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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > August > 13
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
8/13: Michael Johns interview is now up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The fans at michaeljohnsonline.com sent me more than 20 questions for Michael Johns. Thank you! I only had 15 minutes by phone but I asked as many key ones today as I could in advance of the “Idols Live” tour at Gwinnett Arena August 18.
Johns lived in Buckhead for several years before moving to Los Angeles to try to break into the business and “Idol” identified the neighborhood as his “city” of residence.
Going indie: He noted that he’s been on two major labels and an indie. He plans to go on his own like Elliott Yamin and hopes to find distribution any way he can. “I want control back,” he said. “It’s not like I need a label to get me noticed. This is one of my last shots to be in this situation.” He also plans to do separate deals in Australia and the U.K.
So far, so good: To date, he says he’s recorded eight songs (two songs by Diane Warren), most done before the tour started. He hopes to get 25 done by Thanksgiving and pick 12 for an album set to be released in January or February. No producer named yet. “I can’t believe producers are returning my calls!” he said. “Ultimately, we’ll write as much as we can then figure out what producer to stylize it.” He admits he has fought off the INXS vibe but realizes he’s good with the bluesy-soul blend and will stick with it. He has no plans to use any songs from the past. He expects the album will include all new songs. “It’s an album hopefully you can dance to, work out to, chill out to.”
Radio, radio: J.D. asked if Michael Johns can get on the radio without major label support? (Elliott Yamin pulled it off but he’s the exception.) “I’ll get an aggressive street team and radio commercial team. There are businesses who do that.”
**The “Mavid Bromance”: The fans seem bemused by the close relationship David Cook and Michael Johns have developed. And they are wondering if the pair will work together. “I can’t see how we wouldn’t work together. We’re such great friends. Even though we’re a bit different stylistically, I used to do that kind of sound back in Atlanta. We really have a good connection. We keep each other sane. Working together - it’s something we talk about all the time.”
The “Movad” dances are back!: Ah, yes. Fans have enjoyed the silly dances the pair have done during Rihanna’s “Please Don’t Stop the Music” at most concert dates. I posted the video yesterday off YouTube showing a compilation of those silly dances, ranging from the Robot to the Running Man to the “Terrible Towel” to “King of the World!” But a week ago, the tour managers asked them to stop doing it. For a couple of dates, they complied, just did the song straight. M.J. and Cook fans through a hissyfit on the Web. Heck, there was even a petition!
Johns confirmed that they were told to stop doing the dances. He protested but relented. He is even familiar with the video compilation above. “It’s hilarious!” he said. He said a few concerts in, during soundcheck, he and David began coming up with a silly dance. “Every day is different,” he said. He was surprised but pleased that “everyone has been spazzing out about it. The fans love it. We were told to reel it in. But the fans wanted it back. They were up in arms!” So the concert organizers reversed the decision and let them go back to business. In Baltimore a couple days ago, Johns and Cook did the Rocky Balboa fists in the air dance in celebration.
Tattoos?: Jasela wanted to know if Johns has any tattoos. Nope. “Never will,” he said, then imitating Austin Powers, says, “It’s not my bag, baby!”
Early release: He asked to be released from the 19 Entertainment contract that is normally thrust upon all “Idol” finalists (at least the top 12 that I know of) for six months after the finale or the end of November. But Johns asked to be let go early and for the first time that I know of (though it may not have been the first), 19 agreed. “They were amazing to me,” Johns said. “They said, ‘Look- we realize you’re 29 years old. Good luck.’ I was so thankful. I’ve been able to work and get things done instead of wait around.”
Off to the races. Michael Johns will be singing the National Anthem October 26 at the Pep Boys Auto 500 and he’ll do three songs as well. You can buy tix here..
Why no instruments? Karen from Atlanta asked why he didn’t use instruments like the two Davids, Brooke and Jason, he said “the right song hadn’t come up yet for me. I was actually going to do it for Neil Diamond. But look—I’m a singer foremost, being a front man. Instruments weren’t going to define me. Not necessary.”
How about the Boston Herald critic calling you the “slightly edgier Michael Bolton:” “If I can sell 50 million albums like him, I don’t care! He was 37 when he broke it big and that’s amazing. Major labels nowadays don’t care about people over 25. ‘You’re 27? Forget about it!’ That’s over the top!”
I ran out of time. With one question left, I asked whether he plans to play golf on Monday when he’s in Atlanta. (That was one fan’s question.). His answer—no. He plans to spend the morning he’s here to visit his friends here and he has plenty here.
In the interim, here’s some “Idol” news:
-Daughtry will be performing at a private party during the GOP national convention in Minneapolis in early September along with the likes of LeAnn Rimes and Sammy Hagar.
-New papa Clay Aiken is giving “Spamalot” another stint after taking the summer off. More info here.. I’m surprised he didn’t embark on a more aggressive concert tour to promote his current album, which has not done well at all. He will be on Broadway from Sept. 19 through Jan. 4, 2009. E! has a picture of Clay holding hte baby but we can’t really see the baby here.
-After relatively low turnouts in other cities, 11,000 people are estimated to have shown up at Jacksonville for today’s auditions. More info here.
