Biography
Reading, Pennsylvania's Johnny Action Figure originated in 1999 when guitarists and singers Chris Sheehan, born April 8, 1985, and Brendan Fullam, born December 4, 1984, launched the project the summer preceding their freshman year at high school. From the start the pair composed original material while drawing on Elliott Smith, Elvis Costello, the Beatles, Tom Petty and additional sources, both consistently preferring Paul McCartney's lighter pop approach over the more experimental and somber leanings associated with John Lennon. Bass duties fell to Brendan's younger brother Christopher Fullam, born August 24, 1987 and known professionally as CF, with Brad Rittle, born July 3, 1987, supplying drums to round out the lineup. Local performances began during the members' junior and senior years, coinciding with the completion of the band's first full-length recording. Music journalist Alex Henderson observed in his assessment of the self-titled 2004 debut that a Canadian group had previously used the same name until it adopted the new moniker Ghost of Science. Immediately after graduation the quartet secured support slots across Pennsylvania alongside national acts such as Something Corporate, the Get Up Kids, Midtown, Allister and Wilco. While enrolled as full-time college students they maintained a schedule of weekly gigs, captured fresh material and joined the 2004 edition of Warped Tour. Their follow-up album, Asks the Room to Please Stop Spinning, appeared worldwide through DRP Records in July 2006, backed by an extensive tour that commenced in June 2007. Citing the Beach Boys, Steely Dan, My Morning Jacket and further acts described as "pushing the envelope of pop music," Johnny Action Figure has aimed to "challenge" its own creative process while shaping its chosen sonic direction. The group's audience has grown steadily outside Pennsylvania into New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, augmented by online reach beyond live routing. With "Lose Our Face" and "Fortune" circulating widely on YouTube, the band served as featured musical guest on CN8's Backstage with Barry Nolan and logged appearances on Havoc (on demand) as well as ManiaTV! Network's RnR TV.
Albums
