Matt Johnson & the unique story of The The plus George Michael and the sunbed

About this episode

Matt Johnson shares his life story and musical journey, reflecting on his experiences and influences in the music industry.

Matt Johnson’s life story has been mapped out as one long Q&A conversation from meetings with old friend, fan and BFI director Jason Wood. ‘Cognitive Dissident’ traces his trajectory from the East End to Soho to the beloved albums he made with a series of super-groups and his 2021 comeback. He looks back here at …   … his earliest musical memories – Donovan, the Move, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown   … the old East End and the Two Puddings pub run by his parents, “full of ghosts”, Bobby Moore, Francis Bacon and the Krays   … his Uncle Kenny promoting the Who, the Kinks and Jerry Lee Lewis   … “Get yourself on a sunbed!” and other advice from George Michael   ... what he learnt at De Wolfe Music, aged 15, in the red-light Soho of the late ‘70s   … legendary manager Stevo signing the band’s CBS contract at midnight in Trafalgar Square   … “cigarettes, coffee, warm analogue equipment”: the Proustian scent of old studios   … his NME ad recruiting The The members via the Residents, the Velvet Underground, Syd Barrett and Throbbing Gristle   … being part of “the Long Mack Brigade” with Cabaret Voltaire, This Heat, Wire and the Gang of…

People in this episode

Guests: Matt Johnson, George Michael, Jason Wood

Topics covered

• Matt Johnson
• The The
• George Michael
• music history
• East End
• Soho
• super-groups
• NME
• legendary managers

Keywords

• Cognitive Dissident
• Two Puddings pub
• Bobby Moore
• Francis Bacon
• Kray twins
• De Wolfe Music
• Trafalgar Square
• Proustian scent
• Long Mack Brigade
• Albert Hall

Mentioned in this episode

Products: sunbed

Books & works: Cognitive Dissident

Places: the East End, East End

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