Crushing It In ’26: An Interview with Johnny Gioeli

Crushing It In ’26: An Interview with
Johnny Gioeli

By Justin Smulison

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Johnny Gioeli is one of the hardest-working frontmen in the international rock scene. A
native of Howard Beach, New York, Gioeli bounced around a bit once his rock career
took off in the early 1990s – first with Hardline and later as the singer for German guitar
maestro Axel Rudi Pell since 1998 and also as the singer for Crush 40, which provides
songs and soundtracks for culture-defining video games like “Sonic The Hedgehog.”
Though he most frequently tours in Europe, the UK and Asia, Gioeli is making the rare
appearance at the SuperMagFest in Maryland on Jan. 9, 2026 – like a Woodstock for
gamers – playing the songs of Crush 40.

I found Gioeli some years back as a fan of Hardline and have been following his rock
career ever since – which as you will hear in the interview, is opposite how many of his
fans find him. We spoke of the generational impact this wailing non-gamer has had on
video game fans worldwide and his continuous philosophy of gratitude to fans of all his
output.

With “Ghost Town” due from Axel Rudi Pell on March 20 and “Shout” due from Hardline
in April 2026 – both to be released via Steamhammer – we also discuss why 2026 is
poised to be one of the biggest years in Gioeli’s three-plus-decades career and the
special surprise he has in store for Crush 40 fans.

Clips:
“I Am…All of Me” – Crush 40
“Ghost Town” – Axel Rudi Pell
“Takin’ Me Down” – Hardline

Extreme Music Awards: https://extrememusicawards.com/
Listen Up Awards: https://radioradiox.com/listenupawards/listen-up-vote/

Johnny Gioeli – Bands, Tours and Social
Hardline – www.hardlinerocks.com
Axel Rudi Pell – www.axel-rudi-pell.de
Johnny Gioeli – @Crush40Johnny

supermagfest

Axel Rudi Pell – Ghost Town Tour 2026
 21.03.26 – UK London, O2 Academy Islington
 22.03.26 – UK Manchester, Academy 3
 24.03.26 – DE Berlin, Huxleys
 26.03.26 – DE Bochum, Zeche
 27.03.26 – DE Jena, F-Haus
 28.03.26 – CZ Zlín, Masters of Rock Café
 29.03.26 – DE Geiselwind, Musichall
 31.03.26 – DE Augsburg, Spectrum
 01.04.26 – DE München, Backstage
 03.04.26 – HU Budapest, Dürer Kert
 05.04.26 – DE Lindau, Club Vaudeville
 06.04.26 – CH Bern, Bierhübeli
 07.04.26 – DE Saarbrücken, Garage
 08.04.26 – DE Hamburg, Fabrik
 10.04.26 – SE Lund, Mejeriet
 11.04.26 – SE Stockholm, Debaser
 12.04.26 – SE Göteborg, Pustervik
 14.04.26 – DE Bochum, Zeche

Hardline Tour Spring 2026

Apr 17th 2026
Hyde Park – Osnabrück (DE)
Apr 18th 2026
Poppodium Boerderij – Zoetermeer (NL)
Apr 19th 2026
Het Bolwerk – Sneek (NL)
Apr 21st 2026
DVG Club – Kortrijk (BE)
Apr 22nd 2026
Turock – Essen (DE)
Apr 24th 2026
Kammgarn – Kaiserslautern (DE)
Apr 25th 2026
Rock N Eat – Lyon (FR)
Apr 26th 2026
Le Cherrydon – Marseille (FR)
Apr 28th 2026
Komplex 457 – Zürich (CH)
Apr 29th 2026
Musiktheater Rex – Bensheim (DE)
Apr 30th 2026
Backstage Halle – München (DE)
May 1st 2026
Randal Club – Bratislava (SK)
May 2nd 2026
Analog Music Hall – Budapest (HU)
May 3rd 2026
Klub Zaścianek – Krakow (PL)

May 5th 2026
Hole 44 – Berlin (DE)
May 6th 2026
Knust – Hamburg (DE)
May 8th 2026
Gebäude 9 – Köln (DE)
May 9th 2026
Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg (DE)
Jul 29 to Aug 1
Wacken Open Air 2026 – Wacken (DE)