Johnny Nasty Boots: 10 Albums That Changed My Life

Originally from Mexico City, Johnny Nasty Boots is a rising guitar star currently based in Los Angeles. Johnny blends psych rock, blues, and the tasty rock ‘n’ roll sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s, bringing them current through a torrent of blistering six-string fury.

Johnny’s debut, Johnny Nasty Boots, can be found via Bandcamp. It features bristling cuts like “Hard to Love Me,” “I’m Cursed,” “Bulltoad Blues,” and “Jump and Shout.” The album’s eleven tracks are a frenzied if not varied affair—much like the music that’s influenced Johnny throughout his life.

To that end, Johnny Nasty Boots beamed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to offer up the ten albums that changed his life. Can you spot any of your favorites, too?

Gorillaz by Gorillaz (2001)

Everything started here! I remember watching TV, and suddenly, the “19/2000” music video started playing. I wasn’t sure what I just watched, but it definitely got stuck in my head like glue. It wasn’t until I watched “Clint Eastwood” when I got completely hooked, I bought the album, and it was decided: I wanted to learn how to play bass and become a musician.

Big Ones by Aerosmith (1994)

Aerosmith was the first rock band that I got into. I first discovered them because they were featured in the Spider-Man movie soundtrack performing the “Spider-Man theme.” I was obsessed with the song, and I had to discover everything about the band. I thought that getting a greatest hits album was the best way, “Eat the Rich” and “Rag Doll” were my favorite tunes around that time! I used to listen to this album every day, all day!

How the West Was Won by Led Zeppelin (2003)

One thing led to another, and Aerosmith was the bridge that led me to Led Zeppelin! Very quickly, they became my favorite band, and luckily for me, just in time for their newest release since Coda. This live album has everything a rock ‘n’ roll band has to have: the musicianship, all the band members shined here, and their iconic live versions blew me away! I decided to switch from bass to guitar after listening to this album; thanks, Jimmy!

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones (1971)

This is, in my opinion, a perfect album. The moment the needle hits the groove, the magic begins! It literally has everything. One thing that I love is that it features very different guitar players; the solo of “Sway” is one of the most amazing guitar works by Mick Taylor, and the slide guitar of Keith Richards during “You Gotta Move” made me want to go deep into the delta blues, and Ry Cooder shining bright in “Dead Flowers”! I got the inspiration for my stage name “Johnny Nasty Boots” from the song “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” after hearing Mick Jagger sing, “Yeah, you got plastic boots.”

Horehound by The Dead Weather (2009)

My story with Jack White is interesting; when I first watched the video for “Seven Nation Army,” it grabbed my attention, but I didn’t think it was legit. At that time, I was mostly interested in classic bands and hopeless about new bands that were doing authentic rock ‘n’ roll. I was already disappointed with bands like Kings of Leon and The Strokes, so I thought the White Stripes were going to be more of the same, but I was wrong!

Jack White’s work started to grow on me, slowly and consistently, and it finally was consolidated with this masterpiece—an authentic piece of raw rock and roll that inspired me to learn how to record music with that vintage vibe. I have always felt that if you close your eyes, you can feel like the band is playing all together in the same room you are, a feeling that I always try to print on my own recordings.

Abbey Road by The Beatles (1969)

I never got into the Beatles until I heard [Paul] McCartney’s work on “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” That song changed my whole perspective about the band, and my love for them was sealed; how could it not be if this is one of the best albums ever? This piece of art showed me what a concept album is about. The way the songs flow into each other, how a song could end abruptly just to create an emotion and keep your attention on the edge, three guitars having a conversation, and a hidden song taught me that an album is more than a collection of songs.

The Power to Believe by King Crimson (2003)

My ears weren’t prepared for what I was about to hear during my first encounter with King Crimson. I was very young at that time, and I hadn’t heard anything like it. The heaviness, the dissonance, the polyrhythms, and the harmonies were just perfection to me. A whole new world of possibilities opened up after hearing them; it was as if all the jazz and classical masters were still alive, and instead of playing with acoustic instruments, they were doing their thing with electric guitars.

Hot Rats by Frank Zappa (1969)

I love Frank Zappa as a whole, but my favorite version of him is when he grabs the guitar and shreds along his always brilliant lineup of musicians like “Jean-Luc Ponty” or “Captain Beefheart.” Long jams, exotic scales and that voice changed my life for good!

Them Crooked Vultures by Them Crooked Vultures (2009)

This album has been inspiring me since it came out. To me, it is the perfect mix between the mainstream and the deep cuts that I sometimes felt were made to only be understood by other musicians, and I love that. The album represents how a modern rock band has to sound- without fear, doing whatever they want—and I worship that.

Morrison Hotel by The Doors (1970)

Jim Morrison’s lyrics have always been part of my life. Since I fell in love with the band, I used to read all the lyrics (even without the music) from their entire catalog. With this album in particular, I feel that the way he’s telling the stories in the songs is from a more personal perspective; almost like every word he sings is based on a true story, even if he’s telling a metaphor. That style of songwriting is so fascinating and inspiring to my own works.

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