biography:

Jonny Wills has fronted the following projects.

Four Minute Warning 1989-92
Felix and The Few 1993-1995 Solo Project
Orangutang 1995-97
The Mammals 1998-1999
Jonny Wills and The World 2000-2002
Jonny Wills (Singer/Songwriter) 2003-



Early Days

“I started writing songs when I was 14, copying Paul Simon and Mark Knopfler. Strange introspective teen things like “Here I Am’ and a Dire Straits rip off about an arms deal, which, fortunately, I’ve lost.

‘My biggest influence has been the Beatles. I remember crying when John died and I couldn’t think why. I was 11. I subsequently bought every album they’d made. I was amazed to discover that the cocky guy at the beginning was the angry guy with the beard at the end.

‘One day, I was staring at the wall of my bedroom listening to “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” trying to see how it worked. I was there for three hours, not moving until the secret of song writing hit me.


Orangutang


(Heres Blane enjoying herself)

In 1995 Jonny moved to Brighton in Southern England, with his friend Blane who took up the drums in Orangutang. They played the Brighton music scene and worked up an enthusiastic following.


The Mammals



Together they continued on with the Mammals and started Club Mammal, an infamous club night at The Lift in Queens Road, an idea instigated by local impresario Jeff Reed.

“The idea was to strip songs back to acoustic guitar and beats in a live format influenced by Richie Havens. Subsequently people like David Gray and Badly Drawn Boy have made that happen.”


..and The World



In 2000 Jonny pushed his personality to the fore with Jonny Wills and The World, culminating with various CDs, and gigs in London.

One of their highlights was selling out the Hanbury Ballroom in Brighton.
‘It wasn’t that people were E-ing off their tits or moshing and spilling lager everywhere...it was about natural uninhibited joy. Everyone in the place ended up jumping and dancing purely to the music. I was incredibly proud of us that night. We’d achieved something rare these days.”


Jonny Wills : Solo Singer / Songwriter

‘It’s been a struggle, I have to be honest. I’m a composer so I want the music the way it was written. I’m also not established, so people are unsure when they think it sounds risky.

‘Also, there’s a lot of hard work involved, so you have to be mentally quite strong.
Some people have other priorities while mine has always been the music and its performance.

“I’m lucky because those in the local music scene have nothing but praise and support for me, yet some people who aren’t in music think I’m lazy, precocious or precious.

‘Its just that I’ve always believed in my songs, and myself as a performer...and now I have more experience and am better than ever. I’m not giving up. All I need is a platform...and where better now than the Internet?

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