HAPPY 2023! THANKS FOR COMING TO SEE ME HERE AT MY HOME SITE! I APPRECIATE YOU!
CLICK ON THE MENU TO “DATES AND SHOWS” ABOVE FOR A CALENDAR OF BOOKINGS AND AVAILABILITY.
Eric Koch, AKA Johnny Rhinestone, has played guitar and bass and sung professionally since he was 15 years old in many different groups and situations. As such he excels in various genre and styles of music. He has studied at local community colleges in San Diego and has an associates degree in music and business.
Johnny Rhinestone has played with Will Lee Brown and the Luvalot Group, Theo and the Zydeco Patrol, Good Company (a Bad Company Tribute), Pretending Chrissie (a Pretenders Tribute), Hugh Gaskins and the Gstring Daddys, Axis, Vacscene, Mothership, Blue Rockit, Stain Glass, West Coast Connection, Private Life, The 360 Band, Color, ERTH, The KHU, FlashBack, Surreal Time, Stone Horse and more.
***TO SEE MORE ABOUT BANDS AND PROJECTS CLICK ON THE MENU ABOVE***
Johnny Rhinestone has played Bass Guitar for a drum clinic featuring Alan White of the band “YES”. Johnny’s bass can also be heard on a recording with virtuoso guitarist Frank Gamble who played lead guitar accompanied by guitarist Kevin Toler, the author of the fusion song called “THE WHEEL”.
ERIC KOCH/JOHNNY RHINESTONE has recorded several albums and his singing has been heard on California radio stations including KCER, KGB, and radio stations in the bay area.
ERTH 1985
HERE ARE SOME TRACKS FROM THE ERTH ALBUM WRITTEN IN THE MID 80’S. MOST OF THE THE BASS PARTS LYRICS AND MELODIES FOR THESE TUNES WERE WRITTEN BY ERIC KOCH AND MUSIC AND ARRANGEMENT WAS DONE BY JIM KINNEY. GUITAR AND DRUM PARTS WERE WRITTEN BY RICK EASLEY AND MY BROTHER,TED KOCH.
THESE FOLLOWING TRACKS WERE RE-MASTERED MORE RECENTLY BY JIM KINNEY WHO WAS THE KEYBOARDIST FOR ERTH.
Marketplace
Run to Me Now
As the lead vocalist for ERTH he did several TV appearances including the Stanley Siegul show and performed several big shows including at the Mid Winter Fair in El Centro, a concert venue of 10.000 spectators and opened for Meat Loaf in Concert in Tijuana, Mexico.
After the ERTH band Eric collaborated with Kevin Toler, a very talented guitarist and artist who had worked with Frank Zappa and several other heavy hitters and declared Mr. Koch a worthy lyricist. THE KHU was written in the early 1990’s and again inspired by the music written by Kevin Toler, the lyrics and vocal melodies were written and sung by ERIC KOCH AKA JOHNNY RHINESTONE.
THE KHU 1992
HERE ARE THE TUNES FROM THE “KHU FACES OF GOLD ALBUM”:
NO ONE COULD BELIEVE LIKE YOU DO
TIMELESS
FACES OF GOLD
WANDERERS
LIFE THAT’S HIGHER
FORGOTTEN
KIA
BURNING EYES
TZADDIES SONG
THE WHEEL
THE WHEEL WAS RECORDED IN 1992. THE BASIC TRACKS DRUMS AND BASS AND RYTHM GUITAR WERE RECORDED HERE IN SAN DIEGO WITH KEVIN TOLER ON GUITARS AND SYNTH GUITAR ERIC KOCH ON BASS AND A GOOD FRIEND OF KEVIN ON DRUMS THAT FLEW OUT FROM CHICAGO, CHRIS DOUGLAS. THE TRACK WAS THEN TAKEN TO LA WHERE FUSION GUITARIST FRANK GAMBALE DID SOLO WORK ON THE TUNE AT ANOTHER STUDIO THERE. KEVIN HAD BEEN WORKING ON AN ALBUM COVER FOR FRANK GAMBALE AT THE SAME TIME THAT HE WAS HELPING CREATE AN ALBUM COVER FOR FRANK ZAPPA WHICH BECAME THE COVER TO FRANK ZAPPA’S CIVILIZATION III ALBUM. IT WAS DURING THIS CREATIVE TIME THAT THE KHU SONGS WERE WRITTEN AND THE WHEEL AS WELL.
ANOTHER PROJECT WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY ERIC KOCH WAS “LIGHT LINK STATION” WHICH IS A CROSS BETWEEN ELECTRONIC STYLE MUSIC AND SAMPLED INSTRUMENTS. THIS MUSIC WAS WRITTEN ON AN ENSONIQUE ASR10 SAMPLER WORKSTATION in the mid 90’s. 
HUMPIC
INTRAFARE
SPIRIT OF AROS
THE ELDERS
DLUC CRE
WHY
ERIC KOCH AKA JOHNNY RHINESTONE PLAYED BASS FOR THE VACSCENE BAND.
THIS WAS A POWER TRIO STYLE BAND. ALL ORIGINAL MUSIC WRITTEN PRIMARILY BY TIM ORRAHOOD, ALTHOUGH A GOOD PART OF THE BASS LINES WERE WRITTEN BY ERIC KOCH.
During this time Johnny played various concerts as the bass player for the original power trio “Vacscene” at the 4rth and B
venue in San Diego. Vacscene was vocalist/Guitarist Tim Orrahood and Johnny Mudd Murillo on drums. Vacscene opened for a number of national acts such as:
Oingo Boingo … Martha Davis/Motels …Eddie Money….Missing Persons…. Alcatraz…. Lou Graham/Foreigner…. The
Tubes Lizy Borden….The Smitherines to name a few.
HERE ARE SOME VACSCENE SONGS:
HIGHWAY OF LOVE
WHERE THE PEOPLE GO
LOCKNESS
VACSCENE LIVE AT 4RTH AND B SAN DIEGO
VACSCENE FEATURED IN BOOGIE MAGAZINE
JOHNNY has performed as a lead and backup vocalist, guitar player and Bassist for many different shows locally in the San
Diego and Los Angeles area and also represented a local guitar and bass maker, D&H Guitars at their booth at the
NAMM show in LA.
D&H GUITAR BOOTH
THE MOTHERSHIP BAND
ANOTHER PROJECT ENTIRELY WRITTEN AND PLAYED BY ERIC KOCH IS THE JOHNNY RHINESTONE PROJECT. THE ALBUM IS TITLED “RAMBLIN’ MAN”. THE MUSIC IS DESIGNED FOR DANCING AND FUN AND IS A JIMMY BUFFET MEETS JOHNNY CASH COUNTRY STYLE. THE PROJECT WAS INSPIRED AFTER ERIC ORGANIZED AN 11 PIECE BAND FOR COUNTRY ROCK ARTIST CANDICE GRAHAM.
CANDICE HAD MADE A RECORD THAT WAS RECORDED IN NASHVILLE BY BILLY FRANZ WHO IS A BASS PLAYER AND PRODUCER ENGINEER THAT WORKS OUT OF NASHVILLE. THE ALBUM USED SOME HEAVY HITTERS SUCH AS PRINCE BACK UP SINGERS ETC. THE PRO-TOOLS FILES FROM THIS PROJECT WERE GIVEN TO ERIC WHO USED THESE FILES TO ORGANIZE A BAND TO COVER WHAT HAD BEEN RECORDED IN ORDER FOR CANDICE TO HAVE A CD RELEASE SHOW AT THE BELLY UP VENUE IN SOLANA BEACH CA. THE BAND THAT HE ORGANIZED WAS FANTASTIC AND USED LOCAL PLAYERS MARK KNOLL ON KEYS, DAVID BROWN ON DRUMS, SKELPIN ON VIOLIN, DOUG MEYER ON PEDAL STEEL, TIM ORRAHOOD ELECTRIC GUITAR, JOHNNY RHINESTONE BASS.
ALL MUSIC PLAYED AND WRITTEN AND RECORDED BY ERIC KOCH/JOHNNY RHINESTONE….
WORKIN’ IT!
HIGH ROLLERS
DANCE WITH ME
RIDING COWGIRL
MAN ON A STEEL HORSE
KEEP ON DANCING
IT WILL COME AROUND
JOHNNY is fluent in Spanish and is able to perform a number of songs in Spanish as well as a large repertoire of cameo
acoustic guitar entertainment including covers of James Taylor, John Denver, John Meyer, Eric Clapton and various
classical and finger style tunes. His has played acoustic guitar and sung at Stellas Italian restaurant in La Jolla and at
Bully’s East steak house in La Jolla CA and at Maria Marias restaurant owned by Carlos Santana in San Diego.
Currently he playing bass for:
“Good Company”, a Bad Company and Paul Rodgers Tribute” badcotribute.com
“Theo and the Zydeco Patrol” Zydeco Patrol
“The Lovealot Group” Wilovealot Group
“Pretending Chrissie”
“The G-String Daddys”
PREVIOUS BANDS:
“Flashback Classic Rock Band” Flashback
“Bound South, an Allman Brothers Tribute”
“Vacscene” originals power trio VACSCENE BAND
“Blue Rocket blues band” organized by Barry Farrar BLUE Rockit
of Jazz 88 radio here in San Diego.
Eric Koch AKA Johnny Rhinestone is a strong organizational and creative force for most any musical situation with
experience in song writing/recording production and booking and management as well.
Please feel free to reach him to discuss any shows or work you have available.
e-koch@sbcglobal.net
Phone 619 674-3375
A MESSAGE FROM JOHNNY….
I WANT TO THANK MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO INSPIRE ME AND GIVE ME THE SPARK AND ENERGY TO SEEK OUT NEW MUSICAL SITUATIONS AND HELP KEEP THE SPIRIT OF LIVE MUSIC GOING AND ALIVE!
THE GOOD COMPANY GUYS ALAN REED, MICK BACKMAN, DANNY DONELLY AND CHERYL RIBLEY, TOM FORBIS AND AMY STEPHEN.
DAVID BROWN GREAT GUY AND DRUMMER AND PERCUSSIONIST AND JOEY MOLINA FROM THE MOTHERSHIP BAND.
FRANCISCO ELORZA, RAMON AVILA, MANUEL ABDO AND SINGER SONGWRITER RILEY NEAL WHOM I’VE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS! THESE ARE THE PLAYERS OF THE SOUTH BOUND BAND.
RILEY NEAL MY FLASHBACK SINGER, TOM FORBIS MY FLASHBACK DRUMMER AND RICK EASLEY MY FLASHBACK AND ERTH GUITARIST WHOM I’VE KNOWN AND PLAYED GIGS WITH FOR MANY MANY YEARS!
MY GOOD FRIEND SAMMY WHO IS A VERY TALENTED KEYBOARDIST AND ALL AROUND EXCELLENT AND HONEST GUY.
THE G-STRING GUYS DAN RENWICK, KEVIN KOHL, HUGH GASKINS AND ESPECIALLY THE TALENTED AMY STEPHEN WHO HAS ALSO PLAYED IN THE GOOD COMPANY BAND.
MARK KNOLL THE NICEST MAN ON EARTH AND THE PRETENDERS GUYS HECTOR TORO, ROSEMARY COX, VINCE LUPO AND ESPECIALLY BOB RUPPLE WHO TEACHES ME WHAT DETAIL REALLY MEANS!
THE STAIN GLASS GUYS AL REED, ANDREW FAKHOURI AND DINO DELUKE AND BOBBY MARTIN AND MICK BACKMAN.
LEE BROWN WHOM I’VE KNOWN FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND LYNDEN WIMPIE AND CARLTON OVERSTREET (CEO) AND ALAN GARDENER MY BAND MATES IN THE LOVEALOTGROUP.
THEO BELLOW AND CJ HUTCHINS AND PAT KINGSLAND AND ESPECIALLY JOE BRADETICH WHO HAVE BEEN MY FRIENDS AND ZYDECO GIG PARTNERS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AS WELL!
TED REED AND DARCI LA RAE, TIM ORRAHOOD AND JACK ROCK KAYE FROM THE JANICE JOPLIN TRIBUTE.
MICHELLE RALLYEA THE THE MOST ALL AROUND HOST AND PROMOTER AND GLEE CLUB LADY IN TOWN!
GENIUS KEYBOARD MAN RICK SPENCER WITH WHOM I’VE HAD A LOT OF INTERESTING TALKS.
GIUTARIST EDDIE LIZER YOU BADASS YOU!
JOHHNY MUDD AND HIS WIFE RUTH MURILLO WHO HAS MORE ENERGY THAN ANY ONE IN THE WORLD….VACSCENE!!!!
SHERI SALOMONE THE HOST OF THE YEARLY SHERISTOCK WHO BUILT THIS WEBSITE AND KNOWS SO MUCH ABOUT THE LOCAL SCENE AND IS ALWAYS AN INSPIRATION TO TALK TO.
MARK CROCKER MY MANAGER IN DISGUISE.
SUPER GROUPIE AND DEAR FRIEND ADRIANA RENOLDS!
DAVE GRIFFITH THE MAN ON THE SCENE!
TIM ORRAHOOD WHO IS ALWAYS PUSHING THE ENVELOPE OF LIVE MUSIC ON LINE AND EVERYWHERE!
PAUL MACLENDEN MR FUNNY SOUND MAN CUPPING HIS EARS “WHAT?”
JERRY ROSE THE SUPER CREATIVE RODIE MAN!
MARIO MURILLO THE WORLDS MOST AVID CONCERT GOER EVER!
JILBERTO TALAMANTES AND GEORGE SEPULVEDA AND CARLOS”KALIMAN” PICO FROM THE “MAS ALLA” BAND IN TODOS SANTOS BAJA CALIFORNIA MEXICO 1973 AND 1974 WHERE I FIRST PLAYED PROFESSIONALLY WITH MY BROTHER TED AT THE AGE OF 15.
MY SON SEAN WHO IS A VERY TALENTED AND INTELLIGENT GUY THAT I CAN ALWAYS GET AN ACCURATE GOOD OPINION ABOUT THINGS FROM ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC!
MY LADY AT HOME MICHELE WHO ALWAYS SUPPORTS ME IN MY MUSIC AND HOLDS DOWN THE FORT SO I ALWAYS HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO COME HOME TO!
AND MY DAD WHO HAS A NEVER ENDING SPIRIT FOR ADVENTURE AND EXPLORATION AND STILL KICKING STRONG AFTER 88 YEARS!
AND MY MOM WHO WAS ONE OF THE BEST NICEST CARING PEOPLE THAT THIS WORLD HAS KNOWN, GOD REST HER SOUL.