Classically trained, boyishly good-looking Johny Blood played in his first band while studying at the prestigious Bertolini Bourboni Institute. The group consisted of tuba, chord organ, feedback generator and spontaneous poetry. The group later relocated to Switzerland and played Velvet Underground-inspired minimalist rock under the name of Fast Fun. Punk rock historian Alain Poubelle said of them: “Voila: ils nous amenent jusqu’au bord du vide innomme”. (“Behold: they take us to the edge of the void that has no name”.)
Returning to the United States, Mr Blood met Ned Stone, another tubist who had been experimenting with electronics. The two formed the electric tuba duo Blood & Stone in Cambridge MA, playing in both bars and art galleries, and released three albums. Writing of them in the New York Times, Frances Demenneo said, “There is music of which one may speak and music of which one must be silent. Blood & Stone expresses the unspeakable, and more than that I cannot say.”
Johny played at that time with a band called the Zinnias, and continued with guitarist Stephin Merritt and drummer Clodia Gonson into later bands, Buffalo Rome and the Magnetic Fields. He also played in an early versions of Combustible Edison and Cul de Sac.
Moving to San Francisco in the late 90s, Mr Blood played in bands of various styles, including polka, klezmer, big band and Balkan brass. He played on Dennis Finnegan’s 2001 album of standards “Starting From Here”, and is a San Francisco Polka Hall of Fame laureate. As The Brother Twain, he released an album with the Swiss guitarist/songwriter J.C. Brunner and Slovakian artist Laco Teren in 2001, “When They Go To Sleep”. Poet James Reidel said of it, “It is as if Sid had moved from Sinatra spoofs to Viennese cabaret.”
Mr. Blood currently plays with the Mad Maggies, and is working on an album of solo tuba music as well as a second Brothers Twain album. He has never been anywhere without being exceedingly well-loved.
