Sunday, December 05, 1999
Ex-CEO downsizes job, picks up rock 'n' roll drumsticks
BY JOHN JOHNSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ed Johnson, rock 'n' roll drummer, doesn't get treated the way Ed Johnson, head honcho of a $1.3 billion company, once did.
Case in point: Last summer, as president and chief operating officer of a StarKist Seafood, Mr. Johnson attended a company breakfast at a local hotel. Its employees fell over themselves making him happy.
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JOHNSON FILE
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• Age: 45.
• Family: Wife, Deidre; daughter, Kristi, 20; son Derek, 16.
• Home: Symmes Township.
• Occupation: Entrepreneur with dealings in commercial real estate and other businesses; starting a new telecommunications company, Auralinx Communications; drummer for oldies rock band Four on the Floor.
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A few weeks later — after he had resigned from StarKist — he returned to the hotel to play drums with the oldies band Four on the Floor. He was greeted with, You're who? Stand back here and don't let our guests see you.
Mr. Johnson isn't complaining. Four months after leaving his high-powered corporate job, he says he's happily pursuing personal interests, such as the band he joined three years ago.
Besides Mr. Johnson, Four on the Floor consists of Tim Deardorff on keyboards and vocals; Greg Kottmann, keyboards and vocals; Kim Hagerty, lead guitar and vocals; Pat Cremeans, bass; and Howard Page, saxophone and vocals. In summer, you can often find them performing at Coney Island's Hot Wax Hop.
But Mr. Johnson, who was StarKist president for 21/2 years, hasn't abandoned the business world. He and a partner are involved in commercial real estate and own several small businesses. He also is devoting a good deal of time these days to the start-up of a telecommunications company called Auralinx Communications.
Tempo found him casually dressed in jeans and a knit shirt in the lower level of his Symmes Township home, where Four on the Floor practices.
QUESTION: What kind of reaction did your resignation from StarKist generate?
ANSWER: Some people sent notes or called, basically saying, hat's off to you, good luck. Steve Popovich, the president of Cleveland International Records, called. He used to be an executive at a major label and now he focuses on niche acts, mostly polka bands. He said, “I don't know who you are, but that took a lot of (guts).”
Q: What about your family?
A: My wife was a little concerned. She was teased a little. When the news hit the press, one of her friends said, “Is your husband stupid? He's quitting that job to be a drummer in a band?” (The band) wasn't my only motivation, but (resigning) did give me more time for that.
Q: So what was your motivation?
A: I knew StarKist would be moving at some point to Pittsburgh. (The company announced the move in October.) I had already made the decision I wasn't going to move, and talked it over with my family. And I could see a few other changes (coming). I just didn't feel there was much more of a challenge. I get bored quickly, and have to keep learning new things.
Q: How did you hook up with Four on the Floor?
A: About four years ago I hired them for a party at a (Star-Kist) sales meeting. I sat in (as drummer) for a few songs. Then Tim Deardorff, the leader, said, “Our drummer may be quitting. If you ever want to do this full time, let me know.”
Q: You must have impressed.
A: I tend to be a very aggressive drummer. When I play, you won't miss me. I like a lot of syncopation and off beats. Tim has said I'm the first lead drummer he ever met.
Q: What's up with the band?
A: We've been working on a CD. That's a slow process, getting together in the studio, finding time. And we've got somebody now trying to put together a three or four-week stint in Vegas.
Q: Why did you choose drums?
A: When I was 10, my uncle, a drummer, joined the Marines and left his drum set with us. I took lessons, and just started improving. Then I started playing in bands.
Q: And kept it even when you became a corporate exec?
A: It's a great stress reliever. Beat the drums, work up a sweat.
Q: How much time do you devote to it?
A: We tend to work one night, maybe two nights a week. Summer's pretty busy — more weddings, more outdoor events, parties. We try to practice once or twice a week. We also go out together maybe once a week, to dinner. We like each other. There's a chemistry and camaraderie in a band that you really can't get anywhere else.
(Son Derek, who plays in two bands, enters the room.)
Q: So, Derek, how would you rate your dad's band?
Derek: I like my dad's band (but) I think they focus on the wrong type of music. (Laughter from Mr. Johnson.) Seriously, I think they sound best when they go toward blues and they just jam. That has a lot more feeling, as opposed to when they play all their cover songs.
Q: Does it have more feeling, Ed?
A: Yeah, it does.
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