James Alan Johnston (born June 19, 1952[1]) is an American music composer and musician best known for his time with professional wrestling promotion, WWE.
His career began composing soundtracks for animated and industrial films, which led to working for the television networks HBO and Showtime.
[4] Although not a fan of professional wrestling,[2] Johnston soon began working under Vince McMahon to create entrance theme music for wrestlers.
Johnston appeared on the videotape Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2 to introduce the video for Girls in Cars.
He also appeared on camera at WrestleMania XIV and SummerSlam (in March 1998 and August 1998, respectively) playing the D-Generation X theme with the Chris Warren Band.
The DVD featured a 30-minute behind-the-scenes documentary on Johnston, offering insights into the composing, producing, and directing of the album.
[10] In a 2004 interview with Mix, he described feeling a "sense of responsibility" to create unique-sounding music for each wrestler, that also had instant recognisability.
[11] Johnston is credited with writing entrance theme songs for the most popular wrestlers over the course of his 30 year tenure,[12] in particular the company's Attitude Era into the early-2000s.
[14] Vice said the tracks "weren't just catchy, colourful pieces of music, but cinematic scores that communicated the emotional makeup of your favourite wrestler clearer than any catchphrase ever could."