Damon Johnson's music career is a story of persistence, diversity, and good fortune. Heralded in his early 20's as one of the more fierce guitarists in the southern U.S., Johnson formed the four-piece rock band, Chyld, in his home state of Alabama in 1990. After working with different lead singers and acquiring a development deal with Virgin Records in November of that year, it was when a record company rep heard Johnson sing a few cover songs that he was convinced that Damon should become the lead vocalist and frontman. A name change to Brother Cane would find the band in the Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles in the summer of '92. A year later Virgin released the self titled debut, Brother Cane, which would yield three Top 10 rock tracks (including the #1 single, "Got No Shame") and high profile tours with Aerosmith, Robert Plant, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Damon and the band toured for 14 months and the album sold an impressive 250,000 copies. In 1995 Brother Cane delivered their sophomore effort, Seeds, and saw their song "And Fools Shine On" mount an 8-week stay at #1 at Rock Radio in the U.S. and Canada. "Fools" also became the theme song for the horror film, Halloween 6, and secured the band tour dates in Europe and as opening act for rock legends Van Halen. Damon became fast friends with singer Sammy Hagar, and made songwriting and guitar-playing contributions to Sammy's first post-Van Halen solo album, Marching To Mars. 1998 brought the release of Brother Cane's third album, Wishpool, which Johnson says, "...was certainly my most personal statement as a lyricist and the body of work that I am most proud of." Yet again, the band had another #1 rock track, "I Lie in the Bed I Make", and toured North America from March until November of '98. But after 6 years of hard touring and an unsatisfactory yield for the time and energy invested, Brother Cane amicably disbanded.
At the start of the new millineum, Johnson recorded and released an all-acoustic solo album, Dust. He became, briefly, a member of the Damn Yankees with Ted Nugent, Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw, and Michael Cartelone (a full album was recorded but ultimately shelved). In March of 2001, Fleetwood Mac vocalist Stevie Nicks recorded the Damon Johnson composition, "Everyday" (co-written with John Shanks) as the first single for her solo album, Trouble In Shangrila. Later that same year, Damon became lead guitarist for the great British rock vocalist, John Waite.
Early 2002 brought the debut album from Slave To The System, a side-project of Damon's with producer Kelly Gray and Queensryche drummer Scott Rockenfield. In August of that year, Johnson's distinctive guitar work was featured on country/pop superstar Faith Hill's smash hit single, "Cry", a track produced by Damon's Brother Cane co-writer, Marti Frederiksen. That same year also brought collaborations with Ted Nugent on his album, Craveman, and three songs with hard rockers Skid Row on their album, Thick Skin.
In 2003, Damon opened his own recording studio, Double Dragon, located at his home just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Using the new studio, he recorded and produced Red Halo, performing temporarily as lead singer and bassist. The results would be the debut album, Dead Man's Vitamin. (Currently, Johnson fills strictly the producer role with the band as they prepare to release their second album). Double Dragon Studios and Damon's production have already been the choice of several other up and coming young artists: Medusa Stone, Universal Joint, Jivetrain, The Fairwell, and country music artist, Chris Scott.
Rock legend Alice Cooper came calling in August of 2004, and Damon became guitarist for his band. Cooper's new album, Dirty Diamonds, features Johnson's playing and songwriting skills and a world tour is currently underway. As of this writing, Damon plans to balance his duties as member of the AC Band with recording and performing with The Welfare ("the world's greatest bar band"), releasing a new Slave To The System album (via their new deal with Spitfire Records), and working again with his mates in Brother Cane.
Recent "Damon News": Johnson co-wrote a song, "Just Feel Better", on the latest Santana album with lead vocals by Steven Tyler. In 2006, Johnson formed a country rock band, Whiskey Falls, with Seven Williams, Walter Brandt, and longtime friend Buck Johnson.
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