Martin Bennett Johnson (born September 9, 1985) is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary lyricist for the rock band Boys Like Girls. He also played acoustic guitar on the group's self-titled debut album, Boys Like Girls. Johnson's middle name, Bennett, comes from his father's side of the family.
Johnson grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. He lived in Lompoc, CA before he started the band and lived there for 3 years. Then he moved to Andover, where he graduated from Andover High School in 2004, using some of his demos to fulfill his arts and English credits. He now lives in Boston, Massachussetts with his bandmates.
Before his band Boys Like Girls was signed, Johnson worked at Hot Topic in the Rockingham mall for about six months when he was 16.
The songs he wrote for the band's first album were based on experiences he had as a young adult, including the passing of his mother (On Top of The World) and several relationships, and of course the heartbreaks that came with them. He claims that he have broken many girls' hearts. The song "Dance Hall Drug" is a reference and commentary to Johnson's personal experience of growing up too fast. "Thunder" is about his high school girlfriend from when he was 16.
When Johnson breaks a guitar on stage, he usually throws it in the crowd or donates it to charity, but if not, he rebuilds and reuses it. He owns about 20 guitars, mostly Gibson. His first guitar was a $100 acoustic and his first electric guitar was a Squier Strat. Martin's got his very first guitar when he was 7 years old.
Johnson has a very good memory, and he shares that his first kiss was in 5th grade on the Sky Ride on Canobie Lake Park. He also shares that he lost his virginity when he was just 15 and a half, at Disneyland while on a school Jazz Chorus trip.
He has a blog that is usually updated daily called "Martin Says".
He has many nicknames. The most common one is "Party Marty". Others are Safari Marty, Domestimarty, Jack Daniel and MBJ. His closest friends call him MJ, and so far that is his favorite.
Some classmates at Andover High School claim he was found in the auditorium jacking off with chapstick in his hand.
Martin Johnson while performing live in Rochester
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