John Doe
NewMusicForOldFolks says …
So, what's an old punk to do? Neil Young said it was better to burn out than to fade away. Like Young, John Doe doesn't seem intent on doing either. Doe was born John Duchac but took the his stage name when he helped form X in Los Angeles in the late 1970s. Together with singer Exene Cervenk and guitar player Billy Zoom, Doe was one of the staples of West Coast Punk for years. Away from X, Doe's music is more mellow and thoughtful with just a little twang. He's also a poet and an actor. His most recent album, The Westerner, is getting great reviews and is certainly worth a listen or 20. Doe's certainly not burning out or fading away.
Artist's Info
Website: theejohndoe.com
See him live: Tour dates
Record company: Cool Roc Records
Genre: Roots, Alternative Country
If you like this, look into: Alejandro Escovedo, Chuck Prophet, Lindi Ortega
Bio (From the artist's website)
John Doe was born in 1977 when he arrived in Los Angeles. His previous life in Tennessee, Wisconsin & Baltimore was a great & fertile time but new music and social changes led him to events that created a life in art. He graduated from Antioch College in Baltimore in 1975, worked as a roofer, aluminum siding mechanic, and ran a poetry reading series. Ms. Meyers was his landlord in the rural black community of Simpsonville , Md. (more)
Spotify sampler
Recordings
Most Recent
THE WESTERNER (2016): "The Westerner is my psychedelic, soul record from the Arizona desert," says John Doe. The Westerner is dedicated to Michael Blake, author of many books including Dancing With Wolves, and a scholar and advocate for Native American rights. He was also one of my best friends for over 30 years. Michael taught me how to ride horses (we knocked each other off them several times) and we taught each other about writing, music & art. Many of these songs are about him or use him as the main character, and his presence has been with me throughout the making of the record. It’s a wild, spread-out, desert & ocean life that we’ve lived.
Others
Meet John Doe (1990)
Kissingsohard (1993)
Freedom Is... (2000)
Dim Stars, Bright Sky (2002)
Forever Hasn't Happened Yet (2005)
For the Best of Us (2006)
A Year in the Wilderness (2007)
Country Club (with The Sadies) (2009)
A Day at the Pass (with Jill Sobule) (2011)
Keeper (2011)
The Best of John Doe: This Far (2014)
