Robb Johnson

Johnson began his musical career playing in folk clubs in the 1970s. He ran a folk club at the University of Sussex, before forming a band called Grubstreet, which split up in 1983. Two years later, he made his first solo album, In Amongst the Rain, setting up his own label on which to release it, before forming an agitprop group, The Ministry of Humour, with Mark Shilcock and Graham Barnes. After the break-up of this act and a failed attempt at forming a new electric band, he returned to performing solo, and also formed a duo with female singer Pip Collings.

In 1997, he composed the song cycle Gentle Men, based on the experiences of his grandfathers in the First World War. The song cycle was recorded by Johnson in collaboration with Roy Bailey,{{cite book |last=Broughton |first=Simon |author2=Mark Ellingham |author3=Richard Trillo |title=World Music: The Rough Guide |isbn=1-85828-635-2 |year=1999 |publisher=Rough Guides |page=[https://archive.org/details/roughguidetoworl00simo/page/29 29] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/roughguidetoworl00simo/page/29 }} and performed at the commemorative Passchendaele Peace Concert.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart403.htm |title=Roy Bailey |magazine=The Living Tradition |last=Johnson |first=Robb |issue=26 |date=April–May 1998 |accessdate=17 July 2008}} In 2006 he was a special guest at the BBC's "Folk Britannia" concert at the Barbican Centre, ending the night with a rendition of the World War I song "Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/music/features/folk-concert1.shtml|title=Folk Britannia|publisher=BBC|accessdate=17 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916133143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/music/features/folk-concert1.shtml|archive-date=16 September 2008}} He remains active and has released at least one album annually for over 20 years, as well as playing regular gigs, including benefits and political events.

In 2016, Johnson and a group billed as the Corbynistas released the single "JC 4 PM 4 Me" in support of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, which was considered a contender for Christmas number one.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2016/nov/15/hallelujah-its-time-to-talk-about-the-battle-for-the-christmas-no-1|title=Hallelujah! It's time to talk about the battle for the Christmas No 1|first=Sam|last=Wolfson|date=15 November 2016|accessdate=28 November 2016|newspaper=The Guardian}} However, it did not chart.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-01 |title=ROBB JOHNSON |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/58631/robb-johnson/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}

File:RobbJohnson2009.jpg in 2009]]

File:Robb Johnson, Tolpuddle 2012.JPG 2012]]

• In Amongst The Rain (1985){{cite web|url=http://www.nightcafe.co.uk/robb_j.html|publisher=Folk on Tap |title=The Irregular World of ROBB JOHNSON|accessdate=17 July 2008}}
• Songs for the New Jerusalem (1987)
• Skewed, Slewed, Stewed & Awkward (1987)
• Small Town World (1989)
• Overnight (1991) (Robb Johnson and Pip Collings){{cite magazine |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/irr027.htm |title=Robb Johnson – Overnight (review) |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=22 |last=Harragan |first=Bob |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Tourists and Casualties (1993) (The Johnson-Collings Band)
• Heart's Desire (1994) (Robb Johnson and Pip Collings)
• 1-2-3 (1994) (The Johnson-Collings Band)
• Lack of Jolly Ploughboy (1995) (Robb Johnson and Pip Collings)
• Lavender Blues (1995, six-track mini-album)
• Interesting Times (1995) (The Robb Johnson Band)
• The Night Café (1995)
• Hell's Kitchen (1996) (The Robb Johnson Roots Band)
• Ugly Town (1997)
• Invisible People (1997){{cite magazine |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/irr029.htm |title=Robb Johnson – Invisible People | format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |last=Raven |first=Mike |issue=22 |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Gentle Men (1997) (Roy Bailey, Vera Coomans, Robb Johnson, & Koen De Cauter & The Golden Serenaders)
• The Big Wheel (1999){{cite magazine |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/irr036.htm |title=Robb Johnson – The Big Wheel |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=36 |last=Rose |first=Alan |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• 21st Century Blues (2001) (Robb Johnson, Miranda Sykes and Saskia Tomkins){{cite magazine |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/irr043.htm |title=Robb Johnson, Miranda Sykes & Saskie Tomkins |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=43 |last=Pownceby |first=Clive |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• The Triumph of Hope Over Experience (2002){{cite web|url=http://www.workersliberty.org/node/2451 |title=The Triumph of Hope over Experience, Robb Johnson | Workers' Liberty |website=Workersliberty.org |date=18 March 2003 |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Clockwork Music (2003)
• Metro (2005){{cite magazine |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/irr059.htm |title=ROBB JOHNSON – Metro |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=66 |last=Tuxford |first=Dave |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• All That Way For This (2007) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars)
• Love & Death & Politics (2008) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars)
• The Liberty Tree (2009) (Leon Rosselson and Robb Johnson){{cite web |url=http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/review-leon-rosselson-amp-robb |title=Review: Leon Rosselson & Robb Johnson- "The Liberty Tree: A Celebration of the Life and Writings of Thomas Paine" - Americana and roots music - No Depression |website=nodepression.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105221807/http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/review-leon-rosselson-amp-robb |archive-date=5 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}
• The Ghost of Love (2009) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars){{cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/releasesbx.html |title=FATEA – Home |website=Fatea-records.co.uk |accessdate=19 May 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/dec/17/robb-johnson-and-the-irregulars |title=Robb Johnson and the Irregulars: The Ghost of Love | CD review | Music |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Man Walks into a Pub (2010){{Cite magazine |url=https://www.livingtradition.co.uk/webrevs/irr077.htm |title=ROBB JOHNSON – Man Walks into A Pub |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=89 |last=Beeby |first=Dave }}
• Some Recent Protest Songs (2011){{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/21/robb-johnson-some-recent-review |title=Robb Johnson: Some Recent Protest Songs – review | Folk music |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Once Upon a Time (2011) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars){{cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/RobbJohnson.html |title=FATEA – Home |website=Fatea-records.co.uk |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Happily Ever After (2012) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars){{cite web|url=http://www.folkworld.eu/48/e/cds6.html |title=FolkWorld #48: CD Reviews |website=Folkworld.eu |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Bring Down the Moon (2013){{cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/2013/RobbJohnson2.html |title=FATEA – Home |website=Fatea-records.co.uk |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Us and Them (2014){{cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/2014/RobbJohnson.html |title=FATEA – Home |website=Fatea-records.co.uk |accessdate=19 May 2020}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.livingtradition.co.uk/webrevs/irr091.htm |title=ROBB JOHNSON – Us and Them |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=104 |last=McCourt |first=Jim}}
• Here Goes Nothing (2015) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars){{cite web|url=http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2015/05/robb-johnson-the-irregulars-here-goes-nothing/ |title=Robb Johnson & The Irregulars – Here Goes Nothing |website=Folkradio.co.uk |date=5 May 2015 |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• My Best Regards (2016)
• Ordinary Giants (2018)
• Eurotopia (2019)
• Pandemic Songs (2020)
• Stay Cool, Keep Left, Shine Bright (2022) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars)
• The Mystery Gets Your Number & The Poetry Makes The Call (2022) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars)

• This Is the UK Talking (1994) [singles, benefits, demos: 1987–1994]
• Overnight [1996, solo re-recording of tracks from the 1991 album of the same name and Tourists and Casualties]
• Yeah Yeah Yeah: So Far So Good 1991–1998 (1998) (The Robb Johnson Band)
• The Big Wheel – The Second XI and Alternative Versions (1999) [live recordings and tracks omitted from the album of the same name]
• Margaret Thatcher: My Part in Her Downfall (2000) [re-recordings, inc. unreleased songs]{{cite magazine |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/irr042.htm |title=Robb Johnson – Margaret Thatcher:My Part in Her Downfall |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=40 |last=Harragan |first=Bob |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Maximum Respect (2002) [compilation of animal-themed songs inc. new tracks]
• Friday Night in Brentford (2003) [live]
• Tony Blair: My Part in His Downfall (2004) [2CD; demos, website tracks & unreleased: 1997–2004]{{cite magazine |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/irr054.htm |title=Robb Johnson – Tony Blair My Part in His Downfall |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=57 |last=Rose |first=Alan |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• A Beginner's Guide (2005) [re-recordings plus new songs]{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.livingtradition.co.uk/webrevs/irr057.htm |title=Robb Johnson – A Beginner's Guide |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=62 |last=Pownceby |first=Clive }}
• Saturday Night at The Fire Station (2006) (Robb Johnson & The Irregulars) [live]
• Margaret Thatcher: My Part in Her Downfall – Deluxe (2009) [box set comprising 3rd & 4th albums plus other rare & unreleased material]
• West Pier Serenade (2013) [re-recordings plus 1 new song]{{cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/2013/RobbJohnson.html |title=FATEA – Home |website=Fatea-records.co.uk |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Gentle Men (2013) [re-recording of 1997 album plus new songs, by Johnson, Roy Bailey, Barb Jungr, Jude Abbott, Jenny Carr, John Forrester]{{cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/2013/RobbJohnson3.html |title=FATEA – Home |website=Fatea-records.co.uk |accessdate=19 May 2020}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.livingtradition.co.uk/webrevs/irr088.htm|title=ROBB JOHNSON (WITH ROY BAILEY, BARB JUNGR, JUDE ABBOTT, JENNY CARR & JOHN FORRESTER) – Gentle Men |format=review |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=100 |last=Devlin |first=Grem}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/07/robb-johnson-bailey-gentle-men-review |title=Robb Johnson, Roy Bailey, Barb Jungr etc: Gentle Men – review | Folk music |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=19 May 2020}}
• Gentle Men – A Live Performance (2015) [solo recording]
• A Reasonable History of Impossible Demands 1986–2013 (2016) [5-CD box set]
• Best Regards – Live (2016)
• Songs From The Past Seven Years (2017){{cite web|url=http://www.discovery-records.com/search/results/?a=1&search=irr108|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731150753/http://www.discovery-records.com/search/results/?a=1&search=irr108|url-status=usurped|archive-date=31 July 2017|title=Robb Johnson, Label Irregular Records|website=Discovery-records.com|access-date=31 July 2017}}

• "The Animals Song" 7" (1986)
• "The Herald of Free Enterprise" 7" (1988)
• "Wasted Years" 7" (1991)
• Living in the Rubbish 12" (1991) (Robb Johnson and Pip Collings)
• Saturday Afternoon Red Army CD EP (1995)
• "Sweet Jane" / "Bay of Angels" 7" (2014)
• "Cheap and Cheerful" / "The Top of This Wheel" 7" (2015)
• "Don't Close the Bar" / "Even Steve McQueen" 7" (2016)
• "JC 4 PM 4 Me" / "What Would You Like For Christmas?" (2016){{cite web|url=http://www.discovery-records.com/product-ST91780/robb-johnson-and-the-corbynistas/jc4pm-for-me-c/w-what-would-you-like-forandhellip;.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731155427/http://www.discovery-records.com/product-ST91780/robb-johnson-and-the-corbynistas/jc4pm-for-me-c/w-what-would-you-like-forandhellip;.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=31 July 2017|title=Robb Johnson & The Corbynistas, Label Irregular Records|website=Discovery-records.com|access-date=31 July 2017}}
• The Beautiful Dark 10" EP (2017)
• "Tony Skinner's Lad" (2020) – UK Singles Downloads Chart no. 19[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-downloads-chart/20200918/7000/ Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100 25 September 2020 – 01 October 2020][https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-54293767 Dennis Skinner: Song about ex-MP tops Amazon download charts – BBC News]

{{Incomplete list|date=February 2011}}

• "Not A Bad Day" – track on compilation album Fear of a Red Planet, 1999.
• "Permanent Free Zone" – track on compilation album Return of the Read Menace, 1999.
• "When the People Rise Again" – track on the charity album That Eastern Wind – Songs and Poems of Geoff Parry, vol 8 (2008)
• "A Fine Career" – Johnson contributes lead vocals on this track from Chumbawamba's 2008 album, The Boy Bands Have Won.
• "The Future Starts Here" – track on compilation album Don't Be Left Without Us, 2016.

Johnson married Meeta Kanabar on 22 August 1992. The couple have two sons, Hari (born 1998) and Arvin (born 1999). Johnson worked as a teacher at various schools in London, but relocated to Hove in around 2006. He is a supporter of Brentford F.C. and has performed fund-raising concerts for the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~360090,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630224837/http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~360090,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2012|publisher=Brentford F.C.|title=Robb Johnson returns|accessdate=17 July 2008|date=17 November 2004}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.robbjohnson.co.uk/ Official website]
• [http://www.irregularrecords.co.uk Robb Johnson's Irregular Records website]
• [http://www.folkworld.eu/30/e/robb.html 2004 interview]
• [http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions/robb_johnson.htm 2007 interview]

{{Authority control}}

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Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex

Category:English folk singers

Category:English male singer-songwriters

Category:English singer-songwriters

Category:English socialists

Category:People from Hounslow

Category:British political music artists