Johnny 3 Tears

Johnny 3 Tears
Ragan at the 2015 Sziget Festival in Hungary
Background information
Birth nameGeorge Ragan
Born (1981-06-24) June 24, 1981 (age 43)[1]
OriginLos Angeles, California
GenresRap rock, nu metal, alternative metal
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass guitar
DiscographyHollywood Undead discography
Years active2005–present
Member ofHollywood Undead

George Ragan (born on June 24, 1981), better known by his stage name Johnny 3 Tears (acronymized as J3T), is an American musician who sings and plays bass guitar for the band Hollywood Undead.

Early life

Ragan grew up in a rough neighborhood of Los Angeles that was heavily affected by street gun violence, drugs, graffiti, and gangs (particularly the 18th Street gang).[2] In preschool and kindergarten, he was close friends with some of his future Hollywood Undead bandmates,[3] including Charlie Scene (birth name Jordon Terrell).[4] Ragan's parents regularly gave him books for Christmas to aid his education.[5] At the age of 17, Ragan graduated from high school while at juvenile hall for firearm possession.[2]

Career

With Hollywood Undead

Ragan performing at the 2015 Rock am Ring in Germany with his mask on

Ragan co-founded Hollywood Undead in 2005; the band started out by posting their music to MySpace, and their popularity on the platform landed them a deal with MySpace Records after Tom Anderson took notice and invited the band out to dinner.[6] In 2008, Ragan assisted in writing the band's breakthrough single "Undead", which reflects an expression of the band's frustrations after getting into the corporate side of the music industry.[7] The song "Pour Me" (from the 2011 album American Tragedy), in which Ragan does all the rapping, contains introspective lyrics that chronicle his battle with alcohol.[8] In 2012, Ragan helped write the song "We Are" as a means to inspire youth and teen fans;[9] he started by writing the chorus for the song.[10]

Solo career

On May 14, 2021, Ragan released a solo album titled The Abyss under the moniker "George Ragan the Dead Son".[11][1] On March 27, 2024, he featured on the song "Vendetta" by TX2.[12]

Musical influences

Ragan has cited his ten most influential albums as Sea Change by Beck (2002), Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan (1993), Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails (1989), Relationship of Command by At the Drive-In (2000), Generation Rx by Good Charlotte (2018), For Those That Wish to Exist by Architects (2021), Now Or Never by Giggs (2020), Ghøstkid by Ghøstkid (2020), Who Do You Trust? by Papa Roach (2019), and …If You Don't Save Yourself by Zero 9:36 (2021).[13][14]

Other ventures

Since 2010, Ragan and Hollywood Undead bandmate J-Dog (birth name Jorel Decker) have run a cannabis business together called "Dove and Grenade".[15] They began by growing in a few garages in the North Hollywood and Sylmar neighborhoods of Los Angeles.[15] After the 2018 legalization of cannabis in Oklahoma for medical usage, Ragan and Decker moved their company's operations eastward to Lindsay, Oklahoma in 2019.[16][3]

Personal life

In an interview with Cryptic Rock, Ragan stated that he regularly meditates, and that he enjoys exploring the culture of places that he visits on tour.[17] Around early 2020, Ragan moved from his native Los Angeles to Nashville for a "change of pace".[18]

References

  1. ^ a b Williams, Gracie (May 6, 2021). "Hollywood Undead's George Ragan Unmasks New Era with Upcoming Debut Album 'The Abyss'". American Songwriter. Savage Media Holdings. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Law, Sam (April 12, 2020). "Gangs, Guns And Graffiti: Hollywood Undead Are One Of Rap-Rock's True Survivors". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Weedn, Simon (April 13, 2020). "Talking Music and Marijuana With Hollywood Undead". High Times. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Levy, Piet (July 12, 2011). "Video: Hollywood Undead Interview". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  5. ^ Childers, Chad (December 23, 2012). "Hollywood Undead's Johnny 3 Tears prefer games over books for Christmas". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Tedder, Michael (August 15, 2023). Top Eight: How MySpace Changed Music. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 9781641606615.
  7. ^ Law, Sam (January 24, 2020). "How We Wrote Undead, By Hollywood Undead's Johnny 3 Tears". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  8. ^ Levy, Piet (July 10, 2011). "Hollywood Undead resurrects rap-rock". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Childers, Chad (December 21, 2012). "Hollywood Undead's Johnny 3 Tears: New single 'We Are' inspired by America's youth". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  10. ^ Childers, Chad (January 15, 2013). "Hollywood Undead's Johnny 3 Tears talks new album, working with Slipknot's Clown, and more". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  11. ^ Childers, Chad (March 19, 2021). "Hollywood Undead's Johnny 3 Tears issues solo single, announces new moniker + album". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Motionless, Mary (March 29, 2024). "TX2 revient avec un nouveau duo avec Johnny 3 Tears (Hollywood Undead)". ChairYourSound (in French). Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Cooper, Ali (April 26, 2023). "Hollywood Undead's Johnny 3 Tears: 10 albums that changed my life". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Cooper, Ali (April 8, 2021). "We got Hollywood Undead's Johnny 3 Tears to make us the mixtape of his life". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Chesler, Josh (September 15, 2022). "Odd Jobs: Hollywood Undead's Always Been Cannabis Entrepreneurs — But Now They Do It Legally". Spin. Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  16. ^ Bloom, Steve (July 7, 2022). "Hollywood Undead Co-Founder Moves Cannabis Brand to Oklahoma". CelebStoner. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "Interview — Johnny 3 Tears of Hollywood Undead". Cryptic Rock. February 5, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  18. ^ Kroll, Katy (February 14, 2020). "Hollywood Undead Is Ready to Build A 'New Empire' With Latest Record". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2023.