John William Feldmann (born June 29, 1967) is an American musician and record producer. He serves as the lead singer/guitarist of the punk rock band Goldfinger.

John Feldmann
Feldmann with his Martin acoustic at Foxy Studios
Feldmann with his Martin acoustic at Foxy Studios
Background information
Birth nameJohn William Feldmann
Also known asFeldy
Born (1967-06-29) June 29, 1967 (age 57)
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
  • record producer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1980–present
Member ofGoldfinger
Formerly ofElectric Love Hogs
Websitejohnfeldmann.com

Early life

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Feldmann grew up in Saratoga, California.[1] He started writing songs around the age of 12. Around that time, he met the band Social Distortion, and was inspired to be like them.[1]

Career

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Feldmann's first band was Saratoga-based Family Crisis.[1] In 1988, he moved to Los Angeles, where he formed the band Electric Love Hogs and met future Goldfinger bassist Kelly LeMieux.[1] The Electric Love Hogs (which also included Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver and Bobby Hewitt of Orgy) put out one album, their self-titled 1992 debut, which was co-produced by Tommy Lee.[2]

Feldmann formed Goldfinger in Los Angeles in 1994[1] after meeting original Goldfinger bassist Simon Williams in a shoe store where they were both working. Goldfinger played 385 shows in 1996, breaking the Guinness Book of World Records for the most concerts in one year for a touring band.[3] In 1999, Goldfinger's song "Superman" was featured in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game.[1] Starting with their self-titled debut album in 1996, Goldfinger has released eight studio albums, including Never Look Back, which was released on Big Noise on December 4, 2020.

In 1998, Feldmann began producing for other bands, starting with Showoff, producing their self-titled debut album, followed by Mest and The Used.[4] He produced Story of the Year's 2003 debut album Page Avenue, which was certified Gold by the RIAA and peaked at number 51 on the Billboard 200, and included the hits "Anthem of Our Dying Day" and "Until the Day I Die".[5] He produced and co-wrote Blink-182's 2016 album California, which reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.[6] He co-wrote and co-produced "Made An America" by The Fever 333, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.[7] He has also co-written and produced for All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer, Good Charlotte, Panic! at the Disco, Beartooth, Biffy Clyro, Korn, 311, Black Veil Brides, Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson, Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Papa Roach.[1][2][4][6] The albums Feldmann has worked on have grossed more than 34 million sales worldwide.[2]

Starting in 1997, Feldmann has worked as an A&R executive at Warner Bros. Records, scouting talent and overseeing artist development.[8][9] Feldmann is a former A&R consultant for Red Bull Records. In 2016, he became the Vice President of A&R at BMG.[10] He currently works with artists to produce albums released under the record label Big Noise, which he founded alongside Nick Gross and Jon Cohen in 2017.[11]

Feldmann, Travis Barker, and John Reese started Back to the Beach Festival at Huntington State Beach in 2018. The two-day ska and punk festival featured The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, 311, and Sublime With Rome its first year, and was headlined by Blink-182 in 2019, but has not returned after that.[12]

Feldmann is published by Big Noise and managed by Lucas Keller and Nic Warner at Milk & Honey.

Personal life

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Feldmann is a long time vegan and vocal activist for animal rights.[13][14]

Awards

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Year Award Category Work Result
2017 Alternative Press Music Award Influencer N/A Won[15]
2017 Grammy Award Best Rock Album California by Blink-182 Nominated[16]
2018 Grammy Award Best Rock Performance Made an America by The Fever 333 Nominated[17]
2022 Juno Award Album of the Year Love Sux by Avril Lavigne Nominated
2022 Juno Award Single of the Year Bite Me by Avril Lavigne Nominated
2022 MTV VMA Best Alternative Love It When You Hate Me by Avril Lavigne Nominated

Selected production discography

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Year Artist Album/song Role Notes
2024 The Veronicas Gothic Summer Writer/producer
2024 Iann Dior BLIND Writer/producer
2024 Iann Dior House On Fire Writer/producer
2023 Yungblud Happier (feat. Oli Sykes of Bring Me the Horizon) Writer
2023 The Used Toxic Positivity Writer/producer
2023 Ruston Kelly The Weakness Producer/co-writer
2023 Jasiah 3 Producer/co-writer
2022 Avril Lavigne "I'm a Mess" (featuring Yungblud) Producer/co-writer
2022 Iann Dior "Live Fast Die Numb" Producer/co-writer
2022 5 Seconds of Summer 5SOS5 Producer/co-writer
2022 Jasiah "Earthquake" (featuring Jxdn) Producer/co-writer
2022 Avril Lavigne "Bite Me" Producer/co-writer Certified Gold
2022 Avril Lavigne Love Sux Producer/co-writer
2022 Sueco "Loser" Producer/co-writer Certified Gold
2022 Sueco It Was Fun While It Lasted Producer/co-writer Certified Gold
2021 5 Seconds of Summer "2011" Producer
2021 Mod Sun Internet Killed the Rockstar[18] Producer/co-writer
2021 Two Feet Never Enough Producer/co-writer
2021 Sueco Paralyzed Producer/co-writer Certified Gold
2021 Bryce Vine "Empty Bottles" (featuring Mod Sun) Producer
2020 Poorstacy The Breakfast Club (Deluxe Edition) Producer/co-writer
2020 Jxdn So What! Co-writer Gold
2020 Goldfinger Never Look Back Writer/producer/engineer/mixer
2019 Fever 333 Strength in Numb333rs Co-producer/co-writer
2019 311 Voyager Producer/co-writer
2019 Blink-182 Nine Producer/co-writer
2019 Korn The Nothing "This Loss" co-writer
2018 The Struts One Night Only Writer
2018 The Fever 333 Made an America Co-producer/co-writer
2018 Godsmack When Legends Rise Co-writer Certified Gold
2017 311 Mosaic Producer/co-writer
2017 Goldfinger The Knife Producer/writer
2016 Biffy Clyro Ellipsis "Animal Style" co-producer/co-writer
2016 Blink-182 California Producer/co-writer Certified Gold
2015 One Ok Rock 35XXXV Producer/co-writer/mixer
2015 All Time Low Future Hearts Producer/co-writer/mixer
2015 5 Seconds of Summer Sounds Good Feels Good Producer/co-writer/mixer Certified Platinum
2014 Beartooth Disgusting "In Between" writer/A&R Certified Gold
2014 The Word Alive Real Producer
2014 5 Seconds of Summer 5 Seconds of Summer Producer/co-writer/mixer Certified Gold
2014 Avicii The Nights Co-writer Certified Platinum
2013 We Came as Romans Tracing Back Roots Producer/mixer
2013 Black Veil Brides Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones Producer/co-writer/mixer Certified Gold
2013 Makua Rothman Sound Wave A&R/producer/co-writer/mixer
2013 Heaven’s Basement Filthy Empire Producer/co-writer
2012 The Used Vulnerable Producer/mixer/writer
2012 Papa Roach The Connection Producer/co-writer/mixer
2011 We Came as Romans Understanding What We've Grown to Be Producer/mixer (deluxe edition)
2011 Panic! at the Disco Vices & Virtues Producer/engineer/mixer/writer Certified Gold
2010 Good Charlotte Cardiology Writer Certified Gold
2008 Goldfinger Hello Destiny... Writer/producer/mixer
2007 The Used Lies for the Liars Producer/engineer Certified Gold
2007 Atreyu Lead Sails Paper Anchor Producer/engineer Certified Gold
2007 The Veronicas Hook Me Up Writer/producer/mixer Certified 2× Platinum
2005 Hilary Duff Most Wanted Writer/producer Certified Platinum
2005 Goldfinger Disconnection Notice Writer/producer/engineer/mixer
2004 Ashlee Simpson Autobiography Writer Certified 3× Platinum
2004 Good Charlotte The Chronicles of Life and Death Writer Certified Platinum
2004 The Used In Love and Death Producer/engineer/mixer Certified Platinum
2003 Story of the Year Page Avenue A&R/writer/producer/mixer Certified Platinum
2003 The Used Maybe Memories Writer/producer/mixer Certified Platinum
2002 Goldfinger Open Your Eyes A&R/producer/engineer/mixer
2002 Good Charlotte The Young and the Hopeless Writer Certified 3× Platinum
2002 The Used The Used A&R/producer/engineer/mixer Certified Platinum
2000 Goldfinger Stomping Ground Writer/producer
1999 Goldfinger Darrin's Coconut Ass: Live Producer/engineer/mixer
1997 Goldfinger Hang-Ups Writer/producer
1996 Reel Big Fish Turn the Radio Off A&R Certified Gold
1996 Goldfinger Goldfinger Writer/producer Certified Gold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Pearlman, Mischa (December 3, 2020). "We would steal everything from our friends' parents' room and trade it for cocaine". Kerrang.com. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Stocks, Matt (January 21, 2016). "John Feldmann: The Man With The Midas Touch". loudersound.com. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Inboundav (June 19, 2006). "John "Goldfinger" Feldmann Chooses Telefunken USA Matched Pair". Telefunken Elektroakustik.
  4. ^ a b Sherman, Maria. "Meet The One Man Responsible For All Your Favorite Pop-Punk Records". Buzzfeed.com. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Gracie, Bianca. "Story of the Year & Producer John Feldmann Reflect on Debut Album 'Page Avenue' 15 Years Later". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "No, Seriously, Blink-182 Is Teaching Rock Bands to Age Gracefully". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  7. ^ "The Fever 333". Grammy.com. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  8. ^ "John Feldmann Is Tired of Doing It For Other People". altpress.com. December 26, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "John Feldmann sells Bel-Air-area home". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "BMG Signs Grammy-Nominated Blink-182 Producer John Feldmann To A&R/Publishing Deal". All Access. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "Three Industry Vets Join Forces To Launch Big Noise Collective". All Access. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  12. ^ Shanley, Patrick (April 26, 2019). "Back to the Beach Offers "Upbeat, Positive" Ska Fest Post-Coachella". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  13. ^ Obert, Alex (August 22, 2014). "On The Line with John Feldmann of Goldfinger". Journey of a Frontman. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Friedman, David (February 18, 2005). "Take notice: Goldfinger's back". NewsTimes. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  15. ^ "APMAS Influencer Feldmann". altpresss.com. July 18, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "Blink-182". grammy.com. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  17. ^ "The Fever 333". grammy.com. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  18. ^ Dowd, Rachael. "Watch Mod Sun Let Go of the Past in His MGK-Directed Video for "Karma"". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
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