Interview by Kris Peters
Johnny Casino has travelled a long way since the 1990s, when he was part of beloved Sydney rockers Asteroid B-612. Known then as guitarist John Spittles, the man's myth and legend has grown exponentially over the years, with people in the modern age referring to him as Johnny Casino, guitar slinger and tattoo artist.
After relocating to Spain earlier this century, Casino dove further into his solo career, plying his talents with a multitude of different artists and honing his skill set to reflect his musical growth.
That journey continued on May 3 when Casino unleashed his latest album High Stone, a rock album highlighted by meaty guitar chops and jazz-style harmonics.
HEAVY tracked Casino down late last week to find out more.
"I make a lot of records," he began, "and I just… once I'm happy with them then I put them out into the world and there's really not too much I can do with them. People like them, some people tell me that they don't like them as much as the last one or more than the last one. My hands are clean. Once I'm happy with it, and I've given it to someone to do their job by manufacturing it, then my job's done. I don't give them out until I know that I've done something that I'm happy with or proud of, or at least something that's interesting to me."
In the full interview, Johnny discusses High Stone in greater detail, including its early reception and Johnny's approach to creating music. He emphasized his continuous drive to create new records and his preference for working with people he enjoys spending time with. They also talked about the musical journey of the album, the use of keyboards, and the influence of the backing band, St James and the Apostles, on the album's sound.
Johnny also explored the impact of his personality on his music, highlighting the importance of authenticity and honesty in his creative expression. He shared insights into his decision to relocate to Spain, describing it as a lifestyle change and an opportunity to reach new audiences beyond Australia.