Johnny Angel Wendell
| Johnny Angel Wendell | |
|---|---|
Angel in LA in Oct. 2012
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| Background information | |
| Born |
June 24, 1956 Boston, MA, U.S. |
| Genres | Hardcore punk, Hard rock, Parody, Americana Rock |
| Occupation(s) | performer, writer, journalist, actor, radio host, and musician |
| Instruments | Vocalist, guitar |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | X & Z Records |
| Website | http://johnnyangelwendell.bandcamp.com/album/it |
Johnny Angel Wendell is an American writer, musician, and radio talk show host. He is married and lives in Los Angeles with his two sons. Once a resident of Massachusetts, he is now a Los Angeles Weekly columnist, Wendell is the host of KTLK-AM 1150's "Southern California Live with Johnny Wendell". Wendell is also a regular on KFI-AM640.
Wendell received a Series 7 stockbroker's license in 1977, and was employed by his father. He did not like it and the family business ended in 1984, when he refused to keep it going. With the onset of punk rock in the 1970s in Boston, Massachusetts, Wendell was the guitarist, singer, leader of the Thrills, and relocated to New York City in 1982. He returned to Boston in 1983 to form the Blackjacks, a more guitar oriented hard rock/punk band. Later he formed the comical performance/parody act, The Swinging Erudites. After six years of ups and downs, he relocated to California and has been in Los Angeles ever since.
In Boston, during the late 1970s through 1982 he was the guitarist-singer-leader of Thrills (later City Thrills) and included band members Barb Kitson on vocals, Wendell on guitar and vocals, Merle Allin on bass and vocals, Michael Collins on drums and Sean McDonough on guitar was added in 1980. City Thrills relocated to New York in 1982, but things did not gel in the Big Apple. Wendell went back to Boston in 1983 to form the BlackJacks.
They had their first gig in December 1977 and drew 36 people. The set was 15 songs and 29 minutes long.
They released one single on Decibel Records in 1979, "I'll Be the Heartbreaker" with "Hey (Not Another Face in the Crowd)" on the B-side. Their single "Don't Come Back" was off the compilation album, N.A.F.I.T.C. Original Boston Punk 1977-1981, which was recorded live at the Metro Theatre in 1981. They recorded the EP "City Thrills" in 1981 on Star Rhythm Records.
Thrills toured throughout New England with the likes of The Ramones, Johnny Thunders, The Cars and U2.
After City Thrills broke up in 1983, Wendell returned to Boston and formed the Blackjacks with Whitey and drummer, Jeff Erna (original drummer, Dropkick Murphys). The band then hired their roadie, Rafe Mabry, to play guitar.
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Wikipedia