Kiwi Talkz #73 - Jim Johnston Interview (WWE, Undertaker, Ultimate Warrior, Film, Stage Fright, Hall Of Fame, etc.)
Jim Johnston was the main composer for over 30 years at WWE and is responsible for some of the iconic themes from Ultimate Warrior & Undertaker to Stone Cold & The Rock.
WEBSITE jimjohnston.com
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:28 - Jim Johnston Wants To Come To New Zealand/Lord Of The Rings
01:19 - Yellowstone Park
02:46 - How Jim Composed At WWE & Post WWE/Having To Many Ideas
05:33 - Jim Realises In Hindsight He Needed WWE’s Strict Deadlines
06:17 - Jim Doesn’t Get Writers Block
07:27 - Vince McMahon/Information Jim Got About WWE Superstars
09:00 - WWE Superstars Would Try To Pitch Music To Jim
10:33 - Jim Wasn’t Approachable
11:38 - Deadlines To Compose/Jim Liked The Pressure
14:10 - Jim Didn’t Just Compose The WWE Entrance Music
14:52 - Jim Johnston Would Love To Compose For Hollywood Films
16:40 - Jim Always Wants To Convey Emotion Through Music
18:08 - Politics Of Hollywood/ Jim Is Confident He Could Score Well For Hollywood
20:22 - Stigma Of Composing For WWE
21:32 - Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
24:29 - How Jim Johnston Is Able To Easily Write Different Styles
27:50 - Every Instrument Jim Can Play
29:06 - Jim Johnston Rarely Collaborates/Jim’s Stage Fright
32:10 - Stage Fright Hasn’t Improved Over The Years
34:38 - Jim Would Be Less Nervous Performing Virtually/Jim Is Anti Lip Singing
36:06 - Jim Does Want To Perform LIVE
36:43 - Jim Hasn’t Been Asked To Be In WWE Hall Of Fame
37:31 - Jim Doesn’t Understand Why He Hasn’t Been Asked In WWE Hall Of Fame
38:39 - Jim Was A Contractor/Workforce System Between NZ & America
40:57 - Jim Composed To Cope After Being Fired From WWE
43:31 - Jim’s Daily Schedule
45:02 - Ultimate Warriors Theme
48:10 - Simple Ideas Are The Most Effective
48:50 - Undertakers Theme
51:50 - Undertaker Walkout Wouldn’t Work Without The Theme
53:41 - Wrestling Isn’t Fake/The Ring Is Hard
57:18 - Social Media/Being Stopped In The Street
59:00 - Jim Still Loves Composing
59:40 - Jim Is Doing An EP Of Themes
1:01:48 - Jim Open To Composing For Video Games
1:03:58 - Melody Isn’t Heard As Much In Film These Days/Jaws
1:06:06 - Jim Likes Normal Conversations
1:07:30 - Cliche Interviews