Johnny B. Azari

Johnny B. Azari, sometimes just Johnny B., is an Iranian born Iranian-American musician, activist, poet, actor and filmmaker. His music and writing has stirred controversy over social, cultural and ethical issues and often contains overtly political messages and commentary.
Born in Shiraz, Iran and raised in Manhattan, New York, Azari appeared on the New York City music scene in late 2006 as lead guitarist for the band Goodfinger, a band that Television front man Tom Verlaine then called "The Future of New York's Music". Their song "Love Digitale" eventually saw some brief air time on both MTV and VH1.
Azari again gained the main stream media's attention in 2009 when he and his newly formed band Electric Black organized political demonstrations in New York City in response to the election controversy in Iran. His band's song "Freedom Glory Be Our Name" (a collaboration with the non-profit Freedom Glory Project) went viral receiving over 100,000 hits worldwide in just 2 days. The group was then featured on a CNN segment, helping draw attention to the human rights violations occurring in Iran. Azari and the non-profit group Project Pink then helped organize a flash mob protest in response to the disastrous British Petroleum Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, also garnering coverage from the media and drawing attention to the controversial practice of off-shore drilling.
Azari joined the quickly rising New York rock group The Dirty Pearls in 2010 as a guitarist and back up vocalist. The band began selling out shows and broke Amy Winehouse's attendance record at the The Bowery, a well-known New York music venue. They went on to open for KISS and The New York Dolls among others, and were referenced in Lady Gaga's song "Heavy Metal Lover". Azari and the band then worked with the producer David Kahne to help produce their first single "New York City Is A Drug" which received airplay on many local stations. Shortly before their debut album was to be released, Azari announced he was quitting the band, citing artistic differences.
Azari had a starring role in the short independent film Hayseed released in 2012.

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