Babylon Mystery Orchestra

BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA

The name itself conjures up images of a grandiose conspiratorial nature. And so it is with the musical entity that bears this fascinating name. Consisting exclusively of one Sidney Allen Johnson, Babylon Mystery Orchestra adheres to a singularity of vision and purpose that emphasizes the artistic and pontific nature of what music could and should be.
The music of Babylon Mystery Orchestra is a blend of Gothic and Traditional Rock music with elements of Heavy Metal and Doom that produce that elusive result that so many artists strive for and so few achieve; Originality. Central to the nature of this original sound is the insistence on Johnson to make the lyrics the central characteristic of the BMO sound. Literally everything revolves around them. This could be a dangerous and even foolhardy approach in the hands of a lesser artist lacking a significant preponderance of ideas from which to draw from. Sidney Allen Johnson and his Babylon Mystery Orchestra are full of ideas that are as controversial as they are colorful. Always delivered with Johnson's pontificating "fire and brimstone" baritone voice. Other people have questions, Johnson has answers.
Babylon Mystery Orchestra debuted on the musical landscape in 2002 with the release of "Divine Right Of Kings." The CD contained not only one of the best BMO songs with the excellent "We Are Power" but also put Sidney Allen Johnson right in the center of controversy with the edgy "Its My Right." Not a few people in the press decided it's content was a little too provocative in its challenge of the American educational system and led a few to even accuse Johnson and BMO of being homophobic and racist. It was not the last time Johnson would find controversy.
In 2004 Johnson turned even more heads by releasing "On Earth As It Is In Heaven." The second BMO release actually dared to imply that music in general and rock music in particular may actually be the work of the devil himself. Certainly this is not the first time such a thing was ever suggested, but it had never been suggested by a musician who was actually playing it! Johnson backed his assertions up, however, with a record that was built around both Biblical and extra biblical books from the notorious "Dead Sea Scrolls." Johnson says this is a record he had wanted to make ever since first encountering this story at an anti-rock music presentation he attended while studying at the University Of Alabama in 1983. The record earned BMO equal amounts of acclaim and derision for it's unique vision and even led one reviewer to refer to Johnson as a "Prophet Of Wrath." Though the reviewer meant it derisively, Johnson himself loved the description and says its his favorite. The track, "Ravishing Music," still stands as the most downloaded and radio played of all BMO tracks.
All of the disparate elements that make up the BMO sound came to full fruition with 2006's epic "The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity." The recording being a bold, and subsequently quite detailed, look into the origins and practice of Satanic involvement within the Christian church. Easily the record is BMO's most critically acclaimed release thus far. It also brought a return to some of the homophobic criticism of the first record with the track"Eye Of The Needle." While in fairness the track does not reflect well on the homosexual Reverend V. Eugene Robinson, it places equal disdain on his diametrical opposite in the Reverend Fred Phelps. Which points out one of the great strengths of Babylon Mystery Orchestra: Sidney Allen Johnson is not an artist devoted to "ambiguity" in his expressions. He makes his points and isn't afraid to name names!
BMO also has earned through it's releases, a deserved reputation for packaging its CD's better than the industry standard. Each CD has come with a substantially bigger booklet than its predecessor. Johnson believes in his visions and does not spare any expense in his presentation. BMO is definitely devoted to the CD as a complete experience where the booklets actually act as a libretto for the presentation. There is more to offer than just the lyrics.
2008 sees Johnson's vision take its most daring and controversial form with "Axis Of Evil" a record that dares to take on Illuminist Conspiracy Theories, Socialism, The Mark of the Beast and the one institution that all artists of all genres seem to fear the most...ISLAM. With a 32 page booklet to accompany the most powerful tracks BMO has ever recorded, "Axis Of Evil" will stand as a crowning achievement to an artist devoted to expressing his vision of the world unencumbered by the fears and political correctness that bind other artists.

Influences?
I believe THERION is currently the best band in the world. I am influenced by Dio, Tiamat, Blue Oyster Cult, KISS, Virgin Steele and even bands like Sisters Of Mercy.
Favorite spot?
Wherever I'm Standing.

Anything else?
I believe music should challenge the listener. Not enough bands want to take chances. They are too afraid of being disliked to ever do anything to make them interesting. Risk is everything.

Equipment used:
Ibanez Iceman PS-10. The Paul Stanley Guitar. Gibson Les Paul classic, and I love my BC Rich Mockingbird. Anything Korg makes is great. Ovation and Alvarez acoustics.

Official Websit: http://www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com/