johnny 5

Johnny 5 started life back in the days when rave was the thing. Having two older brothers his influences ranged far and wide: from George Clinton and the P-Funk allstars to The Richie Rich Project, Bob Marley and The Wailers to The Electric Light Orchestra, all being played in his younger days.
"I remember the day my brother brought home Eddie Murphy`s first album. -I mean, did anyone know he'd even made one?"
He started life in music MC-ing for his good friend Paul AKA DJ Hap-E. Going by the name Mad Ragga. They were playing early in '91 trying to blend there unique styles before being thrown into the deep end of doing the early morning sunday show on KOOL FM.
"9 'til 11, thats what they said to us"
But there shifts never where that short (four hours being the norm), which put them in the bosses sights. After about three months they introduced some new members to there crew; In came DJ Wicked, MC Duracell and MC Headstrong. Also came the groups name: The Hardcore Weedkillas!!!
And then the change in show times...
Thursday 7 'til 9
Sunday 7 'til 9
They could not believe there luck...Prime Time.
'92 Brought them their first time playing the big clubs, doing things like Coming Up On One and the Jungle Fever series. The boys enjoyed the limelight, meeting the stars of the scene at the time; The Ragga Twins (Deman Rocker and Flinty Badman), DJ Brockie and MC Det (still running tings), LTJ Bukem (King of astral travel...Horizons, baby!), Moose and 5-0 (The Inception, remember?). All people they still see and speak to today, all still keeping UK Drum & Bass on the move...
Metalheadz at the Blue Note was a place most of the boys went to feel the vibe.
"At the time Headstrong was good friends with Peshay and he was playing for Headz. Myself and Headstrong had just done a remix track for Jonny L, which had been doing the rounds in the clubs, and had done a follow up track that only P had. He played it last track of his set and I can still remember the look on peoples faces. Absolutely brilliant, priceless even."
From there The likes of Photek (Big love, Dog) and Goldie (Champers, anyone?) took note...
The present day...
Johnny 5 is now one half of the group CROWBLACK and he and his partner Caiman are looking to re-introduce themselves to the world of Drum & Bass.
Johnny 5 can be found either MC-ing (yeah, he still sometimes does it) or DJ-ing down at the Purple Turtle for the Subfactory boys down in Reading. He spends much of the rest of his time in The Reptile House Studios in London.