John Kastner
Encyclopedia
John Kastner is a Canadian musician and composer born in Beaconsfield, Quebec
. He is well known as the singer for Montreal hardcore punk band the Asexuals
as well as singer-guitarist for Montreal alternative band Doughboys
and alternative band All Systems Go!
.
.
Kastner joined the Asexuals in 1983 and recorded a 7" and two LP's with them before quitting the band over musical differences in 1987. When a member of the Asexuals, he was the face of the band and helped them, and the Montreal hardcore scene, being well-known outside the city because of the Asexuals relentless touring in Canada, the U.S.A. and Europe.
He then started the Doughboys after leaving the Asexuals, releasing seven albums from 1987 to 1996. The band broke up in 1996 and Kastner moved to California
where he established in Silverlake and started writing music for soundtracks.
In 1998, he started the band All Systems Go!
with Frank Daly and Mark Arnold of the band Big Drill Car
and released five albums and EPs from 1999 to 2003 before going on a hiatus in 2005. They released another album in 2007 and went on another hiatus. He also recorded and released the 2006 solo album entitled "Have you seen Lucky?".
Kastner wrote music for many movies and TV show soundtracks, including Phil the Alien
, Universal Soldier: The Return
and Brats of the lost nebula
. and collaborated on records by Mega City Four
, The Weekend, Mark Lanegan Band and Men Without Hats
.
In 2008, John joined Bran Van 3000
as guitar player and in 2010 he reunited with the Asexuals to play a show in Montreal.
In 2010 he appeared in the documentary Open Your Mouth And Say... Mr. Chi Pig, a Canadian film about the life of SNFU
singer Mr. Chi Pig.
Beaconsfield, Quebec
Beaconsfield , 2006 Population 19,194) is a municipality on the Island of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. It is located on the north shore of Lake Saint-Louis and is bordered on the west by Baie-D'Urfé, on the north by Kirkland and on the east by Pointe-Claire...
. He is well known as the singer for Montreal hardcore punk band the Asexuals
Asexuals (band)
The Asexuals is a hardcore punk band from Beaconsfield that was a mainstay of the Montreal punk scene in the '80s before evolving into an alternative band following the departure of singer John Kastner, who went to form the Doughboys and, later, All Systems Go!.-History:The Asexuals formed in 1983...
as well as singer-guitarist for Montreal alternative band Doughboys
Doughboys (band)
Doughboys were a Canadian alternative rock band that were active in the late 1980s and early/mid 1990s. The band was renowned for its musical blend of punk and pop-style melodies.-Early Years:...
and alternative band All Systems Go!
All Systems Go!
All Systems Go! is a Canadian punk rock group, and features members of Big Drill Car, Doughboys, the Asexuals and The Carnations. The band was formed after Frank Daly and Mark Arnold's previous band Big Drill Car broke up in 1995 and John Kastner's and Peter Arsenault's previous band The Doughboys...
.
Biography
John Kastner was born in the end of the '60's in Beaconsfield and has been interested to rock 'n' roll since he was in elementary school. By the time he was 9 years old, he was following musicians in downtown Montreal and at the ForumMontreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
.
Kastner joined the Asexuals in 1983 and recorded a 7" and two LP's with them before quitting the band over musical differences in 1987. When a member of the Asexuals, he was the face of the band and helped them, and the Montreal hardcore scene, being well-known outside the city because of the Asexuals relentless touring in Canada, the U.S.A. and Europe.
He then started the Doughboys after leaving the Asexuals, releasing seven albums from 1987 to 1996. The band broke up in 1996 and Kastner moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he established in Silverlake and started writing music for soundtracks.
In 1998, he started the band All Systems Go!
All Systems Go!
All Systems Go! is a Canadian punk rock group, and features members of Big Drill Car, Doughboys, the Asexuals and The Carnations. The band was formed after Frank Daly and Mark Arnold's previous band Big Drill Car broke up in 1995 and John Kastner's and Peter Arsenault's previous band The Doughboys...
with Frank Daly and Mark Arnold of the band Big Drill Car
Big Drill Car
Big Drill Car was a pop punk/melodic hardcore group from Huntington Beach, California, who were active from the late 1980s to mid-1990s and briefly again in the mid-2000s...
and released five albums and EPs from 1999 to 2003 before going on a hiatus in 2005. They released another album in 2007 and went on another hiatus. He also recorded and released the 2006 solo album entitled "Have you seen Lucky?".
Kastner wrote music for many movies and TV show soundtracks, including Phil the Alien
Phil the Alien
Phil the Alien is a Canadian comedy film, released in 2004. It was written and directed by Rob Stefaniuk, who also starred as the titular Phil.Phil is an extraterrestrial who crash-lands in a small town in Northern Ontario...
, Universal Soldier: The Return
Universal Soldier: The Return
Universal Soldier: The Return is a 1999 American science fiction action film directed by Mic Rodgers and starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michael Jai White, professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, Heidi Schanz, Kiana Tom and Xander Berkeley as Doctor Dylan Cotner...
and Brats of the lost nebula
Brats of the Lost Nebula
Brats of the Lost Nebula is a puppet and computer animated series originally broadcast on the Kids' WB block of Saturday morning programming in 1998. Created by Dan Clark, the sci-fi series for kids used puppets from Jim Henson's Creature Shop and state of the art computer graphics from C.O.R.E....
. and collaborated on records by Mega City Four
Mega City Four
Mega City Four were an English indie/pop punk band who were popular in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Mega City Four consisted of guitarist/vocalist Wiz, his brother and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Danny Brown, bassist/vocalist Gerry Bryant and drummer Chris Jones...
, The Weekend, Mark Lanegan Band and Men Without Hats
Men Without Hats
Men Without Hats is a Canadian New Wave group from Montreal, Quebec. Their music was characterized by the distinctive baritone voice of their lead singer Ivan Doroschuk as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing...
.
In 2008, John joined Bran Van 3000
Bran Van 3000
Bran Van 3000 is an electronica collective from Manhattan, New York City, New York and Montreal, Quebec. Founded by DJ James Di Salvio and E.P...
as guitar player and in 2010 he reunited with the Asexuals to play a show in Montreal.
In 2010 he appeared in the documentary Open Your Mouth And Say... Mr. Chi Pig, a Canadian film about the life of SNFU
SNFU
SNFU is a Canadian punk rock band formed in 1981 in Edmonton, Alberta and later relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia. They have released nine full-length albums and are cited as a formative influence on the skate punk sub-genre....
singer Mr. Chi Pig.
Personal life
John married actress Nicole DeBoer on 18 December 1999. They have a daughter, Summer Lee Kastner, born in January 2007. Kastner's parents are Charles and Kathryn. He also has a sister, Debbie and a brother, Jason. On March 26, 2008, Kastner's mother Kathryn died of cancer.Asexuals
- Featuring: The Asexuals (Og MusicOg MusicOg Music was a small but influential independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The label was established in 1983 by the band members of Deja Voodoo, Gerard van Herk and Tony Dewald. It ceased operations in 1990.-History:...
, 1984) - Be What You Want (First Strike Records, 1984) (Psyche-IndustryPsyche Industry RecordsPsyche Industry Records was the leading alternative, punk and hardcore independent record label in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the beginning of the 80's...
, 1985) - Contemporary World (Psyche IndustryPsyche Industry RecordsPsyche Industry Records was the leading alternative, punk and hardcore independent record label in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the beginning of the 80's...
, 1985)
Doughboys
- La Majeure (Scamindy Records, Boss Tuneage Records1987/2003)
- Whatever (MTL Records, 1987)
- Home Again (Restless RecordsRestless RecordsRestless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
, 1988) - Happy Accidents (Restless RecordsRestless RecordsRestless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
, 1990) - When Up Turns to Down (Emergo Records, 1991)
- Crush (A&M RecordsA&M RecordsA&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, 1993) - Turn Me On (A&M RecordsA&M RecordsA&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, 1996)
All Systems Go!
- All Systems Go! (Cobraside Distribution, 1999)
- I'll Be Your Radio (Cobraside Distribution, 2001, EP)
- Mon Chi Chi (Bad Taste RecordsBad Taste RecordsBad Taste Records is a record label based in Lund, Sweden.The record label was one of the first labels to establish in the Swedish punk rock and punk/hardcore scene in the early 1990s, together with Burning Heart Records. The name of the label originated from the movie Bad Taste by Peter...
, 2002) - Fascination Unknown (Bad Taste RecordsBad Taste RecordsBad Taste Records is a record label based in Lund, Sweden.The record label was one of the first labels to establish in the Swedish punk rock and punk/hardcore scene in the early 1990s, together with Burning Heart Records. The name of the label originated from the movie Bad Taste by Peter...
, 2003, EP) - Tell Vicky (Bad Taste RecordsBad Taste RecordsBad Taste Records is a record label based in Lund, Sweden.The record label was one of the first labels to establish in the Swedish punk rock and punk/hardcore scene in the early 1990s, together with Burning Heart Records. The name of the label originated from the movie Bad Taste by Peter...
, 2003, EP) - A Late Night Snack (iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, 2007)