Johnny Q. Public (sometimes stylized as johnny Q. public) was a

Christian alternative rock Christian alternative rock is a form of alternative rock music that is lyrically grounded in a Christian worldview. Some critics have suggested that unlike CCM and older Christian rock, Christian alternative rock generally emphasizes musical ...

band from

Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Springfield metropolitan area, which had an estimat ...

. Although their sound was wholly modern, it was influenced by bands such as

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...

and

Cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...

. In addition to their music they were known for their Charismatic theology, which they would dramatically display through audience participation at their live shows.

History

When Johnny Q. Public signed to

Gotee Records Gotee Records is a record label founded by Christian hip hop performer Toby McKeehan (known professionally as ''TobyMac''), Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood. The label began as a production company. At the time of the label's founding, McKeehan wa ...

, its members were between the ages of fifteen and twenty-three. Their signing came after producing a demo with

Steve Griffith ''yes'Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen Notable people with the name include: steve jops * Steve Abbott (disambiguation), several people * Steve Adams (disambiguation), several people * Steve ...

. Their debut record, ''Extra*Ordinary'', was released in 1995 and garnered the band mainstream distribution through Elektra Records Dan Fritz would later refer to the period after releasing ''Extra*Ordinary'' as a "whirlwind of craziness". Their song "Body Be" gained them national exposure when its video got picked up by MTV. They toured for three years before being able to pursue a second album, and during that time the band experienced some personnel changes. Around 1998 guitarist Oran Thornton married Christian artist

Miss Angie Miss Angie is a Christian music artist who released two albums on Myrrh Records, the final one in 1999. Her music was based in aggressive hard rock and pop sound with a feel that was described as "retro-eclectic", and vocals likened to those of ...

, sister of guitarist Shawn Turner, and moved on to a band called

Flick Flick of Flicks may refer to: Arts * Flick, slang term for film or movie **Chick flick, slang, sometimes derogatory, term for films aimed at a female audience * ''Flick'' (2000 film), Irish film * ''Flick'' (2008 film), a campy British horror ...

. Drummer Brian DuVall also left and was replaced by Nate McCorkle, former drummer for

Morella's Forest Morella's Forest was a band from Dayton, Ohio which formed in 1992. They released three albums on Tooth and Nail Records and one with an independent label. Their signature sound is noise pop or space music comparable to Starflyer 59 or the Breede ...

. Their follow-up record, ''Welcome To Earth'', was released by both Gotee and Roadrunner Records. Its sound shifted toward pop with hints of hard rock. ''HM'' magazine likened it to the

Newsboys Newsboys (sometimes stylised as newsboys) are a Christian rock band founded in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, the band has released 17 studio albums, 6 of which ...

, stating that the band could easily receive radio play in both Christian and mainstream markets. In support they toured with

Bleach Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used industrially or domestically to remove color (whitening) from a fabric or fiber or to clean or to remove stains in a process called bleaching. It often refers specifically, to ...

and

Skillet A frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It is typically in diameter with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. Larger pans may have a small grab ha ...

. Johnny Q. Public broke up in mid-2001.

2015 Reunion Show

No longer an active band they miraculously pulled together all line-up changes and rotating touring members for a one-night-only reunion show at a small club called Cartoons in Springfield, MO on Friday, May 22, 2015.

Discography

*1995: ''Extra*Ordinary'' *2000: ''Welcome To Earth''

Members

*Dan Fritz - vocals (1995-2001) *Shawn Turner - guitar (1995-2001) *Nathan McCorkle - drums (1998-2001) *Brad Barnerd - guitar (1996-2000) *Ken Bassham - bass (1995-1996) *Brian DuVall - drums (1995-1998) *Oran Thornton - guitar (1995-1996) *Shawn Brock - bass (1996-2000)

References

{{Authority control American Christian rock groups Musical groups established in 1995 Gotee Records artists