Johnny Socko, 1990 - 2004

Johnny Socko was founded by Joe Welch, Mike Wiltrout and Steve Mascari in Bloomington, Indiana in 1990. They enlisted Dylan Wissing, Eric Evans, Josh Silbert, Charlie Krone and Demian Hostetter.

“Influenced by genre-hoppers like Fishbone and Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as the more traditional funk and soul of James Brown and Parliament/Funkadelic, Socko also had an affinity for the party rhythms of hip-hop, ska and reggae.

In the early nineties, Johnny Socko broke out of its regional existence, embarking on a nationwide tour with American ska stalwarts Bim Skala Bim. The sound was raucous and crowd-driven. The Bim Skala Bim tour would be the first of a cycle that would eventually establish Johnny Socko as one of America's most consistent touring bands. In 1994, Socko released Bovaquarium through Bim Skala Bim's BIB imprint; the Oh I Do Hope It's the Roast Beef EP followed two years later”.

BIG Changes
By 1999, Welch, Wiltrout and Mascari had left the group (as had Evans and Krone) so the group naturally took a new direction. Chris Smail, Matt Wilson, and Rob Henson brought their heavyweight talents to the band to reforge the group.

“Socko began to emphasize the more rocking sides of its original influences, and drew upon such groups as Van Halen and Cheap Trick. Dubbing their new direction "Big Rock," Socko finally took a break from touring (having performed over 2,000 shows coast to coast since its inception) to write and record a new album. In late 2002 the self-titled, Ken Lewis-produced affair appeared. It showcased a more refined sound that incorporated elements of rap-rock and pop, but didn't forgo the band's trademark sense of humor or solid horn section." Johnny Socko dissolved of natural causes in early 2004.”

by Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide