Jamey Johnson Cites A Concussion Suffered Years Ago For Lack of New Music
It doesn’t matter who your favorite country artist is and how long you’ve been waiting for new music from them, virtually nobody has been waiting longer than Jamey Johnson fans. And they may have to wait a little bit longer.
Jamey Johnson hasn’t released an album of original material for going on seven years now, and has been vocal about being saddled with a bad publishing deal that kept him from earning significant money from his songs, and that caused him to struggle with writing any new material. Johnson has seen a few significant cuts with other artists over the last few years, including a recent co-write with George Strait aptly-named “Kicked Outta Country.” But his live shows regularly feature a sizable amount of covers since he hasn’t been writing new songs.
In an extensive interview with KentuckyCountryMusic.com published on Sunday (6-11), Jamey Johnson gives a new, previously unmentioned reason for why his creative output has come to a virtual standstill. In the interview Johnson explains that it was a concussion he suffered 7 years ago that has been partly, or mostly to blame for his lack of new songs or new albums.
“I’m making progress on the creative parts of my brain,” Johnson says. “It’s been about 7 years ago, I got a concussion. I slipped on some ice coming out of the studio one night and I hit my head pretty hard. What I found out from a neuroscientist out in Scottsdale, Arizona, here recently is that ever since then, my brain has been locked in a hyper vigilant state, which it focuses on survival. Anything that isn’t directly relevant to survival, it just doesn’t focus on [at] all anymore.”
“So out went the songwriting, or the focus on songwriting, or even the openness to it even,” Johnson continues. “I can still write. The craft is still there. The inspiration isn’t always there and even when it is, it isn’t very easy for me to focus on it the way that I once did. But it’s coming back little by little. So that’s one of the reasons for going so long.”
In November of 2014, Johnson launched his own record label called Big Gassed Records, and afterwards there was a flurry of activity, including releasing a Christmas record, a couple of singles, and a record from Chris Hennessee. But since then there has not been much news, especially on the front of any new music from Johnson himself.
Jamey Johnson also cites his rabid desire to tour as one of the reasons he’s not been writing new songs, or releasing new records.
“We have been touring so aggressively for the past ten or twelve years that it’s just not in harmony with what is required for me to be successful in the writing room,” he tells KentuckyCountryMusic.com “It’s hard to come off of the road where you got two or three days in between runs. It’s hard to come home and drop your luggage and head right into the writing room. I live alone. I don’t have a housekeeper … so when I get home, I got a lot of work to do just to pick the house up … The only way I’ll be able to completely write out of sheer inspiration, I’d have to come off the road for a period of time for a good while. I’m not ready to do that yet. The truth is, I really love it. I love traveling. I love playing all of these shows for all of these folks. I love that they love it and I could do that for a long time. I don’t see me ever quitting it.”
Jamey Johnson also regularly cites his frustrations with the music business, and specifically his inability to make money off of his music as a reason for his lack of motivation to release new songs. In February, Johnson signed a new deal with SESAC, and used the opportunity to condemn the “archaic” laws that govern how songwriters get paid—a hot button topic in music at the moment due to streaming resulting in less money for songwriters compared to physical sales and downloads.
“The energy at SESAC is something I haven’t experienced in my professional career, and it’s great,” Johnson said at the time. “I need to be surrounded by people who are motivating me to write. One of those motivators is knowing that I have someone looking after the money generated from my writing, and that I am actually going to get the royalties that I feel like I have earned.”
Jamey Johnson’s continued frustrations with the business with music also came up in the new interview.
“I can remember a manager that I butted heads with one time. He sent me a message on my phone and said, ‘I just wanted to be the first to tell you your new single died at country radio today.’ Well he and I hadn’t talked in several months and that’s because the last time we talked, he was trying to force me into correcting my mix on [a] song so that we can get more spins at country radio. I didn’t want to stop what I was doing to work on that mix because I’m already [doing] something else. His message just kind of stunned me of how the level of cruelty exists in this business … I wanted to tour around until I get too old to go and play my songs for those people. I wanted to inspire that generation and their kids’ generation, and their kids’ generation the same way my heroes did for me. All that he wanted to do is to tell me that my single died at country radio.”
The interview also delves deep into Jamey Johnson’s band, his relationship with slain country music artist Wayne Mills, his 13-year-old daughter, and many other topics.
June 12, 2017 @ 6:30 pm
This dude is full of excuses. The likely reason is that he got overwhelmed with pressure after reaching such acclaim. Maybe one day he’ll figure it out but at this point I don’t know why anyone would expect it.
June 13, 2017 @ 7:48 pm
And what’s your excuse for being an asshole? You have NO idea what’s plaguing him and he has NO responsibility to anyone to release new music.
June 19, 2017 @ 11:53 am
Whatever, Dr.Phil. Nice speculation. Is a concussion the reason you wrote such a dumb comment?
July 25, 2017 @ 6:51 am
Jamey is a fantastic Artist who has openly acknowledged that a certain level of success is where he likes to be anything beyond that point requires him to do a pert of the business that is not enjoyable. He has some of the most incredible covers in country music. No one is forced to be his fan he loves performing so let him be. As in all things the Media tarish and spead negativity and weak minded people eat it up so they can bitch.
June 12, 2017 @ 7:00 pm
I can’t be mad at the guy. He blessed us with two all-time great albums. Am I frustrated that he hasn’t released new music in years? Hell yeah. But I’m inclined to believe him about this. Hopefully the move to SESAC will keep motivating him to get new music out there. Get his creative juices flowing again. And hopefully he gets enough feedback from fans who want some new music. As far as I’m concerned, he already belongs in the discussion of the all-time great songwriters. Really set the standard for modern outlaw country. But like I said, I can’t be mad at the guy or blame him. Let him do what he has to do without judging him.
June 12, 2017 @ 7:02 pm
Something else is going on with Jamey and it all sounds like it’s emotional/psychological issues. Hope he eventually pulls through it.
June 12, 2017 @ 8:29 pm
I hate to play armchair psychologist, but you have to wonder if emotionally he just doesn’t want to go to a dark place to write anymore. I mean, his two albums were pretty damn heavy and some of the stories surrounding Jamey at that time noted he tended to live what he wrote and vice versa. Maybe writing a bunch of sad songs is emotionally draining on him and he just doesn’t want to go to a dark place anymore and is afraid to write any other way.
BTW, speaking of great songwriters without any recent new content, hopefully Chris Knight is coming up with something new in the next year or so.
June 13, 2017 @ 7:51 pm
“I hate to play armchair psychologist”.
Then don’t.
June 12, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
Based on what we’ve learned about concussions with pro athletes I don’t think it’s any stretch to believe Jamey on this.
June 12, 2017 @ 9:45 pm
Concussuon, industry, mean manager, not wantinf to put in the time, not being surrounded by creative types, the industey again. If it’s not one thing it’s another. He has a lot of problems to solve before he can write and I wish him the best.
June 12, 2017 @ 10:14 pm
That’s not the story I heard. I heard Alison Krauss sang him into a boredom comma that sucked out any original creativity he had remaining.
June 13, 2017 @ 3:34 am
Alison can sing me into boredom anytime. What a songbird! 🙂
June 13, 2017 @ 7:22 am
Yes, indeed!
June 13, 2017 @ 1:51 am
I see a bunch of fair weather fans, Jamey I worked with ppl who said , they’d pay to hear you sing the alphabet. ..the songs will come.. look at Coe, he’s still doing it…so is Willie… u got time, we got time…
June 13, 2017 @ 4:13 am
Does anyone care anymore? this guy missed the boat he let all his fans down and now there’s no reason to get new music because this wash-up has been mia for too long you can’t just try and pickup where you left off.
How about focusing on a current artist like Brother Brothers and making sure that Tugboats gets a physical release instead of just digital?
nope, let’s all sit around waiting for new music from Jamey Johnson.
As much as I loved “That Lonesome Song” and the 2-disc whatever it was called album there’s no reason to waste any more time waiting for this guy. he’s done. any new music from him is a novelty at best anymore, it’s never going to be what it was before.
also buy Bobby Bare’s new album it’s really awesome but for the love of God listen to “Tugboats” it’s some of the best stuff I’ve heard in a long time except for Vern Gosdin singing “Singer of Sad Songs” which I only just found a couple days ago the tape has been on constant repeat in my van I love it so much.
And thank you Mike W for making a great point about Johnson’s songwriting yeah he’s pretty dark and intense that’s really insightful to say that maybe he just doesn’t want to feel that way to write anymore.
June 13, 2017 @ 6:00 am
Fuzzy is back!!!!
June 15, 2017 @ 12:56 pm
if by “Fuzzy is back” you mean “Fuzzy has for the first time in months felt like he had something to say and so he shed his lurker status and added a comment that will most likely be construed as bitter and angry or sexist by people who don’t understand what he means”
then yes, I am back.
June 13, 2017 @ 5:05 am
You people act as though he has a responsibility to do what you want him to do. I got news for you. He doesn’t. Personally I like his covers and as long as he’s doing what he wants to do and not hurting anyone then I don’t see a problem. It is his life to do with as he pleases. The arm chair critics need to get a life.
June 13, 2017 @ 5:35 am
It sounds like, on top of the emotional stress with the music business and the physical issues from a concussion, he may have economical stresses that keep him touring to pay the bills. He can’t be making a fortune from 10-year old albums and songs that aren’t charting. It’s a shame he’s not writing and recording because he is a unique and amazing voice and writer in a business full of copycats.
I really wanted to see him on his last tour through my area of the country, but my schedule didn’t match up with the dates.
June 13, 2017 @ 6:59 am
The problem with continuing to tour for economical issues is that eventually with no new music, people will stop coming to his shows. It sounds like he is bitter about the music industry and is not putting out music to spite the system to me. But sooner or later he will need new music out there to draw in crowds, and you have to wonder if he waits too long if anyone will be interested.
June 13, 2017 @ 7:56 am
“”It sounds like, on top of the emotional stress with the music business and the physical issues from a concussion, he may have economical stresses that keep him touring to pay the bills. He can’t be making a fortune from 10-year old albums and songs that aren’t charting.””
This observation is DEAD ON . I’ve been ‘ in the trenches ‘ gigging for a living most of my professional music life . I know many many songwriters …many very good ones ….and I’m a serious writer myself . I know the kind of revenue 99 out of 100 writers generate in these times…I ‘ve heard and I’ve read the horror stories about trying to make a living as a writer …..the obstacles , the trend-chasing to survive , the writer/artists the labels sign to keep everything ‘ in house ‘ ….the outdated copyright and revenue stream legalities ..and on an on . I ‘ve made FAR more money by performing professionally ..FAR more , than even the ‘successful’ writers I know AND I love playing out live . THAT keeps me more energized , inspired and engaged than being holed up in a room creating ideas that , in all likelihood , will NEVER see the light of day regardless of my commitment and passion to songwriting , due to the times. This isn’t to say that I don’t enjoy and continue to write and/or co-write . But if I had to choose I’d sooner be playing music live for people , paying the bills and throwing in my own tunes when and where the occasion allows . A player needs to play ….for many reasons …and a professional needs to play to keep the wolf from the door . Simple ..
June 13, 2017 @ 5:41 am
Cody Jinks, Ward Davis, Colter Wall Porter Union! This is who is on the rise and will be bringing country music back to her roots
June 13, 2017 @ 6:28 am
No one’s asking you to sit around waiting for a new Jamey Johnson record. When he does eventually release a new album, you’ll hear about it. Until then, there’s plenty of other music out there to occupy your time. He doesn’t owe you shit.
June 13, 2017 @ 8:04 am
It’s a lot of work and expense to record an album and these days, sales of albums are in the commode. It’s hard to get rich making an album in today’s world unless you sell a bazillion units and downloads. CDs are disappearing from stores. An independent label artist with no manager who does little press isn’t going to sell a lot of albums.. KiSS has even said ‘what’s the point’ in making new albums and they are bigger than Jamey. So what’s the motivation to make a new album? People go to his shows regardless of hving no releases in seven years.These days, the money an artist makes is live gigs, merch and songwriting royalties, which is where he appears to be focused, as are many other acts these days. You can blame downloading and consumers buying individual songs over albums, as well as miniscule payments for those downloads to artists by record companies, for the slow death of the album format that is happening.
I think Jamey is like a lot of people who have spent most of their life taking orders and working for others- he wants to be his own boss and freedom to do as he pleases. Who can begrudge him that?
June 13, 2017 @ 10:46 am
If you’re writing traditional country songs, or making traditional country records for the money, then you’re in the business for all the wrong reasons. Of course Jamey is not going to make any money of his records, but that’s not the reason you make them. You make them from a love of the music, and wanting to share it with the public. The same excuses Jamey Johnson is giving for not making new music are the same excuses Music Row gives for not supporting traditional country artists. Nobody makes money in traditional country. I don’t make any money running this website. But I do it because I’m passionate about it, it’s fulfilling, and it’s the right thing to do. Screw the money.
If Jamey Johnson is having physical or psychological issues that are keeping him from writing new music and releasing new albums, that is completely understandable and I would never fault him for that. Head injuries and concussions are real, and I feel like we owe it to him to take him at his word about this issue.
But the crying about how you’re not making any money off the music and so you have no desire to do it means you’re approaching music for all the wrong reasons. Jamey Johnson had many opportunities in his career that thousands of traditional country artists will never even get a sniff at. He had radio hits, and won CMA Awards. Not even Sturgill Simpson has gotten those opportunities.
If Jamey Johnson doesn’t want to write new songs, that’s totally fine. But don’t blame the business for not wanting to make art. You make art for art, not money. Let the touring pay the bills.
June 13, 2017 @ 6:45 pm
“If you’re good at something, never do it for free.”
There’s nothing wrong with wanting make some money. If all these country artists were in it purely for the art, they’d wouldn’t charge for albums or shows, or just charge the bare minimum to get by.
I’m surprised by the amount of backlash he is getting here. I want new JJ music too, but I’m not going to dog him out for not writing. It will come when it comes.
I’ve also been waiting 6 years for the next A Song of Ice and Fire book so, it’s a very similar situation there I believe.
June 13, 2017 @ 6:57 pm
I’m not saying he should do it for free by any stretch. But to say, “Sorry folks, the way the business is structured these days, I ain’t writing any new songs until it’s wrinkled out” is a way to fritter away your best years of creative production waiting for a reality that is never going to come. The streaming model is here to stay, like it or not, and there are thousands of songwriters and performers who are finding their way through it and doing the best they can. Johnson has a leg up on many of them because he’s already established and can play live shows to big crowds for money.
I’m surprised at the amount of backlash too. If Jamey Johnson said he suffered a concussion and that has affected his output, then I think that is a very serious matter that we should all try to understand. My only point is there are hundreds, maybe thousands of music artists right now writing songs and releasing music, and not worrying about if it’s “fair” how much they’re getting paid from it. I think one of the reasons Jamey has the perspective that he does is there was a point in his career where he could write a hit song and buy a house from it. Those days are gone, but it’s not just the system’s fault. It’s the fault that he withdrew and stopped writing and fell out of the loop. It sounds like he has a good reason for that, so I understand. But Jamey also could decide that the music is important enough for him to continue to write regardless of the financial incentive.
June 19, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
Jamey’s making the same excuses that Music Row has been making for not supporting traditional artists? When have you heard industry suits explaining that they’ve all suffered concussions? Though that would explain a lot.
June 19, 2017 @ 12:43 pm
You’re conflating two separate parts of the story there, but I agree head trauma would be a good explanation for some of their decisions.
June 13, 2017 @ 8:44 am
If that’s the case, he should do his own thing like Shooter. Release what he wants and when he wants too. I would love some new JJ music. He does not have to write all sad stuff.
June 13, 2017 @ 9:19 am
I read on this site about three years ago about this Jamey Johnson guy, I had never heard of him before then. I went on youtube a watched a few videos and heard a few songs. I was not impressed. I’m not sure why, maybe because one of the comments mentioned he was doing drugs or something, I don’t know, but something just didn’t click for me. Sometime in the last year or so that changed, it clicked and I cannot get enough. So it would be good to hear something new.
June 13, 2017 @ 10:30 am
Brett Hinds, Mastodon had a similar experience…… Rolling Stone Interview….not complete block, but changed something…
“Mastodon can trace the origins of their fourth album to the pavement in front of the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas. That’s where the Atlanta metal band’s guitarist-vocalist, Brent Hinds, cracked his head open during a drunken altercation following the MTV VMAs in September 2007. Hinds suffered brain hemorrhaging, and then, as he recovered, he was plagued by vertigo.
“I was dizzy for eight months,” he says, hanging out at a studio in the band’s hometown, along with guitarist Bill Kelliher, bassist-vocalist Troy Sanders and drummer Brann Dailor. “During those months, I just sat with my acoustic and a little marijuana, and wrote all the music. I wanted a more melodic, easy-listening situation, and that definitely came from having head trauma.”
June 13, 2017 @ 11:25 am
Well, maybe he could record his live shows and sell em at the merch table. Might make some money that way. Lots of bands do that and the fans can get something to take home.
June 13, 2017 @ 1:04 pm
too bad he didn’t bump his nugget before unleashing Honky Tonk Badonkadonk on the public..
June 13, 2017 @ 4:59 pm
I’m a big fan of Jamie his last couple albums had songs I could relate to big time but in reality his just a man not a prophet and I have no reason not to take him at his word and fuck all of you that are talking your keyboard hipster bullshit he has already accomplished more than you or I have…… Jamie is the real deal and there is no point in beating him while hes down
June 14, 2017 @ 5:47 pm
I don’t mind waiting I think he is that great. And I don’t mind paying to hear him play and sing cover songs. I stumbled across this great website looking for Jamey Johnson info years ago and have found so much music I can listen to while I wait for him.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:41 pm
Thats unfortunate. As far as I am concerned he can take as long as he wants. Those two albums are easily some of if not the finest country music in the last decade at least. A lot of these newer artists are trying to capture what Jamey did so perfectly on those albums. If we are still talking about Steve Earle im sure we will still be talking about Jamey 20 years down the line. The fact he was able to follow up ‘That Lonesome Song’ with something like ‘The Guitar Song’ is incredible.
Curious but it seems like the concussion triggering that survival thing may have something to do with his need and drive to tour. But yeah he is a legend as far as I am concerned hes proven he didnt just get lucky he was able to reproduce and continue it to a degree. I hope he furthers it more.
June 15, 2017 @ 10:28 am
“virtually nobody has been waiting longer than Jamey Johnson fans” well, I agree that seven years is a long time, but we Earl Thomas Conley fans have been waiting twice as long! (14 years!)
June 17, 2017 @ 11:16 am
I dunno man, I’m still waiting on that new Willis Alan Ramsey record!
June 16, 2017 @ 9:52 am
Didn’t all those Garth fans wait longer as well?
July 3, 2017 @ 2:14 pm
Honestly it’s a shame. I loved JJ’s music and loved going to his shows. Occasionally I’ll listen to a song or two of his in the car but that’s about it. Burnt myself completely out on his music because that’s all there is, there’s nothing new. He comes to Ohio multiple times a year and my group of buddies don’t even bother anymore. I don’t care to hear the same thing I’ve heard a thousand times nor covers that I really don’t care about. I remember reading an article after his double album where he said something along the lines of having endless amounts of music to release for year to come (paraphrasing because I don’t have the exact article anymore). I guess that was exaggerated? As one commenter said…his time has passed him by. I agree with that. Too much other stuff has come along since Jamey was relevant. If and when he comes outta his writers block, it had better be legendary or it’ll get lost in the shuffle. Great song writer/singer but for the life of me I don’t understand who still goes to his shows? It’s sucks because he made 2 great albums back to back, I thought he was the real deal and then poof, he turned out to be a one hit wonder. That’s kinda harsh because obviously those albums are gold but that’s what it feels like. Bottom line is great country artists put out lots of music because they can. And the ones that aren’t great, don’t. He just turned out to be average and that’s a shame.