[2] Although Jono El Grande is enjoying modest growth on the European avant-garde scene,[3] he is most well known in his own country for his eccentric and amusing performance art/dada-inspired live shows.

Jono El Grande served as festival composer for Happy Days 2007, presented by Ny Musikk, the Norwegian section of International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM).

[7] He played at the Zappanale #22 (August 2011) and world premiered a new orchestral piece for the Bergen located sinfonietta orchestra BIT20 Ensemble December 2011.

[11] In 1988, he bought his first guitar, and in 1989 he formed his first actual band along with three school buddies - a teen-age punk rock combo called Mannes Fatales.

In the years 1990 - 1992, Jono El Grande assembled a series concept bands intended for one-night performances and recordings and/or rehearsings only: The Terror Duo, Black Satan, The Pez Dispensers, Acetaded Beat, As Drosera in addition to a handful of school bands formed to mark end-of-term celebrations and similar occasions.

[15] In 1994 - 95, Jono El Grande worked as assistant decorator at Norsk Film, building props for the movie Pakten[16] (Waiting for Sunset) with Robert Mitchum.

In 1995, Jono El Grande formed his first group called Menü Bizarra, which performed only three concerts before it was disbanded later the same year.