Former WWE Composer Jim Johnston Criticises Modern Day Entrance Themes
'It's just music that plays.'
Jim Johnston has spoken out against modern WWE entrance themes, following his release from the company in November.
Speaking to Newsweek, Johnston remarked:
'What’s being produced just feels too homogenous. It’s just music that plays. It doesn’t feel like each guy is really themed. All the women have a dance music kind of thing, and it’s lots and lots of loud sound effects. What makes me the worst is not anything that happened to me, or any negativity towards those composers [...] I feel bad for the talent trying to build careers for themselves when I just don’t feel they’re being served well enough to become stars. '
Johnston is the man behind many of WWE's most beloved themes, music we now associate with professional wrestling itself. His best known work includes the entrance music of The Undertaker, Steve Austin, The Rock, Chris Jericho, and even Vince McMahon himself.
In the same interview, Johnston also explained that when he was released from WWE, he agreed with the decision - stating that his relationship with McMahon had somewhat changed:
'We didn’t spend time together like we used to years ago. In different ways both of us regretted that, but both of us understood the phenomenal growth of the company just prevented that from being a possibility. We got to a point where it was time to move on. I’m good with that, because I was not happy with where things were going musically in the company, and I wasn’t contributing in the way I wanted to. So when Vince gave me the leaving orders, that was probably the best thing for us both.'
In recent years, around WrestleMania season, there have been calls online for Johnston to be inducted in to the WWE Hall of Fame. 2018 will see the first HoF induction ceremony since his release, which would probably suggest that fan demand for his inclusion will be more vehement than ever.
Speaking to Newsweek, Johnston remarked:
'What’s being produced just feels too homogenous. It’s just music that plays. It doesn’t feel like each guy is really themed. All the women have a dance music kind of thing, and it’s lots and lots of loud sound effects. What makes me the worst is not anything that happened to me, or any negativity towards those composers [...] I feel bad for the talent trying to build careers for themselves when I just don’t feel they’re being served well enough to become stars. '
Johnston is the man behind many of WWE's most beloved themes, music we now associate with professional wrestling itself. His best known work includes the entrance music of The Undertaker, Steve Austin, The Rock, Chris Jericho, and even Vince McMahon himself.
In the same interview, Johnston also explained that when he was released from WWE, he agreed with the decision - stating that his relationship with McMahon had somewhat changed:
'We didn’t spend time together like we used to years ago. In different ways both of us regretted that, but both of us understood the phenomenal growth of the company just prevented that from being a possibility. We got to a point where it was time to move on. I’m good with that, because I was not happy with where things were going musically in the company, and I wasn’t contributing in the way I wanted to. So when Vince gave me the leaving orders, that was probably the best thing for us both.'
In recent years, around WrestleMania season, there have been calls online for Johnston to be inducted in to the WWE Hall of Fame. 2018 will see the first HoF induction ceremony since his release, which would probably suggest that fan demand for his inclusion will be more vehement than ever.
Written by Jack King
jack.king@cultaholic.com Twitter: @JackTheJobber
