Jens Johansson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jens Johansson
Johansson performing with Stratovarius in 2023
Background information
Born	(1963-11-02) 2 November 1963 (age 61) Stockholm, Sweden
Died	Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
Genres	Power metal, symphonic metal, neoclassical metal, heavy metal, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Keyboards, synthesizers, piano
Years active	1982–present
Associated acts	Stratovarius, Cain's Offering, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio, Rainbow, Johansson (The Johansson Brothers)

Jens Ola Johansson (born on November 2, 1963, in Stockholm, Sweden) is a famous Swedish keyboard player and pianist. He became well-known in the early 1980s. This happened when he and his brother, Anders (who plays drums), joined Yngwie Malmsteen's band called "Rising Force."

Jens is the son of the Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson. He has also worked with the talented guitar player Allan Holdsworth. Currently, Jens plays with the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. He also works with Ritchie Blackmore's rock band, Rainbow. Jens is known for his super-fast and skilled playing style. His music often mixes classical, jazz, and rock sounds.

About Jens Johansson

Jens Johansson is the son of Jan Johansson, a famous Swedish jazz pianist. His brother, Anders Johansson, was the drummer for the band HammerFall. Jens was inspired by classic rock keyboard players like Don Airey, Eddie Jobson, and Jon Lord.

Early Music Career

In 1982, Jens had classical music training. He left his jazz fusion band, Slem. Then, he joined the Swedish metal band Silver Mountain. His brother Anders was also in this band. In 1983, Jens moved from Sweden to California. He joined guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen's band, Rising Force. They recorded many albums and toured the world. Jens stayed with Yngwie until 1989.

Playing with Dio and Other Projects

Johansson also played with the band Dio from 1989 to 1990. Around the same time, he started working with Jonas Hellborg. This led to several progressive and experimental music recordings. Some of these albums include Dissident and Unseen Rain.

The Johansson Brothers and Solo Work

In 1993, Jens helped start a band called The Johansson Brothers. They played a mix of progressive and blues metal. They released their first album with the same name. In 1996, they released another album, Sonic Winter. This time, they called themselves "Johansson." Yngwie Malmsteen even played guitar on this album. Their last album, The Last Viking, came out in 1999. It had a more "European metal" sound.

Jens has also released several instrumental albums on his own. These include Fjäderlösa Tvåfotingar and Ten Seasons. He also made Heavy Machinery with his brother Anders and Allan Holdsworth. Another album, Fission, featured Anders, Shawn Lane, and Mike Stern. He has worked with many other artists too.

Joining Stratovarius

Jens helped create Heptagon Records. This company helps distribute his music and other musicians' recordings. In 1994, he tried out for the band Dream Theater. But because the band took a long time to decide, he joined the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius instead. He has been a member of Stratovarius since 1995. He still releases his own albums and plays as a guest musician for other projects.

Jens and Computers

Jens Johansson loves computers. He started with an Atari ST computer, which he still owns. He has even written computer programs using C. He also coded his own website using Perl. Jens is humble and does not think he is one of the best keyboardists. He believes many others are much better than him.

Musical Gear

Jens Johansson has used many different types of keyboards and synthesizers. Some of his favorites are the Korg Polysix and the Yamaha DX7. He has used the Yamaha DX7 as a MIDI controller since his time with Rising Force. He also likes the Oberheim Matrix Series and the Roland JV-1080 sound module. The Hammond Organ is another instrument he enjoys playing.

Jens is a big fan of computers and has used Steinberg programs like Cubase for a long time. His album Fission shows his interest in computers. It has many special effects and sound experiments. He often uses a PC-based system with a Lenovo Laptop for both recording and live shows. He also uses the JV1080 as a backup during live performances.

Band Membership Timeline

Studio Albums and Collaborations

Jens Johansson has played on many studio albums throughout his career. He has worked with a variety of bands and artists. Here is a list of some of the albums he has contributed to:

See also

In Spanish: Jens Johansson para niños