A Grape Dope

A Grape Dope
Also known as	Johnny Machine, A Grape Dope
Born	John Herndon (1966-04-09) April 9, 1966 Long Island, New York, U.S.
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Instrumental hip hop, indie hip hop, jazz, post-rock, electronica, progressive rock, dub
Occupations	Producer, musician
Instrument	Drums
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Galaxia
Website	www.trts.com

John Herndon (born April 9, 1966) is an American musician and artist. Based in Chicago, he was a founding member of the post-rock band Tortoise, where he plays drums and percussion.

Herndon also works as a producer for instrumental hip hop under the name A Grape Dope.

Early life

Herndon was born in 1966 on Long Island, New York. He was the second child of his family, with a brother two years older than him. After his family moved to Boston, Herndon's father was jailed and his mother was a drug addict, so the children were put into the foster care system when Herndon was a toddler. He described the experience as abusive. He remained in the system until his father was released from prison in 1971.

In 1976, Herndon moved to the North Carolina mountains with the Grateful Union Family Trust, a commune that Herndon's father and his girlfriend were a part of.

Career

John Herndon is a member of the bands Tortoise and Isotope 217, playing mainly drums but some other percussion (vibraphone, etc.) and occasional keyboards. He produced Deep Puddle Dynamics' song "More from June" in 2002. He released the Missing Dragons EP under the alias A Grape Dope on Galaxia in 2003. It features a guest appearance by rapper Doseone.

Personal life

Herndon resides in Los Angeles, California. He has two children, Hollis and Angus. His oldest son, Hollis, who performs under the stage name "2hollis", is a musician and producer known for blending experimental pop, electronic, and ambient influences. Herndon’s younger son, Angus, is active in Los Angeles’s independent hardcore and metal scene.

Herndon has expressed pride in both of his children’s creative pursuits, noting the continuity of experimentation and self-expression across generations.

Discography

See also: Tortoise discography, Isotope 217 discography, The For Carnation discography, Five Style discography, and Poster Children discography

Albums

• Backyard Bangers (2020)

EPs

• Immediate Action (2000)
• Missing Dragons (2003)

Productions

• Deep Puddle Dynamics - "More from June" from We Ain't Fessin' (Double Quotes) (2002)

Contributions

• Themselves - "You Devil You" and "Hat in the Wind" from The No Music (2002)
• Doseone - "By Horoscope Light I&II" from Ha (2005)

Remixes

• Tommy Guerrero - "Birds Over Head (John Herndon Remix)" from Junk Collector (2001)
• Trans Am - "Cold War" from Extremixxx (2002)
• Themselves - "Dr. Moonorgun Please" from The No Music of AIFFS (2003)
• Via Tania - "On Sawyer" from Boltanski (2004)
• Via Tania - "Felt Cave" from True (2005)

External links

• A Grape Dope discography at Discogs
• John Herndon discography at Discogs
• U-Sheen discography at Discogs