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Draft:Johnny Angel Wendell

  • Comment: As a BLP, all info must be properly sourced, which isn't the case in this article. Some sources don't even mention the subject of the article. — Itzcuauhtli11 (talk) 04:51, 29 June 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: I simply do not see how this passes WP:NPERSON or WP:NMUSICBIO. It appears to be mainly sourced to material that's either from sources of dubious reliability (what are Vanyaland or StorageSanity, for example), interviews, or discusses him as part of The Thrills. I especially question the sourcing quality as I personally do not feel comfortable with accepting a draft on a living person that cites poor sources in any capacity. The opinions of the other editors here also doesn't help - the fact that five reviewers have already rejected it for notability concerns feels like a rough consensus. λ NegativeMP1 22:08, 28 June 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: IMDb is not a reliable source. Theroadislong (talk) 21:47, 27 June 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: No sources added since last decline, still not notable. ~/Bunnypranav:<ping> 14:35, 20 June 2025 (UTC)
Johnny Angel Wendell
Angel in Los Angeles in October 2012
Angel in Los Angeles in October 2012
Background information
BornJune 24 1956
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresHardcore punk, Hard rock, Parody, Americana
OccupationsWriter, journalist, actor, radio host, and musician
InstrumentsVocalist, guitar
Years active1978–present
LabelsX & Z Records

Johnny Angel Wendell is an American writer, musician.

Early Life

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Johnny Angel Wendell was born Jonathan Carmen in 1956 and raised Massachusetts. In 1977, he received his Series 7 Stockbroker License. Instead of continuing the family business, he chose to pursue a career in music, aligning with the emergence of punk rock in the 1970s in Boston. Johnny Angel along with co founder Barb Kitson, was the guitarist, singer and song writer of the Thrills. In 1982 after giving it a go in Boston, Thrills relocated to New York. Wendell then returned to Boston in 1983 to form The Blackjacks, a more guitar oriented hard rock/punk band. He later went on to form 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.

Music career

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Thrills

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In 1977, then known as Johnny Angel, co founded Thrills, a punk influenced rock band. The group was known for blending punk sensibility and for its dynamic live performances. With Barb Kitson on lead vocals and theatrical, Broadway-style delivery, stood out in the local Boston music scene. During the late 1970s through 1982, the band included members, Merle Allin on bass and vocals, Michael Collins on drums and added Sean McDonough on guitar in 1980. Thrills were part of a vibrant music landscape that included Boston bands like Mission of Burma, Lyres, Classic Ruins, and Unnatural Axe. The band competed in the 1978 and 1979 editions of the WBCN Boston Rock & Roll Rumble.[1] [2] Thrills toured throughout New England with the likes of the Ramones, Johnny Thunders, The Cars and U2 . They released their debut single on Decibel Records in 1979: "I'll Be the Heartbreaker" backed with "Hey (Not Another Face in the Crowd)." Their single "Don't Come Back" was off the compilation album, N.A.F.I.T.C. recorded live at the Metro Theatre in 1981 and recorded the EP "City Thrills" in 1981 on Star Rhythm Records. In 1980, due to conflicts with a New York band of the same name, Thrills changed their name to City Thrills.[3] The Massachusetts native played a major role in Boston's late '70s scene focused on the legendary Rathskeller, better know as the Rat (a k a "Boston's CBGB").[4]

Blackjacks

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After City Thrills disbanded in 1983, Wendell returned to Boston and formed the Blackjacks with Michael "Whitey" White and Jeff Erna (drummer, Dropkick Murphys).[5] The band then hired their roadie, Rafe Mabry, to play guitar. The Blackjacks were more a rock band, with influences from 1950s rock and roll: more 1960s pop and psych, 1970s punk, blues and garage rock. The band released their LP "Basic Blackjacks" in June 1984, and "Dreaming of Saturday Again" was a local hit. Released as the lead track of the Throbbing Lobster compilation "Let's Breed", "Dressed In Black" was #1 on WBCN's local countdown for two months, and a top 20 college radio track in the rest of the nation.[6] This, with a video of "Dreaming of Saturday Again" got moderate play on local music video channel V-66. The Blackjacks attracted the fledgling Homestead Records into signing them as their first ever act. They also landed a gig in early 1984, opening for the Clash at the Worcester Centrum[7] In July 1989, the band played its last gig at The Rat. After the break up of The Blackjacks, Wendell became a standup comic with a guitar and formed "The Swinging Erudites". The Blackjacks got together one last time June 2004 and performed a reunion gig in Boston.[8] Over the years, The Blackjacks have supported the Ramones, U2, the Clash, Jim Carroll, the Cars, J Geils, Echo and the Bunnymen, Stranglers, Stiff Little Fingers, Johnny Thunders, Run DMC and more. The Blackjacks also were contestants in The 1984 WBCN Boston Rock and Roll Rumble.[9]

Swinging Erudites

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Swinging Erudites was a side novelty project Johnny formed with Sonny Columbus (James Ryan of Boston's Rat's Hoodoo BBQ). The band was made up of Suzie Sasumi (Suzie Kerr-Wright Suzie Kerr Wright[10]) vocals, Meg A. Bux (Meg Lyons) vocals, Greg Yourbassist (Greg Urbaitis) on Bass, Pterry Dactyl (Garry Cook) on drums, Brother Cleve (Bob Toomey) on keyboards/accordion (1st ½), Sandy Beach (Sandy Grant) on keyboards (2nd ½). The band garnered attention with its risque parody of the hit "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles, retitled "Walk With an Erection". The song became a minor local sensation and exemplified the band’s offbeat, comedic approach to music. Though the Swinging Erudites were short-lived and more of a regional phenomenon, their cult following and local radio play helped maintain Wendell’s visibility in the Boston music scene between his stints in The Thrills and The Blackjacks. [11] Walk With An Erection won Best Indie Single at the 1987 Boston Music Awards.[12] Walk With An Erection and a takeoff of Bon Jovi, "Living On A Prayer", with “Living on my Hair” record got airplay on local FM stations WBCN and WCOZ.[13]

Solo career

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In 2011, Wendell went back into the studio to record 12 songs for a new CD titled "IT!!". Wendell played all the stringed instruments except steel guitar. (Boo Burns). All the horns and most of the keys were by Scott Gilman. Brock Avery played drums, JG from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones played keyboards, Mary Powers and Julie Christiansen sang.[14] These tunes are reminiscent of the tough but tender writing of Fred Koller and more obviously of Warren Zevon's bittersweet sensibilities and filled with clean musicianship [15] [16]

Media

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Film

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Wendell has made appearances in several independent films as well as national VW and Direct TV commercials. In * The Great Intervention (2011) - a Steve Moramarco film, Wendell played a frustrated club booker who delivers a tirade against Moramarco's character following a performance with no audience.

  • Get All You Can (2020) a comedy directed by Peter Gilbert, Wendell appears in a supporting roll set in a basement that becomes the target of an accidental break-in by millennial bank robbers. film

Wendell has also appeared in music videos by Cher, "Are You Strong Enough," Metallica, "The Memory Remains," and Moth "I See Sound."

Writings

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In addition to his music career, Wendell became known as a political commentator and writer. He was a columnist for the LA Weekly where he covered political and cultural topics with progressive slant and left leaning political analysis. Wendell had also been a columnist for the Boston Phoenix and Bay Guardian.

February 2015, Wendell released "Looking For Lady Dee", a punk rock mystery novel which tells his story juxtaposed against the disappearance of his band's fan, Lady Dee.[17] He released his second novel also a mystery, In This Darkness, I Disappear in March 2018.

Radio

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San Francisco Bay Guardian Online launched a show on April 29, 2010, with Wendell appearing twice a week and was also a show host on KFI 640. [18] He appeared on Los Angeles KIFR-FM and "Green960" in the Bay Area. Wendell also was a regular on Fox News Radio as fill in for the late Alan Colmes and for the recently retired John Gibson. He was a regular weekend host on the Air America affiliate KTLK in Los Angeles from 2004 to 2013 and "KEIB" where Wendell hosted Southern California Live With Johnny Wendell from 2013 to April, 2019.[19]

Solo recording

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Wendell released his first solo single, "My Lesbian Friend" on January 20, 2013. which featured Brock Avery and the B-side "Vamanos A Panama" (with Dicky Barrett, JG and Scott Gilman) and "No Fun in the Modern World", with contributions from Keith Morris and Ross "The Boss". June 2013, Wendell released a second single "SHE", described with themes of ecstasy, heartache and despair.

Discography

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  • 1981 "N.A.F.I.T.C. Original Boston Punk, 1977-1981" Bacchus Archives
  • 1981 "City Thrills" Star Rhythm Records
  • 1984 "Basic Blackjacks" EP Homestead Records
  • 1984 "Dress in Black" LP Throbbing Lobster
  • 2011 "IT!!" CD and download X & Z Records
  • 2013 "SHE" vinyl record and download X & Z Records

References

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