Interview with Arthur Johnson, Interview 1, May 3, 2017

Partial Transcript: I arrived in Athens in...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about coming to Athens, Georgia to attend the University of Georgia. Johnson talks about his interest in rock music and shares a story about meeting Curtis Crowe from the band Pylon.

Keywords: Craig Williams; Curtis Crowe; Michael Stipe; Python; R.E.M.; Todd Butler

Partial Transcript: I think, you know through...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about some of his interactions with the band members of Pylon. Johnson describes the dance culture of Athens, and some of popular places he used to meet well-known people in the Athens music community.

Keywords: Chuck Cooper; Curtiss Pernice; Mark Cheri; Matching Fibers; Vanessa Briscoe

Partial Transcript: I think we started going to.

Segment Synopsis: Johnson lists some of the bands that he saw with his high school friend, Laura. Johnson also talks about how he formed his friend group and talks about his love for the band Kilkenny Cats which eventually led him to form his own band.

Keywords: Claire Horn; Curtiss Pernice; David Judd; Kilkenny Cats; Laura Carter; Pylon; Talking Heads; Todd Skelton

Partial Transcript: But there was, in Atlanta...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson describes the origin of the name of his band name, the Bar-B-Que Killers, a band he formed with Laura Carter, Claire Home, and David Judd. Johnson talks about the types of songs played by Bar-B-Que Killers and the appeal that the band had. Johnson explains the "dark" sound of the band Kilkenny Cats.

Keywords: Bar-B-Que Killers; Claire Horne; David Judd; Kilkenny Cats; Laura Carter

Partial Transcript: So they were really nice...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about the show, Partlyline, hosted by Chip Shirley. Johnson shares how David Judd eventually came to play in the band as the bassist, and describes the rise in skill of the band. Johnson talks about the writing skill of Bar-B-Que Killers' Claire Horne and details the recording process of the band's albums.

Keywords: Bar-B-Que Killers; Claire Horne; David Judd; Kilkenny Cats; Partyline, Observer TV; Tom Cheek

Partial Transcript: And afterwards we were hanging out...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson describes recording with the Bar-B-Que Killers at John Keen's recording studio, and shares how David Barbe came to play as the band's guitarist. Johnson lists some of the other bands that were recording their records during this time.

Keywords: Bar-B-Que Killers; David Barbe; Georgia Vest

Partial Transcript: Anyways, so Eat America was around...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson shares his experience playing for Athens, GA: Inside/Out. Johnson describes the rise of the "punk" style of music in Athens, which was present in bands such as Eat America and Porn Orchard. Johnson talks about Project Gluttony, a project between multiple bands in Athens.

Keywords: David Barbe; Eat America; Flat Duo Jets; John Seawright; Porn Orchard; Time Toy

Partial Transcript: I was driving my van around...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson recalls how he lost some of the Bar-B-Que Killers' records. Johnson shares stories about his friend Laura Carter, the vocalist and guitarist for Bar-B-Que Killers.

Keywords: Bar-B-Que Killers; Clair Butler; Laura Carter

Partial Transcript: West Minister, despite it being...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson describes the liberal attitude of the community in regards to homosexuality. Johnson shares more stories about Laura Carter and emphasizes her fluidity when it came to dating. Johnson describes an incident surrounding Carter and her tendency to be mistaken for a guy.

Keywords: Bar-B-Que Killers; David Barbe; Laura Carter; Now Explosion; homosexuality

Partial Transcript: So maybe you talk about...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about the performances held by the Bar-B-Que Killers at the club, The Atlanta Eagle. Johnson shares a story in which the Bar-B-Que Killers played which the band, The Fall.

Keywords: Atlanta, Georgia; Bar-B-Que Killers; Dave Barbe; Now Explosion; The Atlanta Eagle; The Fall

Partial Transcript: Once we played a funeral home...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about the multiple venues that the Bar-B-Que Killers played at, and their Southern tours. Johnson describes the band's signing, which eventually led to a US tour.

Keywords: Flat Duo Jets; Kilkenny Cats; Love Tractor; Mark Kline

Partial Transcript: No, we rented out one band...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson shares stories from touring around Athens with the Bar-B-Que Killers. Johnson talks about creating a record, and their 1987 tour which reached into Canada. Johnson describes the events that led to the breakup of the band.

Keywords: Bar-B-Que Killers; Laura Carter; touring

Partial Transcript: But yeah, we played there...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson describes the last performance by the Bar-B-Que Killers. Johnson tells of one of the the shows the Bar-B-Que Killers played with Mercyland at the Uptown Lounge during a wedding. Johnson talks about some of the other events the Bar-B-Que Killers performed at.

Keywords: Dave Barbe; Laura Carter; Mercyland; Uptown Lounge

Partial Transcript: It reminds me of when...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about the Better Than T.V. Tour, a tour comprised of the bands Mercyland, Eat America, Time Toy, and the Bar-B-Que Killers.

Keywords: Better than T.V. Tour; Brian Cook; David Yow; Eat America; Mercyland Land; Time Toy

Partial Transcript: I mean, that tour lost money...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson continues to describe the 1986 Better Than T.V. Tour. Johnson talks about his drumming style in the Bar-B-Que Killers, and how he came to acquire his drum set.

Keywords: Better Than T.V. Tour; Claire Horne; Dave Barbe; David Judd

Partial Transcript: So I bought this snare...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson discusses the snare drum he purchased as a member of the Bar-B-Que Killers. Johnson talks about his ability to tune drums and the other hardware he purchased during his musical career. Johnson describes his interactions with musician John Schmersal, and the impact that Bar-B-Que Killers had on the surrounding community.

Keywords: 40-Watt Club; John Schmersal; drums; snare; tuning

Partial Transcript: When I left the band...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson talks about some of the other bands he joined after leaving the Bar-B-Que Killers. Johnson explains his decision to leave for Boston before he eventually came to live in Atlanta. Johnson shares some of his memories of his friend Ted Hafer.

Keywords: Bar-B-Que Killers; Chip Shirley; Donna Johnson; Jessica Greene; Ted Hafer; Tragic Dancers

Partial Transcript: But yeah, I would hear stories...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson compares his experience in Athens versus his experience in Boston. Johnson talks about his love for the Nuci's Space in Athens.

Keywords: Athens, GA; Boston, Massachusetts