James A. Johnston
James "Jim" Alan Stanley Johnston is a music composer who has been working … Read Full Bio ↴James "Jim" Alan Stanley Johnston is a music composer who has been working for World Wrestling Entertainment since the 1980s. His work is often accredited to the name James A. Johnston.
Johnston is famous for writing many of the memorable entrance theme songs for WWE, including the theme songs for The Undertaker, The Rock, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, amongst hundreds of others superstars. In addition, Johnston has also composed music for the majority of WWE's PPV and Television productions, including show themes, music videos, vignettes, commercials and tributes.
Johnston has mentioned in past interviews that he suffers from stage fright and a fear of live audiences, and it was this fear that led to him seeking a more 'studio oriented' music career. His first job in the entertainment business was working with MTV and VH1 to create bumpers and commercial cues, before a chance meeting in a sushi restaurant with a WWF producer led to him joining Vince McMahon's professional wrestling company. Initially composing TV themes for shows and commercial buffers, Johnston gravitated towards wrestlers' entrance themes, before eventually becoming a complete music composer for the company.
In 1989, Johnston composed original music for No Holds Barred, a movie starring Hulk Hogan. Although the score was never commercially released, the theme "No Holds Barred", with vocals by John Joyce, was later released on WWE Anthology album in 2002. Johnston also contributed the score to the 2010 WWE Studio's release, "Legendary", starring John Cena.
Johnston is well known for writing, composing and producing all his compositions, in addition to playing all instruments, and occasionally recruiting outside vocalists or additional musicians to contribute when the piece requires.
Johnston appears on the videotape Piledriver - The Wrestling Album 2 to introduce the video for Girls in Cars. He orchestrated the live band at the WWF Slammy Awards ceremonies, and traveled across the U.S. in 1995 as part of the "Raw Band". He also appeared on camera at WrestleMania XIV and the 1998 SummerSlam playing the DX theme with the Chris Warren Band. Johnston also had a brief clip in the film Beyond the Mat discussing his reasoning behind Vader's theme music. Johnston also appears on the bonus DVD for WWE Originals the 2004 album by the same name. The DVD features a 30 minute behind-the-scenes documentary on Johnston, offering insights into the composing, producing and directing of the album. There are also some humorous interactions of Johnston with Jonathan Coachman and Steve Austin. Johnston also appears on The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior discussing the Ultimate Warrior's theme song, and how it was able to be truly representative of the character. Johnston also appeared on the WWF WrestleMania XV DVD Extras, commenting on WWF's music, and how music is crucial in the World Wrestling Federation, now World Wrestling Entertainment.
James Alan Johnston composed the music for two films recently produced by WWE Studios, 'Legendary' (starring John Cena), and 'Knucklehead', starring The Big Show. He also wrote the score for "No Holds Barred" starring Hulk Hogan, and contributed the track, "Ahmed Johnson" to Beyond the Mat.
Johnston is famous for writing many of the memorable entrance theme songs for WWE, including the theme songs for The Undertaker, The Rock, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, amongst hundreds of others superstars. In addition, Johnston has also composed music for the majority of WWE's PPV and Television productions, including show themes, music videos, vignettes, commercials and tributes.
Johnston has mentioned in past interviews that he suffers from stage fright and a fear of live audiences, and it was this fear that led to him seeking a more 'studio oriented' music career. His first job in the entertainment business was working with MTV and VH1 to create bumpers and commercial cues, before a chance meeting in a sushi restaurant with a WWF producer led to him joining Vince McMahon's professional wrestling company. Initially composing TV themes for shows and commercial buffers, Johnston gravitated towards wrestlers' entrance themes, before eventually becoming a complete music composer for the company.
In 1989, Johnston composed original music for No Holds Barred, a movie starring Hulk Hogan. Although the score was never commercially released, the theme "No Holds Barred", with vocals by John Joyce, was later released on WWE Anthology album in 2002. Johnston also contributed the score to the 2010 WWE Studio's release, "Legendary", starring John Cena.
Johnston is well known for writing, composing and producing all his compositions, in addition to playing all instruments, and occasionally recruiting outside vocalists or additional musicians to contribute when the piece requires.
Johnston appears on the videotape Piledriver - The Wrestling Album 2 to introduce the video for Girls in Cars. He orchestrated the live band at the WWF Slammy Awards ceremonies, and traveled across the U.S. in 1995 as part of the "Raw Band". He also appeared on camera at WrestleMania XIV and the 1998 SummerSlam playing the DX theme with the Chris Warren Band. Johnston also had a brief clip in the film Beyond the Mat discussing his reasoning behind Vader's theme music. Johnston also appears on the bonus DVD for WWE Originals the 2004 album by the same name. The DVD features a 30 minute behind-the-scenes documentary on Johnston, offering insights into the composing, producing and directing of the album. There are also some humorous interactions of Johnston with Jonathan Coachman and Steve Austin. Johnston also appears on The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior discussing the Ultimate Warrior's theme song, and how it was able to be truly representative of the character. Johnston also appeared on the WWF WrestleMania XV DVD Extras, commenting on WWF's music, and how music is crucial in the World Wrestling Federation, now World Wrestling Entertainment.
James Alan Johnston composed the music for two films recently produced by WWE Studios, 'Legendary' (starring John Cena), and 'Knucklehead', starring The Big Show. He also wrote the score for "No Holds Barred" starring Hulk Hogan, and contributed the track, "Ahmed Johnson" to Beyond the Mat.
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James A. Johnston Lyrics
13 I'm feeling lucky eh eh You already know You already know I'…
Bad Boy See my family the motive With everyday I get older I'm tryna…
Bad Man Where we at? Bo Jack I'll probably never love this rap…
Blood I worry 'bout that, worry 'bout this Worry 'bout how to…
Break Down The Walls Break down walls, break down walls We’ve never cared what th…
Break It Down Ridin in my town I'm up now bout ta buy…
Break The Wall Down Come on, Jericho You know I got ya, yeah One, Break the…
Burned I sailed across the sky with a hole in my…
Here Comes The Money Come over here, come over here Come over here, come over…
I Don't Suck Well I sold the dirt to feed the band Falling right…
I Won't Do What You Told Me To I Do What You Want Me To Shame on me,…
I've Got It All Don't I know that all that I've got is plenty…
If You Dare Come if you dare, our trumpets sound Come if you dare,…
If You Smell... I could show the world how to smile I could be…
It Just Feels Right WHEN I’M OUT THE HIGHWAY AFTER I DO MY FIVE DAYS AND…
My Time I ain’t tryna waste no time I’ve been tryna maintain you…
No Chance In Hell Daddy was a drinkin' man, he never took to preachin' Said…
On the Edge Back from the edge, back from the dead Back before demons…
Tell Me A Lie Guess I didn't think it wasn't mutual The way you loved…
The Real Deal Yeah Yeah yeah yeah Uhhhhh Baby I've been tryna keep it real…
what about me I see you here with me I've waited all my…
What About Me? Tell me what you think about me But I don't give…
Who I Am Hold me up to the light Tell me if the sun…
You Think You Know Me Oceans run of the deepest blue Like my thoughts of…