Steve Johnston profile picture

Steve Johnston

Ahh, I'm Snagged

About Me

...Guitarist for the band "Paint The Earth" from St Louis Mo. Also guitarist for Grace Church St Louis, and session musician. Previously played with the St Louis bands "Boom" "Adam's Edge", "Wax", "Cagney", and "Media". Steve has also played on numerous recording sessions around the country, and has appeared on CD's by Radiowave, Marvin F Cockrell and Focus, James A Jackson 2, Midnite Special, Pete Ruthenburg, Voyager, and others yet to be released, including Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Chloe Day.
Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, Steve began playing at age 12 and with his parents help began performing around the area with the band 'Desert Water' even before he was old enough to drive. Attended the University of Iowa for two years and studied music theory, ear training, and jazz improvisation performing in jazz combos, while also devoting his efforts to the rock group Voyager, which had their song "The Final Battle" featured on a compilation album called "First Flight" and toured regionally. Steve then relocated to Louisville, Ky and joined the band 'Midnite Special", one of the top drawing club bands in the nation at the time and spent the next 2 years playing to packed houses from Michigan to Florida. It was in Louisville that he met his wife Cristie. After Midnite Special, they moved to St Louis, Missouri and Steve joined the band "Media" playing original music as well as music by Genesis, Kansas, Asia, Rush,etc.
Following Media, ...Steve played with the versatile and popular group "Cagney" which enjoyed good success on the St. Louis club scene for many years. This period also saw the birth of their daughter Chelsie. His run with Cagney ended when he auditioned for, and was selected to become the guitarist for Branson, Mo entertainer/Violinist Shoji Tabuchi. The planned move to Branson was changed, however, with the discovery that Cristie was pregnant with their second child, a son Cameron. They opted to stay in St. Louis, and the band Rizzo was formed, later changing the name to Wax, and rock was the order of the day. He then accepted an offer to perform in Adam's Edge, the house band at the Adam's Mark Hotel. Following that engagement Steve played with the popular St Louis band 'Boom" for several years, pumping out some of the hardest grooves in town.
Several years ago Steve began filling in for his friend (and incredible guitarist/writer/musician) Scott Jones at Grace Church St Louis, where he has had the opportunity to play with the amazing group of musicians and work with the wonderful technical people there. Grace Church's recent Christmas extravaganza entitled "Drummer Boy' composed by Scott Jones and Mark Miller, saw them performing for 17,000 people over three days. He has had the opportunity to perform at Busch Stadium in St Louis with Daryl Black, at the Savvis Center with Paint the Earth for the St Louis Blues rally and at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Currently Steve is a member of the band 'Paint The Earth', which can be seen rockin' the house all over St Louis. Come catch Sean, Dave, Ben and Steve performing at a venue near you.


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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/2/2007
Band Members: Paint The Earth : Sean McGovern, Dave Johnson, Ben Moyer, Steve Johnston. Other Friends/Musical Partners in Crime : James A Jackson 2, Scott Jones, Corky Blake, John King, Jay Hungerford, Danny Dumaine, R.J., Andre Boyd, Steve Krotz, Chris Boyd, Jesse Gannon, Jahmal Nichols, Glenn Smith, Carl Casperson, Mark Miller, Marc Torlino, John Gore, Bobby Jones, Nick Barbieri, Bike, Jim Wolfe, Kevin Hill, Gary Grala, Brad Reno John Suarez, Bob Suarez, Jimmy Griffin, Nathan Bell, Gary Burr, Rich Patterson, Bill Fordyce, Jimmy Griffin, Phil Burton, Sam Nicoloff, Kelly Wild, Cubby, George Whitlow, Karl "Tricky" Holmes, Brad Andrews, Guy Danhoff, Sheila Danhoff, Darryl Black, Mike King, Karla Harris, Tim Looney, Humphrey, Luke Clore, Jan Jackson Bill Elrod, Pete Ruthenberg, Gabe Doiran, Jim Whelan, Marvin Cockrell, Sean Holland, Curt Sharkey, John Coatney, Jeff Taylor, Andre Sheppard, Ron Sallee, Wayne Young, Jimmy Gardner, Mark Orr, Tobin White, Jason Moore, Jayme Sharrock, John Wang, Mark Bernardi, Mark Bowyer, Marvin F Cockrell, Sean Holland, Curt Sharkey, John Coatney, Jeff Taylor, Andre Sheppard, Todd Jones, Chloe Day, Megan Gohil, Tim Cunningham, Audrey Franklin, and everyone at Grace who makes my CD's for me.
Influences: Ritchie Blackmore, Alex Lifeson, Neal Schon, Eric Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Morse, Van Halen, Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth, The Beatles, Bob Hunte, Pete Townsend, Angus Young, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Joe Walsh, Pat Metheny, Shawn Lane, Yngwie Malmsteen, Scott Jones, Joe Pass, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page, Ted Nugent, Ulrich Roth, Michael Schenker, Jeff Beck, Eading Esp, Jerry McPherson, SRV, Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Tom Bukovac, Steve Hackett, Larry Carlton, Mike Stern, Steve Lukather, Lee Ritenour, Queen, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, BB King, Frank Gambale, Warren Holloway, Gary Moore, Brent Mason, Bireli Lagrene, Ty Tabor, The Edge, Darrel Abbott, Zakk Wylde Steve Hunter, Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, Doyle Dykes, Nigel Tufnel, Prince, Alvin Lee, Prusperton
Sounds Like: A 7 lb bass hitting a topwater plug
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None