Two years later, he made his first solo album, In Amongst the Rain, setting up his own label on which to release it, before forming an agitprop group, The Ministry of Humour, with Mark Shilcock and Graham Barnes.

The song cycle was recorded by Johnson in collaboration with Roy Bailey,[7] and performed at the commemorative Passchendaele Peace Concert.

[8] In 2006 he was a special guest at the BBC's "Folk Britannia" concert at the Barbican Centre, ending the night with a rendition of the World War I song "Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire".

[9] He remains active and has released at least one album annually for over 20 years, as well as playing regular gigs, including benefits and political events.

[2][5] In 2016, Johnson and a group billed as the Corbynistas released the single "JC 4 PM 4 Me" in support of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, which was considered a contender for Christmas number one.