debut 'You're a Fool' features the powerful John Robb (Goldblade) meets Mick Jagger vocals of front man Rob Solly, whose zest and reiteration of the blunt yet catchy chorus captures the defiance of youth "I know, you know; they ain't got a fucking clue. I know, you know; they ain't got a fucking clue." Strident guitars that helped make the likes of The Pixies and Black Flag famous, sit in nicely with Solly's vocals to help give this number an edge. Simple and to the point seems to be the motto for Johnny Panic, but this does not detract from the compelling nature of this offering. David Adair - |
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| Burn Your Youth - review www.rockzine.co.uk What ever happened to having a pop at pop culture? Okay so Coldplay’s Chris Martin is known to rant on behalf of his beloved Fair Trade organisation and would-be pop stars will – let’s face it – jump on any charity bandwagon for a glimmer of publicity, but most are only veiled attempts at exposing ‘the system’ – at best. So along come London’s Johnny Panic, notebooks filled with stats about young males being their own biggest killers, telling us to ‘Burn Our Youth’. Reinviting the wheel, this band aint, but their high-on-melody low on guff fusion of Jimmy Eat World and the Manics makes for a welcome kick in the nuts (?!). Like a protest banner stapled to the side of your head, this song’s chorus refuses to go away. Expect Johnny Panic to trample the opposition and spit on their corpses – ace. Alex Hardie |
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| Johnny Panic - Burn Your Youth Now I've heard a lot of good stuff about this band. And they aren't lying! The Song is put together perfectly. It's got a nice riff to the beginning, and a palm muted verse, which i personally like on any song. It sounds calm/heavy. Like a normal song. Well what's a normal song? Any way. I don't know what to say. It's a very good song. Brilliant in fact. I don't know what it is, but bands are getting better day by day. I mean we get sent all these CD's to review and rarely to we get something that we don't actually like. So to sum up it's a brilliant song. I tell you, if these guys were big, you know really famous, that song would go to number 1. It's a shame that bands like Johnny Panic and hundreds others aren't gettng any coverage. Instead all this other Linkin Park shit is out here. We could do with more bands like Johnny Panic. FUCK OFF YOU OTHER FAKE BANDS!!! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! 9/10 By Lee www.rockontheweb.co.uk |
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| Burn Your Youth (Concept) Sometimes you'd think that the Manic Street Preachers were the only band ever to have had a thought. Bands with little in common with them musically, such as Kinesis and Rancid, along with R*E*P*E*A*T's very own Miss Black America and The Virgin Suicides have been accused (with varying degrees of accuracy) of wanting to be 'the new Manics' for daring to want to write about more than their skateboards, their girl friends or their ganga. While this is a great compliment to the fatty Welsh ones, it is hardly helpful in describing new bands. One such band to suffer this double edged compliment are Johnny Panic for daring to infuse their raw, guitar powered melodies with a social consciousness - "everyone of our songs is trying to get something across." Teenage suicide, drug destruction, a determination to question everything and an all consuming fear of, in the word's of Sylvia Plath, 'the death of the imagination', mark out the stance of this fast emerging four piece. However anyone believing Kerrang! and hoping for Generation Terrorists mark 2 will be sadly disappointed. Johnny Panic have ideas and intelligence and attitude yes, but they are no tribute band. This single is dirty and sleezy and brash and catchy as hell; names like New York Dolls and The Wildhearts and even Cheap Trick spring more readily to mind than our friends from Blackwood. This record is just what a a music scene grown bloated and boring needs. Energy, adrenaline, excitement and yes ideas combine to produce a single which will have you putting it on repeat play on your stereo and then leaping around the bedroom and perhaps half believing again that rock'n'roll can change your life and indeed change the world. If only for 3 minutes. www.repeatfanzine.co.uk |
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| Burn your Youth XFM Johnny Panic are doing their bit to highlight the plight of suicidal males between the ages of 16 and 34 by striking Manics-alike poses in the shadow of The City's infamous Gherkin building. Cue trouble with The Pigs and commuters slowing their busy stride to winder if this is A Happening. Worthy causes aside, 'Burn Your Youth's chorus to die for (No! Not like that!) turns more than its fair share of heads. But lose the kilt, eh lads? www.xfm.co.uk |
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| Johnny Panic Burn your youth Energetic, loud, brash, and an ode to the old days of rock and roll. Worth a listen. AIR3 |
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| Johnny Panic - Burn Your Youth Single Review by Jess ( rockpulse ) Up-and-coming four piece Johnny Panic have been receiving impressive reviews of their new single (the follow-up to the 'You're A Fool' EP released earlier this year) in most of the major rock mags around (Kerrang!, The Fly, Rocksound, and Metal Hammer to name a few), and just one single listen of their song 'Burn Your Youth' will tell you why. This song has everything; infectious music, great lyrics, and an incredibly catchy chorus, as well as an underlying message that the band put forward in an honest and passionate way. The various web addresses concerning suicide that can be found on the single, as well as the use of the quote: "The biggest killer of UK males aged 16-24 is themselves" conveys the band's social conscience and really does set them apart from the rest. The other songs featured on the single are 'The Chancer' and 'Rats', which, although not as catchy and instantly appealing as 'BYY', are still great songs, and I particularly like the edgy music and lyrics of 'Rats'. Burn Your Youth is a brilliant track that will (hopefully) propel Johnny Panic to stardom; I can't express how refreshing it is to hear a track as good as this one and instantly fall in love with it. This is a definite 10 guitars! You can find out more about the band by going to their site, www.johnnypanic.com. Rating Out of 10:10 www.rockpulse.co.uk |
| BURN YOUR YOUTH - Johnny Panic August 2004 by Stephen Chapman With a name taken from a Sylvia Plath novel, you’d expect this to be art rock at the very least. But when you get much better than average college rock it’s a bit of a surprise. Okay so Johnny Panic may be four lads from South East London, but their sound is Blink 182 and the rest. It’s made for MTV and although I usually hate that, Burn your youth is great. 8/10 http://www.unbarred.co.uk/ |
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| Johnny Panic Burn Your Youth Punky, rocky and downright fun. Johnny Panic possess a ‘70s swagger with a modern day edge which is both enticing and excitingly retro. I have no complaints with this track whatsoever. It’s very melodic with chugging guitars, group vocals, catchy-as-hell chorus and an awesome video filmed on the London Underground which gained the band a number of friends/enemies in the London Transport Police, excellent. Basically good fun all round. 8/10 Chris Barnes www.dripfed.co.uk |
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| Johnny Panic – Burn Your Youth Alt. Metal nowadays has a bit of a hard time with hecklers and cynics, especially if the acts are uk based. Johnny Panic are a south-east London band with a summer vibe attached to 'Burn Your Youth'. Glorious we hear you cry, but it comes as standard really. As long as the sun blazes over to 'burn our youth away' then what the hell? http://www.heathenangel.co.uk/ Copyright Yousif Nur, 2004 |
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| Johnny Panic - Live at The Turnmills Ok well I have Finally Got round to writing the review of Turnmils, I know it has taken me some time but I was so so busy. Well anyway Lets stop talking shit and Lets get to work, I arrived about 7 ish and I knew it was going to be a bit of a travel so we left my place at 3.15 lol, Train station is like half hour away and then 1 hour to London. Well as I was saying we arrived there at about 7 went and found the venue but it was not gonna kick off till like 8 - 8.30, So we hung back for a while and went to the Pub next to it, I think it was some cocktail bar as I remember my mate trying to tell them he wanted a larger and it was taking allot of time to understand what one he wanted as they only did one type. LOL I met Rob and Matt outside and they were doing different things, trying to sort Nash's car what was clamped and wanted 150 pound for it, haha, it was an eventful evening all over and it was building up to the time. Neways we went into the gig at .8.30 is and It was Fuc*ing amazing. There were five bands on this night and the line up went like this "Ed parish" He opened the night and it was very silent in there when this guy was playing, He was doing some acoustic stuff and there for not really what I wanted on the night but we stood around chatting and taking in the atmosphere. Next up was the Band called "The Hitchers" I knew nothing of these but as soon as they started Jamming at the beginning of they’re set, the people Flocked in like sheep. Haha, They were amazing and in my opinion deserved to go allot later then 2nd act but as it went they did and they set the Gig up for an amazing night. They performed around 6 songs and then gave out free cd's of some of there stuff and I was really impressed. I was chatting the manager after the gig about them and he said they were also amazing and one band he thinks you should look out for in the future. Brand Violet were after that and the speakers needed to be toned down a bit with that girls voice, Amazingly powerful and did go straight to you head lol but they were good all the same but nothing compared to the hitchers before Hand. THE TIME HAD COME, JOHNNY PANIC WERE ABOUNT TO PLAY: P. They came on the stage and just like TRUE ROCK AND ROLL they were late on haha, And the quote if I remember that Rob said before the band started was "Ok its later then Planed but that’s Rock and roll, Lets get to work” And one those words were said they Stormed into there first Song of the night and let me tell you the Floor just got crammed with people who most defiantly come to see them. It was so packed in this room by now about double the Hitchers crowed. If I can remember rightly the first tune they did was "Your a fool" Then the rest is a blur, haha, All I know they had such good stage presence. They were looking so Professional and showing what they are all about. Matt was rocking out in front of us and it was awesome to see him playing plus having great stage awareness apart from one part where his Guitar lead nearly took him over haha, It was so close and you could see a cheeky smile like he was aware of what nearly happened LOL. Rob then was on the Drums later in the set and looking right at Johnny as they were jamming to the end of the song and as rob Jumped off he Knocked the drums over haha but it seemed not many people seemed to notice which was the funniest thing, The best part of this is that I heard that they were not his bands drums and that Verra Cruz owned them lol, Rob you should be more carefu, make sure you know what property your trashing lol. All in all though it was a Fuking amazing gig and the best I have been to by them and roll on the next one, I left before Verra Cruz as I had the last train WHICH I did miss lol............so there for had to get to tonbridge and there people to meet me there to get me another hour or so home lol. And I met the Manager at the station and I think he knew that I was not going to be able to make it and he was right lol.... no chance haha...., Oh well it was worth it, But I heard the venue cleaned out after JP so you know it was all for them, well done guys another great show.... Thanks xtaster for the opportunity for taking me here it really was a great one. Much appreciated, "Power to you guys" Chris Avery |
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| Johnny Panic - Burn Your Youth Three minutes of blistering rock energy anyone? That's what you get with Johnny Panic's latest. Taking their name from a Sylvia Plath collection and already with an album (produced by Al Clay of Pixies and A fame) under their belt and XFM, The Fly, Kerrang et al all having hailing them as the best thing since sliced bread, JP are set to go far. The Johnny Panic sound is one of cyclonic guitars, vocals with a sneering edge and well woven pop hooks. And you can't go wrong with that. http://www.betweenplanets.co.uk |
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| Johnny Panic - Burn Your Youth (Barking Dog) Lawrence Poole THE Oasis track Digsy's Dinner may sit in the upper echelons of any chart reflecting the group's worst song to date, but it does possess one redeeming factor. The killer kiss-off line 'these may be the the best days of our lives' was a perfect indictment of the time for the band and one which Barking quartet Johnny Panic certainly echo. Fed up 18-24-year-olds inhabiting the 'comfort zone' and focusing on the high suicide rate in that demographic category, the group led by Rob Solly release this call to arms in a bid to get the youth of today making the most of their time. As anthemic and pulsating and you could wish for, on the career front these Johnny-on-the-spot's shouldn't need to panic. http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk |
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| JOHNNY PANIC - BURN YOUR YOUTH: Johnny Panic (whose name is taken from the author and poet, Sylvia Plath's book, Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams, follow-up their breakthrough single, You're A Fool, with another take notice rock number, which eschews the production values of Al Clay (The Pixies and A). Hailing from south east London, this promising quartet is comprised of Rob Solly (vocals, guitar), Jonny Shock (drums), Nash Francis (bass, vocals) and Matt James (guitars, vocals) and appear to be a tight little outfit, capable of producing catchy, fiery rock numbers that seem destined for a much wider appeal than they are currently attracting. Burn Your Youth is a fun little anthem, which screams defiance, without ever sounding depressing. Keep an eye on this outfit. http://www.indielondon.co.uk |
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| Johnny Panic Burn Your Youth Concept Article written by Johnnie C Sep 21, 2004. While too many garage bands sound as though they’d be happy being locked in with the engine running, South East London quartet Johnny Panic prove there still lurks a growling, snarling, beating heart in suburbia. Burn Your Youth contains the essential elements of a great punk single: thrilling riff, instant hooks, killer chorus and that swagger that makes teenage fans rude to teachers and take up smoking. That said, it’s a little over-earnest, in a Manics kind of way, but if people still enjoy that type of serious sloganeering on schoolbags and bus shelters, then here are your new gods. http://www.soundsxp.com/index.shtml |
| JOHNNY PANIC - Burn Your Youth By Dawn It may be only the band's second single, but Burn Your Youth is such an impressively polished track that not only can you see your reflection in the CD, you can almost smell the Mr Sheen. Described by Planet Loud as "the coolest, cockiest rockers on the block", Johnny Panic are as wonderfully rock and roll as the Libertines back when they were Up the Bracket; let's see if they can sustain such an infectious, lively pace on their debut album, The Violent Dazzling. http://meanmartini.freeservers.com/home.html |
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| Kerrang New British Rock Tour - Gullivers - 8.10.04 |
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| Johnny Panic's set ends in chaos with bassist Nash Francis stumbling into the audience and going tits up. At the same time frontman Rob Solly managed to pull down the bands backdrop engulfing the drummer in the process. Taking their name from the Sylvia Plath's "Johnny Panic And The Bible Of Dreams" they rip through a set which takes in "Winona" and "Automatics Healer" and climaxes with "Burn The Youth", a song before which Solly talks of Ian Curtis and Kurt Cobain and reminds us that the worlds biggest killer of young males is themselves. Daubed with slogans and army fatigues its easy to draw comparisons with the political agit-rock of the Manics, but Johnny Panic are a little less obvious in their political agenda. They're a band who don't want to push ideas in your face, they just want to remind you that its ok to sit down once in a while and think about the world from a different viewpoint. http://designermagazine.tripod.com/designermag.html |
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| Kerrang New British Rock Tour Rock City 7/10/2004 But by far the best reception was received by the London quartet Johnny Panic who you would be forgiven for mistaking for an early eighties punk band from the same place. Playing their guitars at knee level, dressed in leather jackets with more zips sewn on than possibly imaginable, you may have thought you saw the ghost of Sid Vicious. However you would not be forgiven for thinking they sound like the clash, or the specials which are a couple of bands they have sought inspiration from. The Johnny Panic sound would most likely be classified as new punk/rock with a raw edge which is lacking in most bands belonging to the same genre. ‘The single biggest killer of 16-24 year olds in this country…is themselves’ pronounced Matt before leading his band into the final song of their set ‘Burn Your Youth’ and the irony of the chorus rang around the room. It seems that Johnny Panic (the name itself taken from the title of a Sylvia Plath novel ‘Johnny Panic and the Bible dreams’ who incidentally committed suicide shortly before the publishing of her final novel ‘The Bell Jar’) are more than a bunch of twenty-something lads who want to hit the big time but they also have something to say, that maybe we need to start listening to our troubled self destructive youth. Suhail Iqbal |
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| Kerrang new British rock Tour The Charlotte, Leicester 14/10/04 The prospect of seeing a plain old punk band (of which we’ve had so many lately) isn’t appetising – but Johnny Panic are anything but. Opening with Pistols-esque rampage ‘You’re a fool’,and impressing with the sublime ‘Shut Up (With your silence)’ and ‘Burn Your Youth’, Johnny Panic are a fresh take on early Manics’ polemic-fuelled glitter. You couldn’t wish for a frontman more passionate than Rob Solly – inexplicably daubed in brown dye – to deliver this new message. Don’t let this be the future – let it be now. Steve Beebee Kerrang Magazine |
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| Mean Fiddler, London 30/10/2004 Johnny Panic should be huge. They write great songs, with great melodies and great harmonies and they have a message or two for the world. Lead singer Rob Solly is compelling to watch, driven and ballsy, punching his lyrics out with genuine fervour and passion, unafraid to speak his mind about what's wrong with the planet and getting his point across in songs that should, for all intents and purposes, come over as quixotic to the point of being completely naff, but instead make you sit up and listen - and think. Where their indie counterparts seem more concerned with the pain and angst of writing songs with a social conscience, Johnny Panic see the humour in human behaviour with sly digs like 'Winona' (yes, that one) and 'Automatic Healer' (apparently unashamed written about a hooker) and put their message into a song that you want to listen to, that you want to sing along with. The anthemic 'Burn Your Youth' released earlier this year should have had young men all over the country shouting along in empathetic frustration, it's a cracking number with shades of The Clash and the Sex Pistols and I f**king love it. All their songs are complex layers of guitars, bass, drums and male harmonies, but come across so simply you find yourself singing along by the second chorus and, lyrical talent aside, the guys put on a performance you can't help but get into. Bassist Nash Francis and lead guitarist Matt James are as magnetic to watch as their frontman and, exposing welcome amounts of lean sweaty flesh, all three of them play their guitars like extensions of their masculinity, backed by a thumpingly good drummer in Johnny Shock. The result is a heady mix of sweaty, red-blooded, testosterone-charged fury of guitars and drums, in a package of surprisingly melodic and almost pop-sounding songs. A review in 'The Fly' said that 'The youth of Great Britain will be short-changed until this band is on CD:UK' and I have to agree. In a musical world where record companies have commenced campaigns to produce homogenized clones of genuinely talented pop/rock bands for an audience craving 'real music', I have to wonder why they just don't get a real rock band who will 'appeal to the youth of today'. A real rock band like Johnny Panic. http://freespace.virgin.net/shocking.blue/ |
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| Chemical Girlfriend 05 December 2004 / 1 Trk CD / Download Release By JR Taken from the upcoming album “The Violent Dazzling” (Feb 05), “Chemical Girlfriend” will be a download release with all proceeds going to “The Rehabilitation For Addicted Prisoners Trust Charity”. A worthy cause, as the charity seeks to rehabilitate addicts who end up in jail and its all in effort to help create a break in the cycle of drug abuse and crime. At last, someone’s making an effort to tackle such problems at the root. Strangely (although maybe not in Tony Thatcher-Blair’s modern utopia) addicted prisoners do not receive anywhere near the level of assistance that smack heads on the street “enjoy”. So get buying. As for the music – it’s a decent enough slasher wig out. Slightly new rock with American alt.rock pretensions, Johnny Panic have come up with some big production values and a swagger that would easily be comfortable on MTV2, with its slightly metal pretensions and a pretty great guitar / effects break. Get saving those convicted addicts now ! Seriously – a good cause and 100% of the 99p per download goes straight to helping mould a better society. Hats off to JP. http://www.music-dash.co.uk/ |
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| Destiny Calling Johnny Panic is a bit of a contradiction, the vocals on some tracks, ‘Destiny calling’, are somewhere between The Wildhearts and a more innovative than most indie bands. Then they will through caution to the wind and come out with something that almost feels like glam punk, ‘Burn your youth.’ I’m pretty sure Johnny Panic have played my local dive venue and shock the foundations almost as much as Easyworld, Orange Goblin and Number One Son have done. They are one of those bands that hopefully will avoid being pinned down to one fashionable movement and thus last a bit longer having taken more time to develop their sound. For thsoe who are interested since writing this initally for a music magazine that shall remain nameless, I have seen them live and they were one of the highlights of the evening. Having taken 8 years to get around to recording their debut album, ‘The violent dazzling’, they decided to actually record it in 11 days. It was 11 days ever well spent as the intricate sounding ‘Winona’ demonstrates. The enjoyable ‘Chemical Girlfriend’ owes a painfully obvious debt to Rachel Stamp, mixed with a dose of ‘Primitive Radio Gods. The worst track was going to be the one with the most cringe-inducing sincere social conscience, with in this case it ‘Hurt (I see you around)’ which is about self-harming. Apparently slashing is a recognised mental health issue these days which hopefully means they will find a cure for it soon. Joking apart, it is a nice sentiment it just seems a little bit over the top, although to be fair I didn’t laugh at this one, unlike Good Charlotte’s awful awful anti-suicide song. Johnny Panic isn’t afraid to make their lyrics personal, with ‘Shut up (with your silence)’ being a rant about honesty and relationships set over a couple of catchy guitar riffs. Perhaps slightly less based on personal experience ‘Automatic healer’ is about hookers and contains a fairly effective Johnny Rotten impersonation. http://www.entertainmentdeath.com/ |
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| Johnny Panic - Chemical Girlfriend single Review by Jess London based band Johnny Panic are back with a new single, 'Chemical Girlfriend'. The new track is a download single and is released on December 5th at a bargain price of 99p. All proceeds will go to RAPt (The Rehabilitation For Addicted Prisoners Trust Charity); lead singer Rob Solly says the band "strongly believe that prisoners who are convicted and imprisoned for crimes as a result of drug addiction need the same treatment for drugs that addicts on the outside receive." Last single 'Burn Your Youth' (review here) targeted the issue of suicide in young males, so does this song have a similarly serious theme? While the track may give the impression of being about a drug-dependent girlfriend, Solly explains that "the drug is the girlfriend". So what about the actual track? As I've come to expect with Johnny Panic, this song has pretty much everything; brilliant lyrics, an infectious beat and an incredibly appealing chorus. Addictive after just the first listen, this song is just as catchy as Burn Your Youth, and demands just as much attention. www.rockpulse.co.uk |
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| Johnny Panic - Chemical Girlfriend Johnny Panic release this single as a precursor to their debut album, ‘The Violent Dazzling’, slated to be unleashed in February 2005 with all money raised from this download only track going to the RAPt charity – The Rehabilitation For Addicted Prisoners Trust. Despite what the title may lead you to believe, ‘Chemical Girlfriend’ is not about a drug taking girlfriend, apparently the girlfriend is the drug (something many of us will no doubt empathise with). Taking Guns N’ Roses riffs and blending them with a melody filled slice of glam pop, Johnny Panic create an infectious chorus which has you singing along within a couple of listens. Chest beating rock that may lack a little substance but sounds fantastic pumping out of the speakers at high volume. Good time rock n’ roll just as it should be. Rating: 8/10 http://www.heathenangel.co.uk |
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| JOHNNY PANIC - CHEMICAL GIRLFRIEND: Having impressed hugely with their last single, Burn Your Youth, Kerrang! favourites, Johnny Panic return with the download-only single, Chemical Girlfriend. The track is typical of the feel-good nature of the East London-based band - all fiery lyrics and excellent guitars, wrapped around some great hooks. The track will be available to download as a single from December 5, 2004, through Barking Dog Records via Concept music. It will cost 99p, with all money raised going to RAPt – The Rehabilitation For Addicted Prisoners Trust Charity. Speaking about the single, lead singer, Rob Solly, explains that the song isn't about a girlfriend who takes drugs, but 'the girlfriend is the drug'. While on his involvement with RAPt, he adds: "The band are supporting RAPt as we strongly believe that prisoners who are convicted & imprisoned for crimes as a result of drug addiction need the same treatment for drugs that addicts on the outside receive. There is no point locking addicts up and not treating their addictions, as they will simply re-offend to feed their addiction. RAPt gives society a chance to not only give the prisoner a drug free future, but to reduce crime and the victims of crime." It's a worthy track and one we'd definitely recommend for the download treatment. http://www.indielondon.co.uk |
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| Chemical Girlfriend Suede meets Green Day in this 3 minute sing-a-long classic that will have you humming for days. The short sharp shock treatment is administered with a joyous petulance by vocalist Rob Solly. Their album ‘The Violent Dazzling’ is set to for release in February 2005 with all money raised from this download only track going to the RAPt charity [The Rehabilitation For Addicted Prisoners Trust]. Exploding with a guitar heavy sound this is surely a call to all when they next play live on Dec 21st at the London Barfly. Well worth a download. http://www.music-news.com/ |
| Johnny Panic - The Adelphi I was pretty convinced before they even started playing that I wouldn't like Johnny Panic, based solely on their outfits. Oh how wise are the words never judge a book by its cover. OK, so the image was a bit OTT but they had some great balls out Punk Rock songs with great choruses and by heck did they belt them out! A fierce attack of low slung guitars, rock posturing and those tartan trousers with the pretend kilt bit. Good old rock and roll but with a brain secretly hidden away somewhere. http://www.sandmanmagazine.co.uk/hu...iews/10/10.html |
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| The Underworld, Camden - Tuesday 18 January 2005 ariel-X ~ Johnny Panic ~ The Reputation Ah, The Underworld. Dark, smoky, dank, cold, broken air-conditioning units dripping slowly onto the floor in front of the stage, marvelously sullen and tattoo'd bar staff, humourless bouncers and a crowd with more body-piercings per capita than Christina Aguilera. What a brilliant place for a dark, smoky, sexy goth rock band like ariel-x. I must say these guys are growing on me every time I see them. Can't say I'm at the CD-buying stage yet, but I do like to see them live. They have a raw sensuality to their performance that radiates through their guitars and vocals and is captivating to say the very least. Lead singer Ben John has a big belt voice and wails up a storm, with guitarist Mark Verney and bassist James Fage dodging around each other, sweat flying from their chins, peering out at the crowd through long black fringes (and in Ben's case a wild-eyed glare from dramatically hollow'd cheeks), while drummer Alan Van Kleef trashes his drumkit behind them. Again, hard-pressed to give you a song title or a lyric, but the energy of their performance, the force of the stupidly-tight guitars and rhythm section, the primal musical urges contained in four wild boys trapped on a tiny stage - this is what I always pictured gigs at The Underworld to be like. If Poppy Z Brite, (author of spellbinding vampyre novel Lost Souls) was looking for a house band for Christian's bar in the deliciously seedy, gothic French Quarter of New Orleans, I imagine she would want one like ariel-x. I've said it before and I'll say it again until someone other than the enlightened folks who came along to see them tonight know about it - Johnny Panic should be huge. Aside from the (and don't take this the wrong way) 'commercial' appeal of four good-looking guys who play fantastically well together, aside from their tangible chemistry and Rob Solly's frenetic, intense and entirely riveting stage persona, they write bloody good songs! Tonight's set began with (please forgive any errors) Minority of One - rip-roaring rock'n'roll to shake the crowd up from the second Rob's guitar twanged into life in the darkness, the infectious bassline and hysterical lyrics of Winona ('I’ll tell the judge the jury that you’ve not been the same since Johnny left you he must be f**king insane'), the resolute chants in the chorus of You're A Fool and the stompingly strong Shut Up With Your Silence. Rob reiterated to a sympathetic crowd that their next number could have been a hit - and damn straight, it SHOULD have been a hit. Burn Your Youth is one of the best songs with a comment on society I've heard. Not only is it catchy, memorable and thumpingly good to jump along to, there's a message in there that can't be ignored. Having a dig tonight at celebrity culture and the tabloid media with a less than flattering adjective for Hello! magazine, Burn Your Youth, in a few short verses, manages to sum up how the media portrays any chance the young people of today might have for a future. Which is none. So you may as well give up now. Which, as the Panic boys say, is bollocks. And having witnessed the national-wide destruction of morale, motivation and self-image by the British tabloid media in the three years that I've lived in the UK and its effect on the general public's opinion of themselves, of celebrities and of each other, I couldn't agree more. Having whipped the sizeable crowd into a cheering frenzy with this ballsy number, the lads cruised into Automatic Healer, with its wonderfully melodic chorus and finger-bleeding guitar riffs, the grungy bass-beats and head-nod-inducing Chemical Girlfriend, Rob wrapping himself sensually around his mic stand and eyeing his audience defiantly, before finishing up this hugely invigorating set with a cover of The Nerves' (not Blondie's, Rob was quick to point out) Hangin' on the Telephone, an adventure in heavy guitars and screaming vocals. Marvellous. But while all this incredible energy, sweaty shirtless-ness, flirtatious bass-playing, frenetic leaping and yelling is fantastic, at the end of the day, the thing that makes Johnny Panic stand out from the other bands struggling to write good songs that people want to listen to, and get their point across at the same time, is the fact they mean it. The name of their band comes from a Sylvia Plath novel about dreams and the destruction of them by an ignorant and frightened society. Have a think about that, while I'm going to risk sounding like an arty w**ker (again), and say that beyond their terrific rock'n'roll sound and their massively energetic performance, Johnny Panic have impressed me because, in the midst of all the bullsh*t in the world, they are simply looking for the truth. Rough on The Reputation having to follow Johnny Panic, I have to say. These guys have hauled ass all the way from Chicago to start their UK tour in Camden tonight and while they are a solid, competent, interesting rock band, after the blazing performance that preceded them, they were left playing to 26 people (yes I counted). Lead singer Elizabeth Elmore is a funky looking lady with a voice like Liz Phair and some serious guitar-chick style. She's backed by Steve Hulet (guitars and vocals), Joel Root (bass) and the bear-like Steve van Horn on drums and they are a tight unit, who know what they're doing and are confident in their abilities. However, their musical style is pretty much your basic open chord strum with a few interesting bass lines and some nice vocal melodies. When I first heard their track Face It on their website I thought maybe they'd have a groovy Liz Phair meets The Donnas with some Alannis Morrisette tinged round edges, but unfortunately most of their numbers sound just like it, without the poignancy or, frankly, the balls that these artists have. So when the sixth or seventh song had Elizabeth strumming the same chords on her (very nice) Gibson SG again I decided I wasn't going to hear much more than this and headed off to catch my bus. Their disappointment at the turnout for their opening date also shone through like a beacon, which was a shame as some blatant in-your-face confidence might have helped a great deal. A laid-back performance after the heat and fury of Johnny Panic wasn't really what The Underworld's punters were looking for, and, I'm afraid, neither was I. But I do wish them all the best with the rest of the tour. They seem very nice. http://www.bluesreviews.co.uk/jpunderworld_jan05.html |
Johnny Panic @ Dry Bar, Manchester Sunday, 13 March 2005 In the surroundings of the swanky Dry Bar in Manchester, Johnny Panic displayed fragments of passionate punk-rock that should take them to the fore front of the British music scene. Singer Rob Solly had in parts of the set a fearless passion as the band launched into "Burn Your Youth", a cry to all the young people of the UK. "You're a Fool" followed to a good reaction from the slightly strung out crowd. Johnny Panic didn't seem as powered up as two weeks before at The Peel, Kingston, but it was still a fine performance from a band that have the potential to be an enigma for the country's youth. The band are now set to head out to Texas, for the South By South West festival, playing alongside the current cream of British and American bands. Let's hope they get spotted and their brand of punk-rock pushes its way into the limelight. Ed Walker |
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| Minority of One Review Yet again Johnny Panic deliver another foot stomping, adrenaline filled, three-minute slice of guitar power-pop. This South East London four piece continue to build themselves a reputation on the live circuit whilst dispensing shots of adrenaline from a socially concious syringe. Johnny Panic belong to that anthemic guitar rock school The Offspring, Manic Street Preachers and Therapy? must have studied at. ‘Minority Of One’ will be the first track of the soon to be released debut album ‘The Violent Dazzling’ and should see Johnny Panic receive the airplay and commercial success they truly deserve. Johnny Panic are... Rob Solly - vocals, guitar Matt James - guitar Nash Francis - bass Jonny Shock - drums Rated 4 out of 5 http://www.music-news.com/ |
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| Johnny Panic - Minority of One The new single from Johnny Panic is another thumping song that picks you up and whirls you around - it releases you when it has finished, not the other way around. Minority of one continues the bands desire to rock us all with huge hooks and catchy lyrics, definitely another one to make your pulse race. But this single also contains the longer album version of the single, giving us all the chance to bounce for even longer. The third track or 'B' side is the 70's pop/punk song 'Hanging on the telephone' which has more meat then the original but doesn't quite inspire without the short red dresses and long legs like Blondie did... http://www.rock3.co.uk/ |
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| Johnny Panic – Minority Of One ‘Burn Your Youth’ showed the Johnny Panic’s promise, ‘Chemical Girlfriend’ realised the bands potential and now ‘Minority Of One’ cements that reputation in fully adrenlised style as the band pump like a boy racers engine with another infectious punk socked rocker. Determined to destroy “the glut of musical mediocrity” that is the current music scene Johnny Panic stamp down hard with their social commentary and uncompromising guitar riffs. Despite all the attitude and noise the chorus is tempered by some pop harmonies that should help the song be more appealing to a wider audience but without alienating their rock fans. Forthcoming debut album ‘The Violent Dazzling’ is a mouth watering prospect indeed. Rating: 8/10 www.heathenangel.co.uk |
| Islington academy Okay here goes: Johnny Panic supporting Trashlight Vision on April 10th, Bar Academy Islington Plan A did a very good job in warming up the crowds, so they were prepared for the assault JP tend to like doing. Rb`s voice has improved a great deal since I last saw the band live, nd even more so has tehir attitude. Their debut album is "going to b the best debut since ages", promises Rob. (Deliver, still not sure about teh release date, but oh well) and then, "for all those who have doubts" You`re a Fool streams into the room. All the classics, Automatic Healer, Chemical Girlfriend ("This one is for all you cokeheads out there" *cheers* "The only thing you deserve is prison!!" Genius), Burn your Youth, single Minority of One goes down well. Though there seems to be a light lack of power to previous gigs, the fourpiece certainly manage to win over tehir audience. Yet again, more cheering and dancing that boosts the confidence that Johnny Panic will make it in 2005 and adds to the buzz that is already picking up its pace. A nice surprise, Warn You, I finally heard it live, aah such a good song! Matt, thank for all teh camera faces, i appreciate it. Hopefully I have some goood shots, difficult task these days with all the professionals around. Blocking the view! Glad you never asked what I did to your beer... *kidding* After the show, a relieved but stressed out Rob, relax mate, end of tour Lady Mary |
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| Minority of one Reviewed by Les Linyard | overall marks 4/5 With a wealth of touring experience stacked up behind them (over 100 dates last year and a festival trip to Texas already under their leather belts this year) the South London post-punk sound of Johnny Panic is beginning to sound remarkably well honed - tight as a mallard’s posterior in fact. Behind Rob Solly’s surprisingly dulcet tones, a superior combination of his own guitar, Matt James’s lead guitar, Nash Francis’s bass and Johnny Shock’s cataclysmic drums is backed by some very taut harmonies. Taken from their eagerly awaited forthcoming album The Violent Dazzling, this latest single does not disappoint. More infectious grooves and great delivery suggest we’ve got another anthem in the making. This is certainly on a par with previous releases Chemical Girlfriend and the epic Burn Your Youth. A tip for greatness, Johnny Panic look to be going places in a hurry… |
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| Minority of one This single is a grower. The Johnnies sounds like a traditional English rock band, 3 Colours Red, The Wildhearts, and The Almighty et al…… but these guys have a slight advantage, they have punk youth. Intensive but hardly original riffing, a large chorus, spiteful lyrics, you get all the rock cliques here and to be honest it does what it says on the tin, It rocks! Don’t be expecting innovative guitar techniques or anything, just plain simple Rock and if you like that then buy this. If not then I would worry. 3/5 Alex Parker |
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| :: Johnny Panic :: 25 April 2005 / 1 Trk CD :: Concept By AS Johnny Panic may have just done it. “My Chemical Girlfriend” seemed to present some sort of break through, but “Minority Of One” starts off quite routinely but builds up to a riotous chorus, a quick pop interlude and eventually then thrusts up a hookable chorus complete with “Wooaa Wooaa” lines. Plenty of rock distortions prevail with three chord themes followed by driving rock anthem values. It’s got the lot, but most importantly works as a memorable song. They just might do it with this Music Dash. |
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Johnny Panic – Minority of One Four lads from the depths of East London explode onto the music scene into the open arms of Kerrang!, Rock Sound and Metal Hammer. A promising start for the four piece who have already released two Eps and their soon-to-be-released debut album ‘The Violent Dazzling’. Upon receiving my promo copy of Johnny Panic, I was a little sceptical at first…why? Well the name of course. Ok, so it’s not the worst name out there (Death Cab is probably in the top five somewhere) but can you blame me for being just a little worried? Nonetheless, I popped the CD into the player and was hit with an energetic fusion of guitars and drums that would rival Jimmy Eat World’s ‘Bleed American’. Rob Solly’s lead vocals kick in with a hint of Audioslave’s Chris Cornell and soon followed up with backing vocals from Nash Francis and his neatly kept Mohican, before letting rip on the pop-punk-rocking chorus. When listening to this, I can’t help feeling as though I was going through my early teens again, listening to the barrage of American bands that had the heaviest guitar sounds around. It certainly isn’t a bad thing, in fact, Minority of One sounds a lot more mature compared to some of the crap I listened to. The band have an air of Lost Prophets, a sprig of Foo Fighters and a dash of Funeral for a Friend (maybe the last one’s just about the hair) about them- the powerful guitar riffs, bass and drums combined with melodic choruses and vocals. However, there is something special about these four East London lads who have already hit the airwaves on XFMs Music: Response. They go slightly beyond the typical ‘good rock band’ that touches on the mainstream success bandwagon. ‘Minority of One’ sounds slightly more original than the bands counterparts and its catchy lyrics guarantee the band’s future success. So I give Minority of One 3 ½ out of 5. You’ve got to listen to this, even if it’s only for Rob Solly rolling his r’s on the word “brothers”! GOD IS IN THE TV |
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| Minority of one Minority Of One is built around a bass heavy verse that swells to a chorus that will have you leaping round like a five year old with a bag of sweets. The super sized chorus provides the perfect backdrop for the enthusiastic frontman, Rob Solly, to deliver his vocals with a high intensity. Structurally Minority Of One hits all the right spots, and the production is impressive, transforming the chorus into an impenetrable wall of sound. With this Johnny Panic have done themselves no harm at all. The Violent Dazzling is due for May 9th - best buckle up. - Jamie Harper www.musicomh.com |
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| Johnny Panic – The Violent Dazzling Written by Gudrun Lauret 14 04 2005 Their PR material describes them as a "punk rock band with a social conscience, and the word ‘passion' comes up three times. They have also just completed a tour with The Buzzcocks, so all this makes their debut album sound quite promising. With and average age of 23, Johnny Panic are too young to remember their heroes in their heyday, but they have the enthusiasm to try and recreate the glory of punk. They seem to manage it, with the obligatory shouting lead singer, long guitar riffs and incessant drums. However, the songs are quite clever - the second song, "Free Winona", is a tongue in cheek homage to the disgraced Hollywood star, which blames her downfall on Johnny Depp dumping her. There are also songs about love, the end of relationships and problems with girls. "Burn Your Youth" is a rallying call to dissatisfied young people to try to change their lives, complete with "oh-oh'oh" chant in the background. "Chemical Girlfriend" is a story about clubbing under the influence, where all you want to do is dance. "The Constitution Blues" is a rail against the Establishment and its constraining rules. It also refers to the blinkered attitude of America, and the telling line - "We're just animals, descended from cannibals", controlled by unhelpful politicians. Despite their youth, Johnny Panic have quite a mature outlook, and the range of topics on the album reflect this. They'll probably grow out of the angst over girls songs, which will give them the opportunity to write more of the angry young man songs like "The Constitution Blues". This is punk rock for the new generation, with more tunefulness and less spitting, and Johnny Panic should do very well indeed. www.floatationsuite.com |
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| The Fly Johnny Panic 'The Violent Dazzling' Concept Music All too often debut albums consist of a couple of amazing songs, several duds, and not much in the way of meaningful words. Sick of it? Same here. So are Johnny Panic, hence 'The Violent Dazzling' is a kick in the teeth to such apathy, as every song on here is infectious and often hard hitting. Songs like 'Shut Up With Your Silence' and 'Minority Of One' will have you humming them for days, if not weeks. J ohnny Panic have created an album to inspire and intrigue, and like the many social issues that 'The Violent Dazzling' confronts it looks set to last. 5/5 Big Cheese Johnny Panic 'The Violent Dazzling' Barking Dog Records/Concept Music Stunning debut album from south-london agitators. 5/5 We need Johnny Panic. There are too many bands who aren't prepared to stand up for what they believe in, preferring to stick to bland shoe-gazing and whining that life isn't fair without doing a damned thing about it. JP are the antidote to this mediocrity, with hard-hitting messages on everything from teenage suicide to drug abuse, gun crime in america to prostitution. Don't be mistaken into thinking it'll all be sombre and angsty though, there are some amazing tunes on here. The riff from 'Shut Up With Your Silence' will linger in your head for days, and there are plenty of infectious “woah-oh” backing vocals on forthcoming single 'Minority Of One' and the contagious 'Burn Your Youth' to boot. Powerful vocals combine with a fantastically tight rhythm section, and several bouts of competitive guitars and meaningful lyrics make this one of the stand out debut albums of 2005 so far. PlayMusic Johnny Panic The Leopard, Doncaster What do you get if you combine drive, passion, and a yearning for change? A Johnny Panic song, that's what. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a band for those who like to sit on the fence, as this sarf-london based lot want to make a difference. Unlike many cliché bands, there's no uniform here, it's a group of individuals each with their own style and it really does make a difference. The musicianship is tight, the lyrics are strong, and signature backing vocals thicken the sound as best displayed on the infuriatingly catchy 'Free Winona' (aptly, frontman Rob Solly is sporting a shirt with the same message on. Continuity, that's what we like.) Set highlights include the raucous 'Warn You' with a message to strike fear into criminals everywhere, the soaringly powerful 'Hurt (I See You Around)', and Rob scaling the amps for a finale of 'Burn Your Youth', before jumping over the drumkit and having a pint deposited on his head. There's an all too common misconception that power-ballads are the forte of ageing poodle rockers and everyone else should steer clear, however the goosebump-inducing 'Coming Up Roses' should set people straight with it's message of hope despite adversity combined with a huge chorus. If there's any justice then this should become an anthem. With their debut album on the way and endless dates lined up, Johnny Panic are set to stamp their mark on the scene. Make it happen. The Fly Johnny Panic The Park, Peterborough Johnny Panic aren't like other bands.With a set boasting songs about drug abuse ('Chemical Girlfriend'), prostitution (Automatic Healer), and male suicide (Burn Your Youth), they're certainly not afraid to express their opinions. This can only be a good thing, as it's a refreshing change from the saccharine whining of their counterparts. Confidence is key here, with strong musicianship and soaring vocals, plus blood and sweat by the bucketful (guitarist Matt accidentally slashed his hand midset.) Sit up and take notice, Johnny Panic have got a message for you. |
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| Johnny Panic Minority Of One Vetran's of Kerrang!'s 2004 Best Of British Tour, Johnny Panic have been building up a strong reputation and a feisty fan-base for some time. This new single and forthcoming debut album 'The Violent Dazzling' should consolidate all that hard work. Riotous, powerful and crammed with lacerating hooks, 'Minority Of One' is the sound of a rock band picking up speed and heading for glory. Kerrang |
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| Minority of one Fantastically, Johnny Panic sound more or less like a band named Johnny Panic ought to sound: a little bit of Offspring, a little bit of Blink 182. They have some hairspray metal tandancies that need to be reined in, but they will provide sweet relief to metal virgins everywhere. Although NOT in that kind of way. NME' |
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| JOHNNY PANIC The Violent Dazzling Concept CEPTCD17, £11.99 A name on many music business people’s lips for what seems like an eternity, Johnny Panic are finally out there fighting their collective corner. Frontman Rob Solly is the senior member at the ripe old age of 24, and belts out the band’s melodic agitpop with total conviction. Their ear for a good melody could prove to be the Trojan Horse that sneaks their punky aspirations into the charts. Current single ‘Minority Of One’ keeps their youthful intensity at a simmer thanks to producer Al Clay, but will it ever boil over into something vaguely original? Here’s hoping... |
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| Johnny Panic 'The Violent Dazzling' It seems these days that any half decent band who release a debut single with the slightest bit of promise will be hailed as the next big thing. Occasionally they’ll deliver on that promise with a debut album as good as ‘Is This It’ or ‘Definitely Maybe’, more often they’ll disappear back into the obscurity from whence they came. So for Johnny Panic, a band who have spent the last couple of years not being able to get arrested, being told they don’t sound ‘now’ enough or being overlooked for lesser major label backed bands, to have delivered an album as necessary as ‘The Violent Dazzling’ is a triumph of self belief and sticking to your guns. Make no mistake ‘The Violent Dazzling’ is a stunning debut album. If you cut it in half it’d have “rock classic” written through it like a…er, stick of rock. While others may have been getting the hype, Johnny Panic have been more concerened with writing and recording the sort of record that can sit next to ‘Appetite For Destruction’, ‘London Calling’ or ‘Parallel Lines’. So while Towers of London, may be causing controversy with poodle haircuts and bad dress sense copped from Guns n’ Roses, Johnny Panic have taken the latter band’s stadium filling riffs and melodies as their inspiration (check the awesome ‘Constitution Blues’). And while The Libertines may have roped in Mick Jones to produce them, JP have more of the Clash’s social conscience (addiction, suicide and domestic violence are all tackled here) as well as the last gang in town / outsider status that the Libs never had until they started fucking it up with bad drugs. From the daring-to-give-a-fuck lyrics to the stratospheric guitar solos, to the pop sensibilities of the backing vocals this is something special. Live favourites ‘Automatic Healer’ and ‘Shut Up With Your Silence’ feature the sort of six string histrionics that will inspire thousands of kids to pick up a guitar, while the former song’s ambivalent take on prostitution has the killer pay off “You always leave the light on / but I don’t think they understand / it’s not about the money /it’s the disappointment of being a man”. But punk’s economy of expression has also left its mark on this band in the way that not a note is wasted. So while debut single ‘Burn Your Youth’ appears here in its uncensored 5 minute 23 second long version it never seems a moment too long. ‘The Violent Dazzling’ is an essential purchase for anyone in search of a band who you can still believe in. An album to restore your faith in rock and roll. |
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