MULLIT - Al Biography

Moris Pub
Val d'Isere - 2006

At the Market
Fayence - 2005

Moris Pub
Val d'Isere - 2005

Café Fats
Val d'Isere - 2005

Dicks Tea Bar
Val d'Isere - 2004

Al "SHREDDER" Johnson - Lead Guitar

Born on a beautiful sunny spring morning of the 27th March 1982 at Basildon Hospital, one of two boys to Gary and Heather my beloved parents.

Lived in Basildon Essex until the age of six, then was moved to Hockley, it was then Al first picked up the Guitar, being handed down from his father. Al was taught music for his first few years of school but giving it up, saying there were too many kids that were better than him! But picking it up again at the age of 9, Al started the Magical Mystery Tour of learning the sacred art of rocking out on the Guitar!!

Early years were spent listening to many different guitarists that Al’s parents gave him to listen to, but finding a few that really inspired. Al fell in love with guitarists Joe Satriani, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai, and I vowed I would be able to play like them one day.

After an operation at the age of 11, I was given the best present any budding guitarist would want, a squire Strat in bright cherry red!

As the years went on I started listening to many types of music. I was very much influenced by my parents, loving bands such as, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, then I progressed into Heavy Metal music, enjoy bands such as Metallica, Sepultura, Black Sabbath etc. Now I prefer to listen to the likes of Bell x1, Muse, Michael Brunnock, Mr North, Perfect circle, Beatles, and a lot of Jazz, Blues and Baroque Music.

I joined my first band at secondary school, I was a year younger than the guys but they let me rock out with them in the school rehearsal room, we were first called “spoon head” then after much debate called ourselves “Blind stick” we sounded bloody awful at first considering we were 14 it was a good attempt, we stayed together for 3 years, we attempted a Heavy Metal crossover, I played quite a few gigs in the locality of Southend which was good for a young guitarist, after I finished college it all kind of fizzled out, the singer Andy was in Bournemouth studying, and Adam was working his way up the Carpentry ladder so that was it.

I had a stint in a couple of Funk bands, “Roast Beef” and my favourite one “Longo Allstars” we had a couple of good gigs in London, one of them was Jazz Café Camden, and a bit at BBC television centre.

I studied popular music’s at the Colchester institute of arts after successfully passing GCSE level music, then gaining myself a BA (hons) in music.

Joining the band was the best thing to happen in a while, I was working all the time on a building site, 8-5 everyday, even Saturday's! I had the problem of no direction in my life, and that all changed when I met Ed and Mark, my first season was a whirl wind time, meeting hundreds of people and being able to perform in front of lots of people. I wasn’t used to playing every night, maybe once a month when I was in England if you are lucky, and you don’t get paid!!

I love to travel anywhere, I think that’s one of the reasons that playing with Mullit appeals to me so much, I have seen many places experienced lots of things that Joe Bloggs doesn’t get to see, especially coming from Essex!!

I really enjoy snowboarding, I always listen to music constantly, and I enjoy reading books on Mind Body and Spirit. And especially love rocking out in front of a good crowd!

Rock on, Peace to the Universe. See you soon!

Al Mullit

I use the following gear:

Fender - USA Strat Plus Deluxe
Line 6 - Variax acoustic guitars
Roland - Effects
Boss - GT6
Boss - GT8
Marshall - VS 100
Marshall - 1922 2x12 Cab
Fender - Stereo Chorus

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