Holly Johnson Net Worth

What Is Holly Johnson's Net Worth?

Holly Johnson is an English artist, musician, and writer who has a net worth of $12 million. Holly Johnson is best known for being the lead vocalist of the band Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Johnson was also the bassist for the band Big in Japan. Frankie Goes to Hollywood formed in 1980 and released their debut studio album, "Welcome to the Pleasuredome," in 1984. It reached #1 in the U.K. and New Zealand as well as the top 10 in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Their album "Liverpool" was released in 1986 and reached #5 in the U.K., Germany, and the Netherlands. Frankie Goes to Hollywood had #1 singles in the U.K. and other countries with the songs "Relax," "Two Tribes," and "The Power of Love." Holly released his debut solo studio album, "Blast," in 1989, and it reached #1 in the U.K. He went on to release the albums "Dreams That Money Can't Buy" (1991), "Soulstream" (1999), "Europa" (2014), and the live album "Unleashed From the Pleasuredome" (2014). His singles "Love Train" and "Americanos" both reached #4 in the U.K. Johnson became a painter in the 1990s. In 1994, Holly published the autobiography "A Bone in My Flute."

Early Life

Holly Johnson was born William Johnson on February 9, 1960, in Liverpool, England. He is the son of Pat and Eric Johnson, and he grew up with three siblings. Holly has Irish heritage on his father's side, and his maternal grandfather was of 3/4 Indian descent. Johnson attended St Mary's Church of England primary school and Liverpool Collegiate School, and at the age of 14, he began using the name "Holly," inspired by transgender actress Holly Woodlawn. During his time at Liverpool Collegiate, Holly and one of his friends were nicknamed "Jolly Johnson" and "Honey Heath." In the late '70s, he was involved in Liverpool's punk rock/new wave scene, and he played bass for the band Big in Japan. Holly released two solo singles, "Hobo Joe" and "Yankee Rose," but they failed to chart. In 1982, he joined the pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood, becoming the group's lead singer and lyricist.

Career

Frankie goes to Hollywood released two albums, 1984's "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" and 1986's "Liverpool." "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" topped the UK Albums Chart, New Zealand Albums Chart, and European Albums Chart, and it reached the top 10 on the charts in nine other countries. The album was certified 3× Platinum in the U.K. and Platinum in Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. The single "Relax" was a #1 hit in numerous countries, and it went Platinum in the U.K. and New Zealand. The album also featured the singles "Two Tribes," "The Power of Love," and "Welcome to the Pleasuredome." "Two Tribes" and "The Power of Love" both reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart and were certified Platinum in the U.K., while "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" peaked at #2 and went Silver in the U.K. In 1986, the band released the album "Liverpool," which reached the top 10 in Austria, the Netherlands, Iceland, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, and the U.K. and was certified Gold in four countries. The single "Rage Hard" was a top 10 hit in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, West Germany, and the U.K. Tension between Johnson and his bandmates grew after the release of "Liverpool," and he left the group in 1987.

After Holly left the band, ZTT Records and its publishing company, Perfect Songs, filed an injunction against him and barred him from embarking on a solo career with any other record labels. A two-year legal battle followed, and the case was settled in Johnson's favor. In 1989, he released his solo debut album, "Blast," and it reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart and #5 on the German Albums Chart. The album was certified Platinum in the U.K. and Gold in Germany. The singles "Love Train," "Americanos," and "Atomic City" all reached the top 10 in at least two countries, and "Americanos" was a #1 hit in Austria. Holly followed his successful debut with the solo albums "Dreams That Money Can't Buy" (1991), "Soulstream" (1999), and "Europa" (2014), and he performed on the 1989 song "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" with The Christians, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden, and Stock Aitken Waterman.

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Personal Life

Holly has been called a "monumental LGBTQ+ icon." After he was diagnosed with HIV in 1991, he wrote the memoir "A Bone in my Flute" because he didn't expect to live much longer. In a 2014 interview in The Guardian,  Johnson spoke about life since his diagnosis, stating, "I live like a nun. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I haven't done for years. I take copious amounts of vitamins and medications. I do everything possible to support my health." Holly has been with his partner, Wolfgang Kuhle, for more than four decades. Johnson enjoys painting and printmaking, and one of his paintings graced the cover of the 1993 Kirsty MacColl single "Angel."

Awards and Nominations

In 1990, Johnson received a Brit Award nomination for British Video of the Year for "Holly Johnson: Love Train." Frankie Goes to Hollywood won Ivor Novello Awards for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for "Two Tribes" (1984) and Best Single for "Relax" (1985), and they earned Brit Awards for Best British Newcomer and Best British Single for "Relax" in 1985. That year they also received MTV Video Music Award nominations for Best Concept Video, Best New Artist, and Best British Single for "Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Two Tribes." In 2010, the band won a Q Award for Classic Song for "Relax."

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