Johnny Indovina
Johnny Indovina | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Johnny Indovina |
Born | August 5, 1957 |
Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
Genres | Post-punk, Rock, Gothic rock, Alternative rock |
Occupation(s) | Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician |
Years active | 1977 - Present |
Labels | RCA Projekt Records Noise Kontrol Opcion Sonica (Mexico) Triple X |
Johnny Indovina (born August 5, 1957 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a singer, songwriter and producer. Indovina fronted the Underground/Goth band Human Drama from 1985 to 2005. As the primary songwriter, he produced eight albums, two EPs and a "Best of" collection. After ending Human Drama in 2005, he created Sound Of The Blue Heart,[1][2] releasing the debut Album Beauty? in 2006 and the following "Wind of Change" in 2009. Currently he has finished his first solo project titled "Trials of the Writer" released in 2014.
Early life
Indovina began his career in New Orleans in an early '80s new wave band called The Models. They relocated to Los Angeles in the mid-80's where they changed their name to Human Drama.
Musical career
Human Drama (1985 - 2005)
The band became a central figure in the L.A. downtown scene which revolved around the now legendary SCREAM goth metal nightclub that helped bring Guns N' Roses and Jane's Addiction to wider attention. Human Drama contributed a song, "Wave of Darkness," to the 1987 collection Scream: The Compilation. A deal with RCA yielded the EP Hopes Prayers Dreams Heart Soul Mind Love Life Death, and later that year a full album, Feel, both were recorded in Wales. However, it wasn’t until Human Drama left the major label the following year that the band produced its 1992 landmark album for Triple X Records, The World Inside.
In 1999 one of Indovina's signature Human Drama tracks, "I Could Be a Killer" was featured in the feature film "Murder In The China Basin".[3]
The band continued to produce a string of releases for Triple X Records until its final performance in January 2005.[4]
Sound Of The Blue Heart (2006 - 2011)
Johnny Indovina began the next chapter in the book of his musical life in 2006 with Sound Of The Blue Heart.[1][2] A new song collection Beauty? is recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Michael Rozon whose credits include Brazzaville, The Lullabies, Jeff Merchant and Human Drama. In support of this release, Johnny performed a series of live concerts with Native American musician/author/actor John Trudell in March 2007. In 2009, Sound Of The Blue Heart.[1][2] released Wind of Change.
Solo Project (2011 - present)
After ending with Sound Of The Blue Heart.[1][2] Indovina began the recording of his new album "Trials of the Writer" with the help of Michael Rozon producing it, and having guests like Paul Allen, Marc Ford, Tim Grove and Brian Stoltz on guitar, and Mike Mallory, Michael Rozon and Michael Biazevich on bass, with the participation of Peter Straub on drums. Recorded in LA, Nshville and New Orleans, the album features 11 songs and is due to be released in 2013. Also in the middle of recording Indovina did two reunion shows with the original Human Drama lineup, the first in December 2011 at the Bar Sinister in Hollywood CA, and the second one on August 25 at the Plaza Condesa in Mexico City.
Discography
Compilation appearances
- Very Introspective Actually- A Pet Shop Boys Tribute - Human Drama "This Must Be The Place I've Waited Years To Leave";
Dancing Ferret Discs 2001.
- Orphee - Human Drama " A Single White Rose"; Projekt Records Compilation 2000.
- Songs from the Wasteland: A Tribute to The Mission - Human Drama " Kingdom Come"; Re-Constriction Records 1999.
- Death for Life A benefit compilation for AIDS research - Human Drama "Goodbye"; Mere Mortal Productions 1999.
- New Wave Goes To Hell - Human Drama "The Whole Of The Moon"; Cleopatra Records 1996.
- Scream The Compilation - Human Drama "Wave Of Darkness"; Geffen Records 1987.
Videos/DVD
Books
The book My Bag of Secrets (The Words of Human Drama) contains lyrics, photos and commentary from Johnny Indovina and his fans. It was released in 1997.