Johnnie Sage

JOHNNIE SAGE was the stage name of Johnnie Sage Ammentorp, born Chicago, IL, December 1, 1961. He was ACTIVE in the Los Angeles punk scene (Venice & Hollywood) from 1980 until 1986, first as a fan and later as both a rhythm and lead guitar player. His first band of note was Christian Death in which he played a 1979 Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Marshall. His involvement with Christian Death was short-lived—less than a year. While he recorded with original bass player James McGearty, drummer China Figueroa and lead guitarist Michael Montano, these sessions seem to have disappeared...

After Christian Death disbanded he and China formed Noise God. They recorded a few songs at Mystic Records Studios on Selma and Argyle in Hollywood for Doug Moody. "She Had No Shadow" was released on Mystic Records "Sampler #1." Also included on that LP were the Mentors and Don Bolles' Vox Pop. With the addition of Greg Berg (Hoffenberg) vocals, Paul Saylor, bass and Greg Korzen, blistering guitar, China and Sage formed "Slaughterhouse 5." Again recording at Mystic studios, the song "Second Generation" was released on the Mystic Sampler "It Came From Slimy Valley." The song "Cop's Head" was included on the "Copulation" compilation.

Sage left Slaughterhouse 5 when he was offered the position of "lead" guitar with glitter-punk band, "The Joneses." Some bootleg videos of shows have surfaced on youtube from that era but no studio recordings survive. In 1985 the Joneses were voted, in the reader's poll of the LA Weekly, "Best Live Band." Despite this, major record companies could not stay far enough away from the Joneses. The era of small independent record labels, and DIY high-quality home recording studios was many years away from that time. Johnnie Sage retired from a music career when he left Hollywood and the Joneses for New York's Lower East Side, in 1986.

He is, as of 2009, alive and well, working as a Registered Nurse in New Haven, CT. He is married to author Emily Carter.