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Best known for her work as lead singer and bassist in the '80s and early-'90s alternative rock trio Concrete Blonde, Johnette Napolitano is also a poet, social activist, soundtrack composer, and sculptor. Born in Hollywood on September 22, 1957, Napolitano lurked on the fringes of the Los Angeles punk and new wave scene, working at the legendary Gold Star Studios until she formed the duo Dream 6 with guitarist Jim Mankey. The pair recorded a self-titled 1982 EP produced by Jim's brother Earle Mankey (like Jim, a former member of the first lineup of Sparks, and at the time one of the hottest producers on the L.A. new wave scene), which attracted the attention of IRS Records boss Miles Copeland. With a new drummer in Chicago transplant Harry Rushakoff and a new name supposedly bestowed by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe that was supposed to connote the band's mix of hard and soft elements, Concrete Blonde released their self-titled debut in 1987. This was quickly followed by Free, Bloodletting (featuring the group's biggest hit, "Joey"), Walking in London, and Mexican Moon, before Concrete Blonde split in 1995.
Napolitano then moved on to two short-lived projects, Vowel Movement (a collaboration with Holly Beth Vincent of Holly & the Italians) and Pretty & Twisted (with the late Marc Moreland, formerly of Wall of Voodoo), as well as occasional Concrete Blonde reunion albums. Following this, Napolitano began a second career as soundtrack composer for small and medium-budget indie films such as Wicker Park and Underworld. She also released a pair of largely improvised and mostly electronic albums, Sketchbook and Sketchbook 2, in 2002 and 2006. Johnette Napolitano's first proper solo album, Scarred, followed in the spring of 2007.
Wikipedia:
Johnette Napolitano (b. September 22, 1957, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California) is an American singer, songwriter and bassist best known as the lead vocalist/songwriter and bassist for the alternative rock group Concrete Blonde.
Solo career [edit]
She has also recorded as a solo artist, with the albums Sketchbook (2002), Sketchbook 2 (2006), Scarred (2007), Sketchbook 3 (2010) and as a member of:
Dream 6 (a precursor to Concrete Blonde).Vowel Movement, a side project; a semi-improvisational musical collaboration with Holly Beth VincentPretty & Twisted, a side project; a band that also featured former Wall of Voodoo guitarist Marc Moreland.Lead singer for the album tour for The Heads, the re-formed Talking Heads' project, with Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. She is featured on the 1996 album No Talking, Just Head. This was, at the time, intended to turn into a full-time project, with further studio albums and tours. A live CD/video of the first tour was planned, featuring performances from many of the album's guest artists & Johnette on vocals for the songs originally recorded by The Talking Heads. David Byrne sued the band, saying their name and presentation was too evocative of Talking Heads, and put an end to those plans.Johnette also recorded a solo album titled Sound of a Woman around 1996-1997, and performed many of the songs on a solo tour opening for Paul Westerberg. The album was set to be released on IRS (a subdivision of Island Records), the label of her old band, Concrete Blonde. 1997-1998 was a bad time for Island, starting with the sudden departure of founder/CEO Chris Blackwell and ending with the total reorganization of the label. Sound of a Woman was, effectively, lost in the shuffle, and at this point is unlikely to ever be officially released. Bootleg copies of this album are rare and highly valued.Johnette is currently a resident of Joshua Tree, California. She composes music for films and works as a gallery artist, specializing in working with discarded and reclaimed materials. She also takes care of rescue horses.
Other projects [edit]
She has contributed music to many films, including the 2006 Australian film Candy, and "Suicide Note" from Underworld. The following films and TV programmes also feature songs performed by Concrete Blonde:
Beavis and Butt-Head (1993) (TV) - "Blood Drive" episodeBeverly Hills, 90210 (1990) (TV) - "One Man and a Baby" episodeGirls in Prison (1994) (TV)Deadly Love (1995) (TV)The Sopranos (1999) (TV) - "Calling All Cars" episodeThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)The Hidden (1987)Pump Up the Volume (1990)Point Break (1991)Me, Myself and I (1992)Jimmy Hollywood (1994)Losing Isaiah (1995)Passions (1999)Soundtrack:
Dead Silence (2007) ("Who's Holding You Now?")Candy (2006) ("Wedding Theme From Candy")The Sopranos - "Nobody Knows Anything" (1999) ("Highs Are Too High")The Basketball Diaries (1995) ("Dancing Barefoot")The Third Watch (2004) (Season 5, Episode 17)Composer:
West (2007)Pep Squad (1998)Actress:
Cry Radio (1998) - NarratorIn 1996, Johnette produced an album by Australian group In Vivo.
Napolitano collaborated with Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Black Light Burns) on the horror film Dead Silence. The pair had successfully collaborated previously for the films Underworld and Wicker Park.
Napolitano contributed vocals to an album by John Trudell, and performs backing vocals in "Struck a Nerve" by Bad Religion on the Recipe For Hate album.
Napolitano also performed the main vocals on the score of the Australian film West, written and directed by Daniel Krige. She also sang the title song, "Falling in Love".
Napolitano also performed the duet "My Little Problem" with Paul Westerberg on The Replacements "All Shook Down" release.
Napolitano provided vocals on the track "I Am Where it Takes Me" by metal band Black Light Burns.
Napolitano is credited as co-writer of the Ashes Divide song "Too Late".
Pretty & Twisted [edit]
Johnette Napolitano joined Marc Moreland and Danny Montgomery to form Pretty & Twisted in 1995. Their self-titled debut, Pretty & Twisted, was released and produced by Johnette Napolitano on Warner Brother Records, Inc., a Time Warner Company in New York City.
The tracklisting for the album was:
The Highs Are Too High - 6:10Mother of Pearl - 5:05 (written by Bryan Ferry)Souvenir - 5:09No Daddy No - 4:34iRide! - 3:40Train Song (Edge of Desperation) - 6:30Stranger - 2:59 (written by Paul Westerberg & Johnette Napolitano)Singing is Fire - 3:11 (Lyrics by Charles Bukowski)Don't Take Me Down - 4:37Come Away With Me - 5:55 (words: Janis Joplin, music: Johnette Napolitano)Dear Marlon Brando - 3:30Billy - 3:39Watching the Water - 4:17Scarred [edit]
Napolitano's solo album, Scarred, was released May 28, 2007 on Hybrid Recordings in New York City.
'Scarred' track list
"Amazing""The Scientist" - (Coldplay cover)"Scarred""Poem For The Native""My Diane""Just Like Time""Save Me""Like A Wave""Crazy Tonight""Everything For Everyone""All Tomorrow's Parties" - (The Velvet Underground cover)"I'm Up Here"
