John Wozniak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This biography of a living person does not cite any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. (December 2009) Find sources: (John Wozniak – news, books, scholar) |
| John Wozniak | |
|---|---|
 John Wozniak performing live in Scottsdale, Arizona
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Wozniak |
| Also known as | Woz |
| Born | January 19, 1971 St. Paul, Minnesota, United States |
| Genres | Alternative rock, Grunge, Folk Rock, Indie Rock, Pop rock, Psychedelic rock |
| Occupations | Musician, Songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals Guitar |
| Years active | 1990–current |
| Labels | Capitol Records Reality Entertainment Deep South Entertainment |
| Associated acts | Marcy Playground Zog BogBean |
John Christian Wozniak (born in Minnesota on January 19, 1971) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the band Marcy Playground. He is the son of a developmental psychologist dad and a free spirited Bohemian mother.
Contents |
[edit] Solo career, Marcy Playground, and Personal life
John a.k.a. "Woz", learned how to play the guitar at the tender age of 14. His first solo effort was Zog BogBean - From the Marcy Playground, recorded in his own home in 1990. In 2006 he recorded his second solo album, Leaving Wonderland...in a fit of rage and while searching for a label to release it on, decided to call it a Marcy Playground album and include new songs recorded with the rest of the band.[1].
Aside from influences such as Neil Young, Paul Simon, and Van Morrison, a major early influence in Woz's life was his high school girlfriend from tenth grade, until his freshmen year in college, Sherry Fraser, now of the band Two Ton Boa. She collaborated with Wozniak on Zog Bogbean, and on the song "Ancient Walls Of Flowers" from Marcy Playground's self-titled album. The song "Sherry Fraser" is probably about her. They were known for being good friends throughout high school and would make movies or write together.
Woz, along with Dylan Keefe and Dan Reiser formed Marcy Playground in 1996. A year later the band had a smash hit, "Sex and Candy" on their hands, that held a then-record of fifteen weeks at number one on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart. Three albums later, the band managed to produce several singles and a few semi-hits, but nothing with as much staying power as their first hit song. Woz continues to regularly write, record and tour with Marcy Playground, and is credited as being the brains behind the operation. Woz is recently remarried and has a son named Keegan, of whom the song "Keegan's Christmas" is inspired by.
[edit] Other Collaborations
- On June 6, 1997, at the John Anson Ford Theatre in Hollywood, Woz joined Toad the Wet Sprocket on stage during the band's encore, trading verses with Toad frontman Glen Phillips, to sing a cover of David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust". [2]
- In 2003, Woz helped produce Canadian rock band Stabilo's sophomore album, recorded at John's studio known as Mushroom Studios.
- Later that year, Woz would work with Jimi Haha of the band Jimmie's Chicken Shack to write the song "Paper Dolls", a fast punk-sounding song about growing up and being manipulated. The song appeared on both bands albums in 2004.[3]
- In 2006, Woz teamed up with Canadian hit-maker Daniel Powter ("Bad Day") amongst other musicians to add new flavor to Leaving Wonderland...in a fit of rage, the solo album turned Marcy Playground album.
[edit] Quotes
- "It sounds like a Marcy record... and has recently been spotted around town walking and quacking like a Marcy record, so.... officially now, it's a Marcy record." [4]
- "Life is beautiful... drink every last drop. Kindness manifests its own majesty, and love is smiling at someone on the street that you don't know."
- "Frank Sinatra said you can make a career off of one song. And that's true. Unfortunately, that's not what I ever wanted. I just wanted to make music."
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||
