Mike Johnson logged on from Seattle to talk about his new solo album on Up records, Where Am I?, and life as the bass player in Dinosaur Jr. Is he really a Bon Jovi fan? What does he think of Dinosaur Jr. mosh pits? Read on and find out....

(GANSA) Mike, did you wear knickers in the golf video?

(MIKE JOHNSON) No, I wore plaid golf pants.

(SHIVER RAO) PLAIDPLAIDPLAID (Bosstones!!!!!!!!!)

(SONIC HOST) You a big golfer, Mike?

(MIKE JOHNSON) 6 foot 3.

(SONIC HOST) That's pretty big.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Hey Dougie, how's your show?

DOUGEFRESH: Hah hah.

(SONIC HOST) He's syndicated.

(GANSA) I felt I couldn't wear knickers at one of our shows 'cause of you.

(SONIC HOST) Are we free associating? Maybe we can compose a song here for you, Mike, trade lyrics, a line at a time?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I got a million of them. That goes for both questions. You start.

(SONIC HOST) What's the greatest lyric you've never used, Mike?

(MIKE JOHNSON) But I'm a cowboy in shants.

(SONIC HOST) Come on, fellas, help us out here. Mike, give us the dirt on your solo record. What inspired it?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Bon Jovi, not the solo stuff.

(SONIC HOST) Bon Jovi was your inspiration?

(SHIVER RAO) Bon Jovi inspires everyone.

(DOUGEFRESH) Did you produce it yourself?

(GANSA) Any affairs with the producer?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Yes I produced myself and had an affair.

(SONIC HOST) How long had you been working on the material?

(MIKE JOHNSON) A couple of months, but it was recorded in two days.

(DOUGEFRESH) That's the way to do it.

(SHIVER RAO) MJ, is the CD widely available?

(SONIC HOST) The CD is out on Up Records, Shiver.

(DOUGEFRESH) Is your music influenced by J.?

(MIKE JOHNSON) No, Dougie. I don't listen to much contemporary music.

(SHIVER RAO) Does it have the DIN JR sound?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Definitely not.

(SONIC HOST) What do you listen to?

(MIKE JOHNSON) It's mostly acoustic.

(SHIVER RAO) Bon Jovi?

(GANSA) Are you in cahoots with the other Johnsons?

(SONIC HOST) Leonard Cohen? Tom Waits?

(DOUGEFRESH) Trillian Green?

(SHIVER RAO) Bon Jovi?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Yes, I'm in cahoots with the other Johnsons, and besides Bon Jovi, I listen to Al Green, and not Trillian Green.

(SONIC HOST) Who else?

(GANSA) Are you interested in the hip wielders of the acoustic: Palace, Smog, etc.?

(BAD DOG) Yeah, yeah?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Tim Buckley, Kyuss, Sabbath, Purple, OV Wright, Bobby Bland.

(SHIVER RAO) So anyway...what's wrong with the Bon Jovi solo stuff?!

(MIKE JOHNSON) I'm not into any of it.

(MIKE JOHNSON) It doesn't have Richie Sambora on it.

(SHIVER RAO) Good point.

(DOUGEFRESH) Are you serious w/ the Bon Jovi? I'm getting scared....

(SONIC HOST) I think the Bon Jovi joke has gone dangerously too far.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Joke? I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride.

(DOUGEFRESH) Hell yeah.

(SONIC HOST) Mike, are you a Geddy Lee fan too?

(MIKE JOHNSON) No.

(SONIC HOST) What bass players do you like?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Charlie Haden, Mike Watt, Lemmy.

(DOUGEFRESH) How bout Alvin Lee?

(DOUGEFRESH) What's going on w/ the Seattle scene?

(BAD DOG) Is that your real name or a stage name?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Both.

(SONIC HOST) SO WHAT'S THIS WITH YOU AND J. DOING ALL THIS

SOLO STUFF? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU KNOW THAT WE DON'T

KNOW?

(SHIVER RAO) Yeah.

(MIKE JOHNSON) There isn't anything you don't know that I don't know.

(GANSA) Bye Bye.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Bye.

(SONIC HOST) Later.

(SHIVER RAO) Luv you baby.

(SONIC HOST) Did the solo work come out of frustration with "the band?"

(MIKE JOHNSON) No.

(SONIC HOST) Did the band come out frustration with "the solo work?"

(MIKE JOHNSON) Maybe. I was doing solo stuff before I joined Dino.

(SONIC HOST) What made you want to join Dino Jr.?

(MIKE JOHNSON) They asked.

(DOUGEFRESH) Which do you enjoy? Solo or Dino?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Solo.

(SONIC HOST) Why?

(MIKE JOHNSON) They're my songs.

(DOUGEFRESH) Is J. a pain in the ass?

(SHIVER RAO) Is J. a power freak? The real dirt.

(MIKE JOHNSON) I don't think he's a power freak and everyone's a pain in the ass.

(DOUGEFRESH) Well put.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Thank you, Dougie.

(SONIC HOST) Ah ha, so he *is* a pain in the ass, huh?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Exactly.

(SONIC HOST) We're selling this to Hard Copy. Your solo stuff is more textured than Dino -- ever try to introduce that style into the band?

(MIKE JOHNSON) No.

(SONIC HOST) Or any of your songs?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I never wanted to introduce any of my songs to Dino.

(DOUGEFRESH) Is Dino a band? Or is it J?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I've never seen Dino Jr. , so I don't know.

(SHIVER RAO) So you base yer solo work on yer powerful feelings toward J? yes/maybe?

(SONIC HOST) Were you a Dino fan before joining them?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Not really.

(DOUGEFRESH) So it's just a job.

(SONIC HOST) So, I don't get it, your tastes are way different, your songs are way different. It's just kind of interesting to see an artist who's got one foot here, one foot there musically.

(SHIVER RAO) I say you kill J.

(MIKE JOHNSON) I'm working on it.

(BAD DOG) I'm beginning to like Shiver Rao.

(SONIC HOST) Why not just go solo the whole damn time?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I am solo the whole damn time.

(SONIC HOST) Would you be happier if you did?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Check out those bass solos.

(SONIC HOST) Dude, we love ya for them.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Thanks.

(DOUGEFRESH) Would you be as successful, though?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Doing bass solos?

(SONIC HOST) You're record seems kind of somber, is this why?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Probably.

(SONIC HOST) Or were you in a tough relationship?

(MIKE JOHNSON) They're all tough.

(SONIC HOST) They're all pains in the ass.

(DOUGEFRESH) Being in Dino though, gives you a name, does it not? Without the band, it would be harder to put out your solo stuff.

(BAD DOG) Grrr.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Maybe, it wasn't exactly easy. Up isn't exactly DGC.

(DOUGEFRESH) But I could still go to Tower Records and find your album, whereas, you could never find mine.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Check out the cut-out bin.

(SONIC HOST) Awww, that's not true, M.J.

(SHIVER RAO) You can't find all 12 of mine either....

(SONIC HOST) Hey, put it online....

(DOUGEFRESH) Tonight's my first night online. I must go slow.

(MIKE JOHNSON) I've never done this before, either.

(BAD DOG) WHAT'S YER BAND?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Dinosaur Jr.

(SHIVER RAO) Mine is uh...CORPORATE WHORES.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Also known as Dinosaur Jr.

(SONIC HOST) Mike, how do you feel about Leanord Cohen

comparisons?

(DOUGEFRESH) It's creepy, isn't it?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Creepy indeed.

(BAD DOG) Len's cool.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Leonard Cohen is cool but I don't sound like him.

(SONIC HOST) I think it's more of a similarity in moods, Mike.

(BAD DOG) Lets cut to the chase: who here is high?

(MIKE JOHNSON) It's a good mood.

(SHIVER RAO) No comment, legal problems.

(DOUGEFRESH) What do you think of the Esquivel revival?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Who's Esquivel?

(DOUGEFRESH) Space age bachelor pad music. It's big here in NY now.

(MIKE JOHNSON) So who is he?

(BAD DOG) Didn't he jump Snake River Canyon?

(DOUGEFRESH) He's some old dude from the '60s.

(DOUGEFRESH) BarNone picked up his album and put it out and now it's big again.

(BAD DOG) Actually, he was pretty cool.

(SONIC HOST) Really? BarNone just came online with us here.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Does he look like Little Richard?

(DOUGEFRESH) No, he's a Spanish dude.

(BAD DOG) He sorta does, doesn't he?

(SHIVER RAO) I thought he was Jamaican.

(SONIC HOST) Or Pakistani.

(BAD DOG) Yeah.

(DOUGEFRESH) He's got great clothes, though.

(SHIVER RAO) Yeah...nice clothes.

(MIKE JOHNSON) But is he high?

(DOUGEFRESH) Must be.

(SHIVER RAO) Is he the one always in the leisure suit?

(SONIC HOST) Free associations?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Alright.

(SONIC HOST) Say the first word that comes to your minds.

(DOUGEFRESH) Double kick pedal.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Sucks.

(SONIC HOST) Elvis.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Evil.

(BAD DOG) Grr.

(SHIVER RAO) Kookie monster.

(DOUGEFRESH) Myrrh.

(SONIC HOST) Donuts.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Esquivel.

(BAD DOG) Fur.

(SONIC HOST) Muff.

(DOUGEFRESH) Pataki.

(SHIVER RAO) Kookie monstaaah.

(SONIC HOST) Satan.

(SONIC HOST) Seattle.

(SHIVER RAO) Santa.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Esquivel.

(DOUGEFRESH) Enough...enough!!!

(SONIC HOST) More more.

(DOUGEFRESH) You like that name, huh?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Esquivel.

(BAD DOG) Whore whore.

(SONIC HOST) Dog dog.

(DOUGEFRESH) He's stuttering.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Thanks thanks.

(SONIC HOST) Grunge grunge.

(BAD DOG) Duran Duran.

(DOUGEFRESH) My dog is sittin' here next to me.

(SONIC HOST) Nice one bad dog.

(SHIVER RAO) Bon Jovi.

(SONIC HOST) Rush.

(DOUGEFRESH) Speed.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Esquivel.

(DOUGEFRESH) Escargot.

(MIKE JOHNSON) High on.

(SONIC HOST) Acid.

(SHIVER RAO) Lithium.

(BAD DOG Snake River Canyon.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Esquivel.

(SONIC HOST) Robotussin.

(DOUGEFRESH) Ephedrine.

(SONIC HOST) Tamales.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Esquivel.

(DOUGEFRESH) Cuchi frittos.

(SONIC HOST) Doritos.

(DOUGEFRESH) Tongue sandwich.

(SONIC HOST) Warner Brothers.

(SHIVER RAO) Overdose in Paris bathtub.

(DOUGEFRESH) Esquivel.

(BAD DOG) OJ.

(DOUGEFRESH) No J.

(SHIVER RAO) O.J. Pimpson.

(SONIC HOST) Come on...Mike...Warner Brothers?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Atlantic.

(DOUGEFRESH) Where is MJ?

(MIKE JOHNSON) In Seattle.

(DOUGEFRESH) Pacific.

(SONIC HOST) You're supposed to say they suck or something, M.J.

(SHIVER RAO) Up.

(MIKE JOHNSON) I never met the Warner Brothers.

(SHIVER RAO) They're on tv everyday.

(SONIC HOST) They smell.

(DOUGEFRESH) I'd like to meet them, they must be loaded.

(SHIVER RAO) Animaniacs.

(MIKE JOHNSON) They sound unpleasant.

(SONIC HOST) What's the worst thing about being on a major?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I tell you man, Up sucks too.

(DOUGEFRESH) Better than nothing.

(MIKE JOHNSON) True.

(SHIVER RAO) So uh...why did Dino Jr. go on Letterman??

(MIKE JOHNSON) They don't smell like the Warner Brothers.

(DOUGEFRESH) J.'s ego?

(MIKE JOHNSON) They asked.

(BAD DOG) Who wouldn't?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Why not?

(SHIVER RAO) Now my sister likes Dino Jr.

(MIKE JOHNSON) So does mine.

(SHIVER RAO) Scary, eh?

(BAD DOG) No, why scary?

(SONIC HOST) Did you have to practice with Paul Shaffer?

(MIKE JOHNSON) And yes we did have to practice with them.

(SONIC HOST) Did Paul make a pass at you?

(SHIVER RAO) Ew.

(MIKE JOHNSON) They're strictly showbiz.

(DOUGEFRESH) Paul's married-he lives across the street from me.

(SHIVER RAO) You talk with Letterman?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I shook hands with him.

(SONIC HOST) Shiver, he *did* Letterman.

(BAD DOG) Is he gay?

(MIKE JOHNSON) He seemed very happy.

(SONIC HOST) Did he have sweaty palms? Or hairy palms?

(SHIVER RAO) Letterman make a pass too?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I don't know I was tickling his palm.

(DOUGEFRESH) Letterman was better when he wore sneakers. He makes too much money for his own good.

(SONIC HOST) So, Mike I hear you're playing NYC again soon, true?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I did.

(DOUGEFRESH) Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh.

(MIKE JOHNSON) I'm not playing NYC again soon.

(SONIC HOST) Are you working on a new record?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Yes.

(DOUGEFRESH) If you need some sweet drumming, let me know.

(MIKE JOHNSON) I'll get back to you Dougie.

(SHIVER RAO) I still wish ya hadn't done Letterman.

(MIKE JOHNSON) why?

(BAD DOG) WHY?

(MIKE JOHNSON) I couldn't help it.

(SONIC HOST) Is your new record more acoustic?

(MIKE JOHNSON) More acoustic than what?

(SONIC HOST) Than the last one?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Just as acoustic.

(SONIC HOST) Next subject. Screaming Trees. Are you working with them again?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Love those guys. I've never worked with them.

(SONIC HOST) Right, you worked on Lanegan's solo stuff.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Yes.

(DOUGEFRESH) I like that album.

(SONIC HOST) You won't work with the band? They're due for a new album, no?

(MIKE JOHNSON) They haven't asked me to work with their band.

They're recording their new record soon. Their drummer Barrett plays on my record.

(SONIC HOST) Is he related to Syd?

(MIKE JOHNSON) He's his hairdresser.

(SONIC HOST) Their last record was a thorough rocker.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Their last record rules.

(SONIC HOST) I thought they rose above the whole grunge hype.

(DOUGEFRESH) That explains a lot.

(MIKE JOHNSON) They never were grunge.

(SONIC HOST) Exactly, but they were sucked into the marketing blitz.

(MIKE JOHNSON) What marketing blitz?

(SONIC HOST) M.J., the Screaming Trees were "packaged" by MTV to be the next Seattle band.

(SHIVER RAO) Kill MTV.

(SONIC HOST) But they didn't sink into the tar. Sorry, mixed metaphor.

(MIKE JOHNSON) They never showed their videos on prime time though.

(BAD DOG) Uh....

(SONIC HOST) Nah, M.J., they showed the single a lot.

(SHIVER RAO) What's yer opinion of MTV?

(MIKE JOHNSON) MTV sucks. But they have good sound.

(DOUGEFRESH) They don't have music on anymore though.

(MIKE JOHNSON) You're right about the single.

(MIKE JOHNSON) But not Dollar Bill. That could've been a big hit.

(DOUGEFRESH) They showed the single cause it was in a movie....

(MIKE JOHNSON) That's true.

(SHIVER RAO) Seeya later all. M.J., YOU ROCK.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Thanks.

(SONIC HOST) Later Shiver.

(SHIVER RAO) God bless you all.

(SONIC HOST) Mike, ever been online before?

(MIKE JOHNSON) No.

(DOUGEFRESH) Ever heard a band in Seattle called Kilgore Trout?

(MIKE JOHNSON) No.

(SHIVER RAO) Are they good?

(DOUGEFRESH) Check 'em out if you see 'em around. Wild stuff.

(BAD DOG) Horrible name.

(SONIC HOST) Any band named after a Vonnegut character has to be

odd.

(MIKE JOHNSON) I agree, has to be f*cked.

(BAD DOG) Blahhh.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Thank you. Good dog.

(DOUGEFRESH) Heh heh.

(SONIC HOST) What do you do in your spare time?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Listen to music and write songs.

(SHIVER RAO) Oh yeah...uh...KILL J. KILL J.... HOORAH BON JOVI BON JOVI.

(MIKE JOHNSON) See ya Shiver.

(SONIC HOST) How does it feel to look out onto a crowd of teenagers

throwing themselves at each other?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Frightening.

(BAD DOG) I hate mosh pits.

(SONIC HOST) Does the rest of the band feel the same way?

(SHIVER RAO) One last word: I LIVE TO MOSH.

(SONIC HOST) I live to nosh.

(DOUGEFRESH) I'm gonna go. Y'all take care now.

(MIKE JOHNSON) See ya Dougie.

(SONIC HOST) See ya Doggie.

(BAD DOG) Uh.

(DOUGEFRESH) Good luck w/ the music, Mike.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Uh huh. Thanks, take care.

(BAD DOG) Mike, do you like to see moshing out there or do you, like me, like to see teenage girls pressed against the stage?

(MIKE JOHNSON) Teenage girls moshing against the stage.

(BAD DOG) Yeah yeah.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Mister Host, is this over yet?

(SONIC HOST) Okay okay.

(MIKE JOHNSON) Thanks, good night.

(BAD DOG) Later.

(SONIC HOST) Thanks for hanging out.

(MIKE JOHNSON) You're welcome, Mr. Net.