Johnette Napolitano (born Jonette L. Napolitano; September 22, 1957)
is an American singer, songwriter and bassist best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and bassist for the
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
group
Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde was an American alternative rock band from Hollywood, California. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and reunited twice: first from 2001 to 2004, and again from 2010 to 2012. They were best known for their album ''Bloo ...
.
Early life
Johnette Napolitano was born and raised in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, California, the eldest of five children
in an
Italian American
Italian Americans ( it, italoamericani or ''italo-americani'', ) are Americans who have full or partial Italian ancestry. The largest concentrations of Italian Americans are in the urban Northeast and industrial Midwestern metropolitan areas, ...
family.
Her parents recognized their daughter possessed musical talent when, as a child, she was able to play " Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on piano by ear. Her mother loved show tunes.[ The family also listened to Johnny Cash, ]Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and NASCAR racing driver. Robbins was one of the most popular and suc ...
, and the Rat Pack
The Rat Pack was an informal group of entertainers, the second iteration of which ultimately made films and appeared together in Las Vegas casino venues. They originated in the late 1940s and early 1950s as a group of A-list show business frie ...
.[ At age five she enrolled in a gifted kids art program at UCLA.
]
Concrete Blonde
In 1986, Napolitano co-founded Concrete Blonde with guitarist James Mankey
James Andrew Mankey (born May 23, 1952 in Washington) is an American rock guitarist, most widely known as the co-founder and longtime guitarist of the band Concrete Blonde. Mankey was also the bassist with the band Sparks for their first two al ...
. She sang and sometimes played bass guitar. The pair had worked together under a variety of names since 1982. They released seven studio albums between 1986 and 2004, and one additional album as a collaboration with Los Illegals
Los Illegals is an American Chicano punk band from Los Angeles.
Formed in 1979 artist/muralist Willie Herrón (keyboards, vocals), civil rights activist Jesus "Xiuy" Velo (bass), drummer Bill Reyes, and guitarist brothers Manuel and Antonio "Tony ...
. Concrete Blonde had several moderately successful singles, including " God is a Bullet", "Joey
Joey may refer to:
People
*Joey (name)
Animals
* Joey (marsupial), an infant marsupial
* Joey, a Blue-fronted Amazon parrot who was one of the Blue Peter pets
Film and television
* ''Joey'' (1977 film), an American film directed by Horac ...
", "Tomorrow Wendy ''For the song of the same name written by Andy Prieboy, see Tomorrow Wendy (song)''
''Tomorrow Wendy: A Love Story'' is a teen novel by Shelley Stoehr published in 1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
...
", and a version of " Everybody Knows" originally by Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...
.
Concrete Blonde broke up and reformed several times, with Napolitano and Mankey as the only constant members. The band has not been active since 2012.
Solo career
She has recorded as a solo artist, with the albums ''Sketchbook'' (2002), ''Sketchbook 2'' (2006), ''Scarred'' (2007), and ''Sketchbook 3'' (2010). Napolitano also recorded a solo album titled ''Sound of a Woman'' around 1996–1997, and performed many of the songs on a solo tour opening for Paul Weller
Paul John Weller (born John William Weller; 25 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Weller achieved fame with the punk rock/ new wave/mod revival band the Jam (1972–1982). He had further success with the blue-eyed soul m ...
. The album was set to be released on IRS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting U.S. federal taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory tax ...
(a subdivision of Island Records
Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...
), the label of her old band, Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde was an American alternative rock band from Hollywood, California. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and reunited twice: first from 2001 to 2004, and again from 2010 to 2012. They were best known for their album ''Bloo ...
. 1997–1998 was a bad time for Island, starting with the sudden departure of founder-CEO Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon Blackwell (born 22 June 1937) is an English businessman and former record producer, and the founder of Island Records, which has been called "one of Britain's great independent labels". According to the Rock and Roll ...
and ending with the total reorganization of the label. ''Sound of a Woman'' was, effectively, lost in the shuffle, and at this point is unlikely to ever be officially released. Bootleg copies of this album are rare and highly valued.
Before Concrete Blonde, Napolitano was a member of Dream 6, who released their self-titled debut EP in 1983.
In addition to Concrete Blonde, Napolitano was involved with several musical project including Vowel Movement, a semi-improvisational musical collaboration with Holly Beth Vincent
Holly Beth Vincent (born Holly Beth Cernuto in 1956) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer.
In her youth Vincent sang and played drums and guitar in several bands and took part in the Los Angeles punk scen ...
; and Pretty & Twisted, a band that also featured former Wall of Voodoo
Wall of Voodoo was an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States. Though largely an underground act for the majority of its existence, the band came to prominence when its 1982 single " Mexican Radio" became a hit on MTV and ...
guitarist Marc Moreland
Marc Moreland (January 8, 1958 – March 13, 2002) was an American rock musician. He was the former guitarist for rock band Wall of Voodoo, punk band The Skulls, and rock bands Pretty and Twisted and Department of Crooks. He also released a solo ...
.
She is one of several vocalists featured on the 1996 album ''No Talking, Just Head
''No Talking, Just Head'' is an album released in 1996 by the Heads, a band composed of Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz of Talking Heads, joined by a variety of guest singers. Its name may be seen as an allusion to the fact that ...
'', by The Heads, including the single "Damage I've Done
"Damage I've Done" is a song from American band Talking Heads, The Heads, which was released in 1996 as the lead single from their only studio album ''No Talking, Just Head''. A collaboration between the Heads and Johnette Napolitano, "Damage I've ...
". The group was formed by three members of Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991.[Talkin ...](_blank)
(Jerry Harrison
Jeremiah Griffin Harrison (born February 21, 1949) is an American songwriter, musician, producer, and entrepreneur. He began his professional music career as a member of the cult band the Modern Lovers before becoming keyboardist and guitarist ...
, Chris Frantz
Charton Christopher Frantz (born May 8, 1951) is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer for both Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, both of which he co-founded with wife and Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth. In 2002, Frant ...
and Tina Weymouth
Martina Michèle Weymouth (born November 22, 1950) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and a founding member and bassist of the new wave group Talking Heads and its side project Tom Tom Club, which she co-founded with her husband, Tal ...
). Napolitano was the primary vocalist for The Head's only concert tour. The Heads was originally intended to become a full-time band, with further studio albums and tours. A live CD-video of the first tour was planned, featuring performances from many of the album's guest artists and Napolitano on vocals for the songs originally recorded by Talking Heads. David Byrne
David Byrne (; born 14 May 1952) is a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, writer, music theorist, visual artist and filmmaker. He was a founding member and the principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of ...
sued the band, saying their name and presentation was too evocative of Talking Heads. The suit was settled out of court, and The Heads ceased activity.
As of 2009, Napolitano lived in Joshua Tree, California
Joshua Tree is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census. At approximately above sea level, Joshua Tree and its surrounding c ...
.
She composes music for films and works as a gallery artist, specializing in working with discarded and reclaimed materials. She also cares for rescue horses.
Non-Concrete Blonde discography
* Johnette Napolitano and Holly Vincent '' Vowel Movement'' (1995, Mammoth Records)
* '' Pretty & Twisted'' (1995, Warner Bros. Records)
* ''Sketchbook'' (2002, independently released)
* Johnette Napolitano and Buzz Gamble "Cheap Tequila" single (2004, independently released)
* ''Sketchbook 2'' (2005, independently released)
* ''Scarred'' (2007, Hybrid Recordings)
* ''Sketchbook 3'' (2009, Happy Hermit/independently released)
* ''Naked'' (2015, EP, independently released)
* ''The Naked Album'' (2015, independently released)
* ''Exquisite Corpses'' (2022, Schoolkids Records)
Other projects
She has contributed music to many films, including the 2006 Australian film ''Candy
Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English
Australian English (AusE, AusEng, AuE, AuEng, en-AU) is the set of varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is the country's common language an ...
'', and "Suicide Note" from ''Underworld
The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld.
...
''. The following films and TV programs also feature songs performed by Concrete Blonde:
* ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2'' (also known as ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2'') is a 1986 American black comedy slasher film directed by Tobe Hooper. It is a sequel to ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'', also directed and co-written by Ho ...
'' (1986)
* '' The Hidden'' (1987)
* '' Pump Up the Volume'' (1990)
* ''Beverly Hills, 90210
''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (often referred to by its short title, ''90210'') is an American teen drama television series created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling under his production company Spelling Television. The series ran fo ...
'' (1990, TV) – "One Man and a Baby" episode
* ''Point Break
''Point Break'' is a 1991 American action crime film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by W. Peter Iliff. It stars Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey. The film's title refers to the surfing term " point break", wher ...
'' (1991)
* '' Me, Myself and I'' (1992)
* ''Beavis and Butt-Head
''Beavis and Butt-Head'' is an American adult animated series created by Mike Judge. The series follows Beavis and Butt-Head, both voiced by Judge, a pair of teenage slackers characterized by their apathy, lack of intelligence, lowbrow humor, ...
'' (1993, TV) – "Blood Drive" episode
* ''Jimmy Hollywood
''Jimmy Hollywood'' is a 1994 American comedy film written and directed by Barry Levinson and starring Joe Pesci and Christian Slater. It was released on April 1, 1994, and was a box office bomb, grossing just $3 million against its $30 million bud ...
'' (1994)
* '' Girls in Prison'' (1994; TV)
* ''Losing Isaiah
''Losing Isaiah'' is a 1995 American drama film starring Jessica Lange and Halle Berry, directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal. It is based on the novel of the same name by Seth Margolis. The screenplay is written by Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal. The origin ...
'' (1995)
* ''Deadly Love
''Deadly Love'' is a 1995 Lifetime Original Movie starring Susan Dey as a lonely vampire photographer. The film was based on the book ''Love Bites'' by Sherry Gottlieb and co-stars Stephen McHattie.
Plot
Rebecca Barnes (Susan Dey) is a successfu ...
'' (1995; TV)
* ''Passions
''Passions'' is an American television soap opera that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1999, to September 7, 2007, and on DirecTV's The 101 Network from September 17, 2007, to August 7, 2008. Created by screenwriter James E. Reilly and pro ...
'' (1999)
* ''The Sopranos
''The Sopranos'' is an American Crime film#Crime drama, crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey-based American Mafia, Italian-American mobster, portraying h ...
'' (1999; TV) – " Calling all cars" episode
* ''The Great (TV series)
''The Great'' (titled onscreen as ''The Great: An Occasionally True Story'' and later as ''The Great: An Almost Entirely Untrue Story'') is a historical and satirical black comedy-drama television series described by its commissioner Hulu as " ...
'' (2020) - "A Simple Jape" episode
Soundtrack:
* ''Dead Silence'' (2007; "Who's Holding You Now?")
* ''Candy'' (2006; "Wedding Theme From Candy")
* ''The Third Watch'' (2004; Season 5, Episode 17)
* ''The Sopranos'' – "Nobody Knows Anything" (1999; "Highs Are Too High")
* ''Foxfire'' (1996; "Dancing Barefoot")
* '' The Basketball Diaries'' (1995; "Dancing Barefoot")
Composer:
* ''West'' (2007)
* ''Pep Squad'' (1998)
Actress:
* ''Cry Radio'' (1998) – Narrator
In 1996, Napolitano produced an album by Australian group In Vivo.
Napolitano collaborated with Danny Lohner
Daniel Patrick “Danny” Lohner, frequently known as Renholdër, is an American musician. He worked with Trent Reznor on numerous occasions, both with Nine Inch Nails and on the now defunct Tapeworm project. He has also played for Methods of M ...
(Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN and stylized as NIИ, is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland in 1988. Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Trent Reznor was the only permanent member of the band ...
, A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. A Perfect Circle has released four studio albums, the first three during the early 2000s: ' ...
, Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns is an American industrial rock band fronted by Wes Borland. Founded in 2005 after Borland departed Limp Bizkit, the band's lineup also includes Nick Annis, Dennis Sanders and Dylan Taylor. Their debut album, '' Cruel Melody'' ...
) on the horror film ''Dead Silence
''Dead Silence'' is a 2007 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell. The film stars Ryan Kwanten as Jamie Ashen, a young widower returning to his hometown to search for answers to his wife's death. I ...
''. The pair had successfully collaborated previously for the films ''Underworld
The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld.
...
'' and '' Wicker Park''.
Napolitano contributed vocals to an album by John Trudell
John Trudell (February 15, 1946December 8, 2015) was a Native American author, poet, actor, musician, and political activist. He was the spokesperson for the Indians of All Tribes' takeover of Alcatraz beginning in 1969, broadcasting as ''Radi ...
, and performs backing vocals in " Struck a Nerve" by Bad Religion
Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilitie ...
on the ''Recipe For Hate
''Recipe for Hate'' is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on June 4, 1993. It was their last album on Epitaph Records for nine years (until 2002's '' The Process of Belief'') and the band had switched to A ...
'' album.
Napolitano performed the main vocals on the score of the Australian film ''West
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...
'', written and directed by Daniel Krige
Daniel Krige (born 16 July 1970) is a writer, director and actor. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, he grew up in Australia. Krige began working as a writer at the age of sixteen for Grundy Television.
History
He attended the Australian Film ...
. She also sang the title song, "Falling in Love".
Napolitano also performed the duet "My Little Problem" with Paul Westerberg on The Replacements "All Shook Down" release.
Napolitano provided vocals on the track "I Am Where it Takes Me" by metal band Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns is an American industrial rock band fronted by Wes Borland. Founded in 2005 after Borland departed Limp Bizkit, the band's lineup also includes Nick Annis, Dennis Sanders and Dylan Taylor. Their debut album, '' Cruel Melody'' ...
.
Napolitano is credited as co-writer of the Ashes Divide
Billy Howerdel (born May 18, 1970) is an American musician, best known as the founding member, guitarist, backing vocalist, songwriter, and producer for the band A Perfect Circle, as well as for his former solo project, Ashes Divide. Howerdel ...
song "Too Late".
Napolitano wrote and sang, with Steve Wynn
Stephen Alan Wynn (''né'' Weinberg; born January 27, 1942) is an American real estate developer and art collector. He is known for his involvement in the American luxury casino and hotel industry. Early in his career he oversaw the construction ...
, the song "Conspiracy of the Heart" included in the Steve Wynn's album '' Kerosene Man'' (1990).
Pretty & Twisted
Johnette Napolitano joined Marc Moreland and Danny Montgomery to form Pretty & Twisted in 1995. Their self-titled debut, ''Pretty & Twisted'', was produced by Napolitano and released on Warner Brother Records, Inc.
The track listing for the album was:
# "The Highs Are Too High" – 6:10
# "Mother of Pearl" – 5:05 (Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...
)
# "Souvenir" – 5:09
# "No Daddy No" – 4:34
# "iRide!" – 3:40
# "Train Song (Edge of Desperation)" – 6:30
# "Stranger" – 2:59 (Paul Westerberg
Paul Harold Westerberg (born December 31, 1959) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the Replacements. Following the breakup of the Replacements, Westerberg launched a solo career that saw him re ...
, Johnette Napolitano)
# "Singing is Fire" – 3:11 (Lyrics by Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski ( ; born Heinrich Karl Bukowski, ; August 16, 1920 – March 9, 1994) was a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural, and economic ambience of his adopted ...
)
# "Don't Take Me Down" – 4:37
# "Come Away With Me" – 5:55 (words: Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and musician. One of the most successful and widely known Rock music, rock stars of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage ...
, music: Johnette Napolitano)
# "Dear Marlon Brando" – 3:30
# "Billy" – 3:39
# "Watching the Water" – 4:17
''Scarred''
Napolitano's solo album ''Scarred'' was released on May 28, 2007, on the label Hybrid Recordings.
''Scarred'' track list
# "Amazing" – 4:08
# " The Scientist" – (Coldplay
Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey. They met at University Col ...
cover, with Danny Lohner
Daniel Patrick “Danny” Lohner, frequently known as Renholdër, is an American musician. He worked with Trent Reznor on numerous occasions, both with Nine Inch Nails and on the now defunct Tapeworm project. He has also played for Methods of M ...
) – 5:07
# "Scarred" – 4:09
# "Poem for the Native" – 5:19
# "My Diane" – 5:01
# "Just Like Time" – 4:41
# "Save Me" – 3:19
# "Like a Wave" – 4:41
# "Crazy Tonight" – 5:26
# "Everything for Everyone" – 4:56
# "All Tomorrow's Parties
"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released on the group's 1967 debut studio album, ''The Velvet Underground & Nico''.
Inspiration for the song came from Reed's observation of Andy Warh ...
" – (The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. The original line-up consisted of singer/guitarist Lou Reed, multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise. MacLise w ...
cover) – 3:40
# "I'm Up Here" – 4:27
Personal life
Though raised irreligious, Napolitano converted to Roman Catholicism
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...
as an adult.[
]
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Napolitano, Johnette
1957 births
Living people
American contraltos
American people of Italian descent
American rock bass guitarists
American women rock singers
Catholics from California
Concrete Blonde members
Converts to Roman Catholicism
People from Hollywood, Los Angeles
People from Joshua Tree, California
Women bass guitarists
20th-century American bass guitarists
21st-century American women singers
20th-century American women musicians
Mammoth Records artists
Warner Records artists
21st-century American singers