John Joseph

Who is John Joseph?

John Joseph McGowan is a punk rock singer from New York City, most famous for his work with the Cro-Mags in the 1980s.

Joseph was raised in foster care and grew up on the streets of New York. He was the lead singer for the New York hardcore punk band Cro-Mags from 1984 until 1987, though he departed and rejoined the band sporadically. He sang on their demo and on their first, third, and fourth albums. He also sings lead on the Before the Quarrel CD, essentially a reissue of the demo.

Before, during, and after his time in the Cro-Mags, Joseph served as an occasional roadie for Bad Brains on several tours, and he sang background vocals on Antidote's Thou Shalt Not Kill EP. He returned to the Cro-Mags briefly in the early to mid-1990s, but ongoing disputes with fellow band member Harley Flanagan made the project unsustainable.

Joseph sometimes goes by the nickname Bloodclot, as when performing with his band of the same name. He has also sung for the bands Mode of Ignorance, Both Worlds, and Fearless Vampire Killers. His autobiography, The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon, published in 2007, details the major events in his life, including his extensive involvement with the Hare Krishnas, as well his experiences with the Cro-Mags.