Johnny Dean | |
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Johnny Dean photographed by Gen Williams 2013
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Background information | |
Birth name | John Hutchinson Dean |
Born |
Salisbury, United Kingdom |
12 December 1971
Genres | Britpop, country |
Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, songwriter, artist, writer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | London Records, Laurel, Polydor |
Associated acts | Menswear, Messiah, Johnny Dean & The Nuisance Band |
Website | menswearband |
Menswear discography | |
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Studio albums | 2 |
Singles | 6 |
Johnny Dean; born John Hutchinson Dean; (12 December 1971) is a British musician, front man and iconic pin-up of the '90s Britpop era.
Born to a Royal Air Force father in Salisbury, Wiltshire, Johnny had a nomadic upbringing throughout the UK and Europe followed by a brief art school background before becoming visible in the early 90's Britpop scene. Dean was first featured in Pulp's "Do You Remember The First Time" music video and in an article on the Mod-inspired club scene in Select Magazine.
He was founder member of Menswear alongside Stuart Black in 1994 until 1998 (when the band dissolved), scoring a number of UK Top 40 singles. He then formed Messiah with Black, a line-up which lasted until 2000. Dean was the subject of a track by Art Brut called "I Wanna Be Johnny Dean" and numerous comic strips in music publications. Fronting Menswear he toured worldwide, had several TOTP appearances and was featured on magazine covers and centrefold pinups throughout the 1990s.
Dean was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder in 2009 and has started campaigning on behalf of the National Autistic Society. In recent interviews, Dean has expressed the torment he experienced before his diagnosis, and his desire to raise awareness of the autism spectrum.
On Friday 7 June 2013 Dean made his first sold out live appearance in 15 years with the Nuis@nce Band performing the songs of David Bowie to raise funds for The National Autistic Society in London.
A new Menswear line up played their first show in 15 years on 16 August 2013. Original member Johnny Dean was joined by members of The Nuisance Band as a new Menswear line up. The sold out event was in aid of the mental health charity PMA Sport's Academy and #TimeToChange campaign which Johnny Dean was invited to promote alongside The Saturdays' Frankie Sandford, Uri Geller and Ruby Wax.