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15 Things You NEED Know About Jellybean Johnson

Eric Alper
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15 Things You NEED Know About Jellybean Johnson

The world lost a giant of Minneapolis music when Jellybean Johnson passed away on November 21, 2025. His influence stretched across decades, shaping the Minneapolis Sound and leaving fingerprints on some of the most important RnB, pop and funk records of the era. His work carried joy, grit, heart and a style that no one else could match. Here are fifteen things you may not have known about the musician whose legacy continues to shine.

  1. He was born Garry George Johnson but earned the nickname Jellybean long before he became a studio legend.
  2. He moved from Chicago to Minneapolis as a kid and found his musical path there.
  3. He started drum lessons at thirteen and taught himself guitar two years later.
  4. He played basketball at Marshall University High School before music fully took over.
  5. He attended the University of Minnesota before joining the Time.
  6. As the drummer for the Time, he worked closely with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
  7. He played on and produced music for major artists including Alexander O’Neal, Cherrelle, New Edition and Janet Jackson.
  8. He contributed drums and a memorable guitar solo to Alexander O’Neal’s “Innocent.”
  9. His work on Janet Jackson’s “Black Cat” helped send the song to No. 1 on both the rock and pop charts.
  10. He produced hits for Mint Condition including “Breakin My Heart Pretty Brown Eyes.”
  11. He returned to the Time for the Prince film Graffiti Bridge and the album ‘Pandemonium.’
  12. He performed with Rihanna at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
  13. He paused work on his solo album Get Experienced after Prince’s passing but completed and released it in 2021.
  14. He founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum in 2022 to preserve the legacy of the city’s music.
  15. He and members of the Time received the Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, a recognition of decades of impact.

Jellybean Johnson left behind a story filled with creativity, dedication and generosity. His sound shaped generations of artists and his spirit helped define an era. His music remains a guide for anyone who believes in rhythm, invention and community.

Punk Rock Christmas Festival Debuts in Arizona Headlined by MxPx

Eric Alper
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Punk Rock Christmas Festival Debuts in Arizona Headlined by MxPx

Punk in the Park has announced the debut of the high energy Punk Rock Christmas festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th, at Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds in Chandler, Arizona, just outside Phoenix. Headlined by the legendary MxPx, this new punk rock event will also feature the incredible talents of Face To Face, The Vandals, and Authority Zero. The complete lineup includes Voodoo Glow Skulls, Slick Shoes, Urethane, Jen Pop, and WinterHaven, promising an unforgettable night of high energy anthems and festive mayhem in the desert.

Produced by Brew Ha Ha Productions, the team behind Punk In The Park, this all day, holiday themed festival will feature music on one main stage, holiday themed drinks, festive décor, exclusive merch, and plenty of punk rock cheer. Attendees can also purchase a $15 add on for craft beer sampling, showcasing the best local, regional, and national craft beer, hard seltzer, and cider. The festival is also giving back to the community: any ticketholder who brings an unwrapped toy valued at twenty dollars to donate to children in need will receive access to a Fast Pass Festival Entrance. Whether you are naughty, nice, or somewhere in between, Punk Rock Christmas is your chance to slam dance into the holidays.

Punk Rock Christmas Festival Lineup

  • MxPx
  • Face To Face
  • The Vandals
  • Authority Zero
  • Voodoo Glow Skulls
  • Slick Shoes
  • Urethane
  • Jen Pop
  • WinterHaven

Alt Pop Supergroup 10xTANTRUM Unleashes Gritty New Single “MONEY!”

Eric Alper
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Alt Pop Supergroup 10xTANTRUM Unleashes Gritty New Single “MONEY!”

The bold, edgy, and sexy alt pop supergroup 10xTANTRUM has released their second single, “MONEY!,” which is available everywhere out now. The collective exploded onto the scene last month, featuring four standout creatives: multidisciplinary artist ELI, actress and musician BLU JAY, singer, producer, and visual artist JACK XANDER, and Italian vocalist, producer, and model DILL. Following the breakout success of their debut track, “BABYGIRL,” which Post Punk praised as “the sound of four distinct artists catching fire together,” “MONEY!” arrives as a gritty, funky pop punk track with a snarky hook and potent flashes of new wave and brat energy, firmly cementing their genre blending sound.

The single is accompanied by a high fashion visual shot dramatically between the Alps and Los Angeles, created in collaboration with the renowned Italian label Just Cavalli. ELI explained the artistic link, saying, “‘MONEY!,’ continues this ongoing dialogue between fashion and music, featuring visuals styled in collaboration with the renowned Italian label Just Cavalli, under the creative direction of Daniele Lombardo.” The group continues to redefine the intersection of music, art, and fashion, blending punk energy, industrial pop sounds, and boundary pushing style. Looking ahead, their next release will continue this exciting trend, introducing a new collaboration with the heritage brand Fiorucci, under the creative direction of Francesca Murri.

Machine Girl Returns with Frenetic New Single “Come On Baby Scrape My Data”

Eric Alper
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Machine Girl Returns with Frenetic New Single “Come On Baby Scrape My Data”

The New York based electronic hardcore project Machine Girl, now operating as a trio helmed by Matt Stephenson, has released their first new music since 2024’s successful ‘MG Ultra’ with the track “Come On Baby Scrape My Data,” which is available everywhere out now. Layering a guttural bassline atop a woozy old school computer loop, the song conjures a frenetic bounce from the depths of cyberspace, offering a thrilling soundscape of digital chaos. Stephenson reveals the song was inspired by the unsettling feeling of modern technology, explaining, “It was written after experiencing something creepy and fucked up either with A.I. or the surveillance state. My phone knows me way too well—which is a feeling we’ve all gotten very used to within the last ten years. The song teases big tech companies, taunting them to come and try to take our data and identities.” The track is a powerful statement, capturing the paranoia of the information age while delivering a high energy, addictive electronic beat.

Beyond Extinction’s Debut Album ‘Where They Gather’ Is Out Now, Featuring Cataclysmic Single “Apache”

Eric Alper
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Beyond Extinction’s Debut Album ‘Where They Gather’ Is Out Now, Featuring Cataclysmic Single “Apache”

Essex’s resident death metallers Beyond Extinction have released their debut full length album, the anthropic ‘Where They Gather’, which is out now. The record was preceded by the music video for their cataclysmic new single “Apache,” a devastating track that features guest vocals from Ingested’s Josh Davies. Inspired by the harrowing events of the Iraq war, the 12th July Baghdad Airstrike, and the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, “Apache” is an explosive and rapid paced track. It stands out on the album for its structure and unrelenting delivery, proving that Beyond Extinction commands more tools than just the low and slow speed with which they dominate the deathcore scene.

Vocalist and lyricist Jasper Harmer explains the track’s grim perspective, saying: “This song is a soundtrack to the incredible violence which man can bring upon man. ‘Apache’ puts us in the pilot’s seat, behind the controls and with our fingers on the triggers. A first person view of the sickening and terrifying destructive potential of humans and our governments’ desperate need for control.” The band uses this track as a push to understand the horror of modern combat and the tools with which our societies and ideals grow. Having recently completed select headline dates and successful co headline shows with To Obey A Tyrant, the deathcore warriors will also be teaming up with Gutrectomy and Kanine, as well as performing an opening slot at London’s Underworld with To The Grave and Osiah.

‘Where They Gather’ Track Listing

  • Bodies at the Gates
  • Where They Gather
  • Traitors to the Ropes
  • Tyranny (feat. Alex Teyen of Black Tongue)
  • Scorched Earth
  • Apache (feat. Josh Davies of Ingested)
  • Seven Spears
  • Throne of Atrophy
  • Winter Sun
  • Mansions Burning on Bleak Horizons
  • Earthmurk
  • The Mines
  • U-235

Jet Black Roses Drop Vibrant New Video For “Barefoot Gypsy Mama”

Eric Alper
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Jet Black Roses Drop Vibrant New Video For “Barefoot Gypsy Mama”

Following the runaway success of their funky, genre bending hit “PsychoBoogieHoochieCoo,” Southern rock outfit Jet Black Roses have released a vibrant new music video for the single “Barefoot Gypsy Mama,” which is available everywhere out now. Sporting equal parts vintage flair and modern swagger, the video opens on a nostalgic stage performance bathed in warm retro tones, channeling the 1970s with flared pants, tinted glasses, and TV frame transitions. It then bursts into a high energy montage of life on and off stage, featuring tattoos, soundchecks, race cars, and the electric camaraderie of the road. Footage from the band’s NASCAR Cup Series pre race performance at EchoPark Speedway perfectly captures the all American spirit that defines this dynamic group.

“Barefoot Gypsy Mama” embodies the band’s signature “Rock N Roll with a Country Soul” ethos, blending bluesy electric guitar, raspy vocals, and a driving beat. The group shares that the track is “for all the free spirits who love feeling your bare feet on the earth, cruising with the windows down, and marching to the beat of your own drum.” The single follows a whirlwind year for Jet Black Roses, who have shared stages with rock legends like Styx, Sammy Hagar, and Collective Soul, and closed out CMA Week with a fiery set at Luke Combs’ bar. Their previous single, “PsychoBoogieHoochieCoo,” produced by Grammy winner Greg Archilla, drew praise from MusicRow as “funky, horn punctuated Southern rock with some built in grease.”

A2O MAY Is Bigger, Badder, and Better with New Single “B.B.B”

Eric Alper
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A2O MAY Is Bigger, Badder, and Better with New Single “B.B.B”

The next gen global girl group, A2O MAY, has released their bold new single, “B.B.B (Bigger Badder Better),” which is available everywhere out now. This next era marks a major step forward in the quintet’s mission to revolutionize global music with its genre defying sounds and striking visuals. This high energy track is an empowering anthem for today’s youth, radiating confidence, self expression, and unapologetic flair. Earlier this year, the group made global headlines after being the first Chinese idol group to perform at the well renowned iHeartRadio’s Wango Tango, marking both their U.S. stage debut and simultaneous appearance on American television via KTLA.

Driven by an infectious pop beat and bold lyrics like “I’m bigger, badder, better than the cool kids” and “Don’t need nobody to follow,” the track celebrates owning your power and embracing your true self. The highlight of “B.B.B” is the special feature by A2O LTG (Low Teen Girls), three members from A2O Entertainment’s Rookies unit set to debut in the near future. The accompanying music video, set against a lively school backdrop, charmingly captures the younger LTG members admiring the stylish and popular seniors, A2O MAY (composed of CHENYU, SHIJIE, QUCHANG, MICHE, and KAT). The release follows the success of their first EP, ‘PAPARAZZI ARRIVE’, which has landed them on the Billboard Emerging Artists and Top Album Sales charts.

TEED (Formerly Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) Launches New Era With Double Single “Desire” / “The Echo”

Eric Alper
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TEED (Formerly Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) Launches New Era With Double Single “Desire” / “The Echo”

TEED (formerly known as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) has made his highly anticipated return with a thrilling two track digital single, “Desire” / “The Echo,” which is available everywhere out now. This release marks the first new music from Orlando Higginbottom since his acclaimed 2022 album, ‘When the Lights Go’, and serves as a vibrant introduction to a bold new chapter in his artistic journey. “Desire” leads the release, offering a psych electro pop gem built around a propulsive drum groove, hypnotic synth melody, and Higginbottom’s signature falsetto. He implores across the track’s dancefloor pulse: “I’m looking for love in your arms tonight. Is it too late?”

Higginbottom notes that “Desire” is about “yearning for connection at the end of the world,” while its companion track, “The Echo,” is a hypnotic club anthem that taps into the pure joy and inspiration that first made him fall in love with music. This dual release is the opening transmission from a body of work that finds Higginbottom purposefully reclaiming the joy of creation. With two GRAMMY nominations and collaborations with artists like SG Lewis and Mark Ronson under his belt, TEED has re emerged with a sharper focus, successfully reconfiguring his own sense of success by separating his art from industry noise. The new music, which is already building towards his forthcoming third album, ‘Always With Me’, is a thrilling blend of nostalgic feeling and exhilarating contemporary sound.

Manchester’s Savage Sons WODE Return with Formidable Album ‘Uncrossing The Keys’

Eric Alper
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Manchester’s Savage Sons WODE Return with Formidable Album ‘Uncrossing The Keys’

Manchester’s savage sons WODE have returned with their fourth album, ‘Uncrossing The Keys’, which is out now. The record marks a confident expansion of their already formidable sound, built upon a shadowy foundation of feral black metal and ironclad heavy metal heft. Having evolved from the more straightforward methodology of their debut, WODE has continuously embraced a wider spectrum of moods, painting with blacker, richer hues across this newest work. Their sound remains steeped in flame and fury, but the songwriting has grown leaner yet more intricate, focused, and melodic than ever before.

The nine track opus masterfully blends genres, allowing jagged post punk and goth leanings to bleakly shine on tracks like “Saturn Shadow” and the atmospheric instrumental “Phantom.” The doomier pace and majestically pensive mood of the single “Transmutation” recalls both Paradise Lost and Amorphis with its sombre undercurrent, while the morosely anthemic “Under Lanternlight” is suffused with dynamic melodies. The guitars carry a mournful shimmer at times, their hooks laced with both melancholy and menace, drifting above the carnage with moments of elegiac beauty and dark lamentation. ‘Uncrossing The Keys’ was expertly recorded and mixed by James Atkinson at The Stationhouse and mastered by Magnus Lindberg, resulting in a truly haunted and commanding blackened heavy metal album.

‘Uncrossing The Keys’ Track Listing

  • Two Crossed Keys
  • Under Lanternlight
  • Saturn Shadow
  • Transmutation
  • Prisoner of the Moon
  • Fiery End
  • Lash of the Tyrant
  • Phantom
  • Dashed on the Rocks

Massachusetts Rock Band The Burning Paris Releases Emotional New Single “The Advocate”

Eric Alper
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Massachusetts Rock Band The Burning Paris Releases Emotional New Single “The Advocate”

Massachusetts rock outfit The Burning Paris has returned with their brand new single, “The Advocate,” which is available everywhere out now. This track brilliantly showcases their songwriting prowess like never before, taking the listener on a compelling journey from start to finish. The song immediately welcomes you in with a beautiful guitar riff that sets a dynamic tone, supported by a tightly locked drum groove that drives the entire composition forward with its consistent rhythmic motif.

Vocalist and guitarist Nathan Shumaker leads listeners through the winding trail of the track as it steadily builds and builds. The journey culminates in a powerful crescendo featuring a beautifully emotional guitar solo at the end that truly captures the listener’s feelings. If you are a fan of indie rock and emo, you need to have The Burning Paris on your radar. With two full length albums already available and more new music on the way, fans new and old will have plenty to enjoy for a while.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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