Vocalist ERIC JOHNS Dead At 49 Following Short Illness

Lead vocalist, Eric Johns, of bands such as Simple Aggression, Southern Gentlemen, Open Burn, solo recordings and numerous other bands, passed away this past weekend after a short illness at the age of 49.

Eric lived all of his life in the Cincinnati, Ohio & Northern Kentucky area. Known for his amazing heavy and emotional voice, he received many favorable comparisons to Ronnie James Dio and Chris Cornell yet he incorporated those with many other influences creating a unique voice. Eric had a vast catalog of recordings that covered such diverse styles as metal, blues, americana, hard rock and more.

Eric is probably best known for his six albums with guitarist David T. Chastain and their heavy blues metal band, Southern Gentlemen. Eric's vocals were always strong, yet at the same time full of emotional balance.

David states: "The first demo tape Eric ever sent me had a heavy cover of a Janis Joplin song and I knew that he would be a perfect fit for the band. He composed most of the lyrics and melodies he sang throughout his career and he wrote thoughtful, inventive and smart lyrics."

Eric was working on new music for upcoming albums in 2022 when he became unable to record. David said, "Eric was an all-round nice guy who leaves 100s of true friends who are grief stricken. This was a shock to everyone. He will be deeply missed by all that knew him and those who heard and loved his vocals."

Eric's latest studio video:

Stream Eric's latest music video below: