The choices of an Electrorock pioneer: Influences and Favourites of Harry's Johnny Hansen

The choices of an Electrorock pioneer: Influences and Favourites of Harry's Johnny Hansen

Johnny Hansen (hansenharryebm, Bad Cock), was the creative force behind the iconic Brazilian electrorock band Harry. As the guitarist and vocalist for this Santos-based group, Hansen played a role in shaping the landscape of Brazilian alternative music, particularly within the post-punk and electronic rock scenes of the 1980s and 1990s.2 Understanding the artists and genres that resonated with Hansen provides valuable insight into the unique sound and artistic vision of Harry.

Hansen's musical journey was marked by a diverse range of influences, evolving from his initial exposure to rock music to his embrace of punk and electronic sounds.1 His first significant musical encounter outside of his parents' preferences occurred in 1973 with Alice Cooper's album Billion Dollar Babies.1 This early experience sparked an interest in the heavier side of rock, leading him to explore the music of iconic bands like Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.1 This progression reflects a common trajectory for young rock enthusiasts of that era, moving from theatrical rock towards the foundational sounds of heavy metal.1

A transformative period for Hansen came with the emergence of punk rock.1 This genre served as a catalyst, bridging the gap between simply listening to music and actively creating it. The do-it-yourself ethos and raw energy inherent in punk likely inspired him to pick up an instrument and forge his own musical path. Hansen considered the 1980s a particularly exciting time for music, a period of constant innovation where ground-breaking sounds were being released in real-time.1

While the influence of New Order is often cited in discussions about Harry's sound, Hansen himself held a more nuanced view.1 He acknowledged New Order as a reference point but believed that Harry's music possessed a distinct character, setting it apart from bands more readily mistaken for New Order, such as Kon Kan.1 In 1983, Hansen's discovery of the band Chrome proved to be a crucial moment in defining Harry's sonic aesthetic, even though Harry's music didn't necessarily sound like Chrome.1 Skinny Puppy also left an imprint, with Hansen expressing a particular fondness for their work up to the Vivi Sect Vi era, indicating an appreciation for darker, more industrial electronic music.1

Beyond specific genres, Hansen admired the musical breadth and song writing of legendary bands like The Beatles and Queen.1 This appreciation suggests an understanding of diverse musical approaches and a recognition of artistry that transcends genre boundaries. He also noted a review of Harry's compilation album Chemical Archives where the reviewer observed that each track sounded like it could have been by a different band, a sentiment Hansen agreed with, viewing it as a positive reflection of their wide-ranging influences.1 Later in his musical journey, Hansen found himself influenced by the production techniques employed on the Sex Pistols' album Never Mind The Bollocks, particularly the layered guitar work of Steve Jones, demonstrating a continued evolution in his approach to playing the guitar.1

In a 2015 Interview, Hansen specifically mentioned several Brazilian artists and bands that were part of his musical landscapes and the independent music scene Harry emerged from. These included:

• • Violeta de Outono: Hansen noted that the signing of this band to Wop-Bop was the initial reason he approached the label, ultimately leading to Harry's own record deal.1

  • Fellini: Listed as another band produced by Wop-Bop, highlighting them as contemporaries of Harry.1

  • Baratos Afins: Identified as the most established independent label at the time, which Hansen approached early in Harry's career.1

  • Peso: The former band of Geraldo D'Arbilly, who operated the soundboard at a Harry show in Rio.1

  • Premeditando o Breque: Marcelo Golbetti from this band lent Harry a sampler for their second album, Fairy Tales.1

  • André Forastieri: Considered Harry's album Vessels' Town to be their best work.1

  • Marreco: A guitarist who played with Harry and was also in Cesar's band, Avalanche.1

  • Alex Nakanda (Vanishing Point, Cybernetic Faces): Recorded and shared online covers of Harry's songs, demonstrating continued interest in their music.1

  • Rodrigo Lariú (Midsummer Madness): Expressed interest in re-releasing Harry's albums, which eventually led to the Taxidermy box set.1

  • Ricardo Santos: Collaborated with Hansen in a project called H.A.R.R.Y. and The Addict after Harry's hiatus.1

  • Paulo Eduardo: A keyboardist who played in a version of Harry in Fortaleza.1

  • Bi-Sex: 80's Synthpop/Rock band Hansen joined with the intention of playing more and making some money with the mainstream possibilities, once his project Atmosphere (pre-Harry) was too underground.

  • City Limits: An experimental band from São Vicente Hansen was part of with Lilian Vaz and Paulo Gabrielleschi.

  • Enéas Neto (Muzik, Cri Du Chat, Fiber): Played a key role in the release of Harry's Chemical Archives compilation.1

  • Avalanche: Cesar's band that served as Harry's backing band for later performances.1

  • Célia Saito: Took the photo for Harry's first EP cover.1

  • Tom Leão: A journalist who reviewed Harry's early work.1

  • Ayrton Mugnaini Jr.: Wrote a review of Harry's Fairy Tales album.1

  • Epic Church: Emerson Olaf’s Gothic Synthpop project that Hansen mentioned as his current favourite among national artists in 2015.7

  • Vulcano: Hansen played the guitar in this band which was one of the pioneers bringing the Extreme Metal to São Paulo region (and Brazil).

This extensive list of Brazilian artists, alongside his acknowledged international influences, paints a picture of Johnny Hansen as a musician deeply engaged with a wide spectrum of sounds and artistic expressions. His own innovative work with Harry was a testament to his ability to synthesize these diverse influences into a unique and lasting contribution to Brazilian music.

Artist	Genre	Influence Type	Source
Alice Cooper	Rock	First significant musical influence outside parents' taste	1
Deep Purple	Hard Rock	Early interest in heavier rock music	1
Black Sabbath	Heavy Metal	Early interest in heavier rock music	1
The Clash	Punk Rock, New Wave	Influence on Harry's sound	5
Kraftwerk	Electronic Music	Influence on Harry's experimental electronic sound	5
New Order	Post-Punk, New Wave, Electronic	Often cited as an influence on Harry	1
Chrome	Experimental Rock, Post-Punk	Crucial in establishing Harry's sonic aesthetic	1
Skinny Puppy	Industrial, Electronic	Influence on darker, more industrial aspects of Harry's music	1
The Beatles	Rock, Pop	Admired for musical breadth and song writing	1
Queen	Rock	Admired for musical breadth and song writing	1
Sex Pistols	Punk Rock	Influence on guitar production techniques later in Hansen's career	1
Pecadores	Brazilian Industrial	Hansen was a musician for live performances
Violeta de Outono	Brazilian Rock	Signing to Wop-Bop inspired Hansen to approach the label	1
The Downward Path	Brazilian Goth/Electro/Ethereal	Hansen was a musician for live performances
Baratos Afins	Brazilian Independent Label	Key independent label of the time	1
Peso	Brazilian Rock	Former band of Harry's sound engineer	1
Premeditando o Breque	Brazilian Rock	Lent Harry a sampler for their second album	1
Mike Batt	British 80's rock	"Love Makes You Crazy" was one of Hansen's favourite songs
Alex Nakanda	Brazilian Musician (Vanishing Point, etc.)	Recorded covers of Harry's songs online	1
Rodrigo Lariú	Brazilian Label (Midsummer Madness)	Expressed interest in re-releasing Harry's albums	1
Ricardo Santos	Brazilian Musician	Collaborated with Hansen in H.A.R.R.Y. and The Addict	1
Paulo Eduardo	Brazilian Keyboardist	Played in a version of Harry in Fortaleza	1
Enéas Neto	Brazilian Musician/Label Owner	Involved with the release of Harry's Chemical Archives compilation	1
Avalanche	Brazilian Band	Cesar's band, served as Harry's backing band	1
Epic Church	Brazilian Electronic/Gothic/Medieval	Mentioned as a current favourite in 2015	7

Footnotes:

1. Mofo - Harry - entrevista com Johnny Hansen - Beatrix, accessed on May 2, 2025, https://www.beatrix.pro.br/mofo/harry.htm

2. Let It Down - Wikipedia, accessed on May 2, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Down

3. New York Irish Center, accessed on May 2, 2025, https://www.newyorkirishcenter.org/

4. How to Win Earth, Wind & Fire Tickets at Fiddler's Green - Retro 102.5, accessed on May 2, 2025, https://retro1025.com/we-want-to-send-you-to-see-earth-wind-fire/

5. Harry music, videos, stats, and photos | Last.fm, accessed on May 2, 2025, https://www.last.fm/music/Harry

6. Harry biography | Last.fm, accessed on May 2, 2025, https://www.last.fm/music/Harry/+wiki

7. AlternarZine - accessed on on May 2, 2025, https://alternarzine.blogspot.com/2015/02/entrevista-harry.html