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About John Joseph:
John Joseph truly has had an amazing journey through life. Being the son of an alcoholic welterweight prizefighter who battered his mother came with a price. That price was paid at the age of five when his father severely beat his mother for the last time and he and his two brothers were split up and put into orphanages. The years that followed for him were no less horrific as he and his two brothers were bounced around in some of the worst homes in the New York State Foster care system.
In January of 1977, at age 14, John hit the streets. Alone at a time when New York was one of the most violent cities in the nation, he was shot, stabbed and survived by being a heroin mule, angel dust dealer and a slew of other scams taught to him by his teachers at the University of the Streets. After numerous criminal incidents, John was arrested and sent to NYC’s infamous Spofford Juvenile Correctional Center in the Bronx and was subsequently moved upstate to serve 18 months of lock-up.
John formed the Cro-Mags in 1981 and has been touring ever since. He penned his memoir in 2007, “The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon” as a way to exercise the demons that haunted him.. The response has been overwhelming as John’s long time friend the late Adam Yauch (MCA -Beastie Boys) himself has said, “A lot of people talk about coming from the streets, when John says it the shit is real.”
As of late John’s memoir is in development for a feature film and his second book, “Meat is For Pussies” (a comedic guide to real health for men) was picked up by Harper Collins for summer 2014 release. John convinced thousands of people to give up meat and live healthier spiritual lives and he put his 33 years of experience in the vegetarian/athletic field in every chapter.
He still practices the Hare Krsna tenets daily, chanting and doing service for others, feeds the homeless, mentors at risk youth and inmates, tours the planet as the lead singer for the world famous Cro-Mags, just finished his third book on Positive Mindset, has competed in ten Ironman Triathlons and will continue to race in 2018! It seems for John Joseph, life truly has been an evolution.