I was born in a house in Hackney (with a outside loo). This is not just the title of my autobiography but also the opening line of my best-loved punk rock anthem Deadend Yobs.
This book will tell the 100% truth about my roller-coaster life but because I gave my word to the court there are certain restrictions on what I can actually reveal about what occured in 2007 and 2008.
Yours truly was the product of a mixed marriage. My mum was a 17-year-old Irish girl and my dad was a flash Cockney bastard.
He was a semi-professional footballer and Al Jolson impersonator. I idolised him as a kid and worshipped the ground he walked on.
I had a very happy childhood. I loved the social side of school but hated the academic stuff and the lessons.
All I was interested in was playing football and impressing my dad. I was the star of the school football team, played for the District and was according to experts a genuine contender.
Playing for the Rep Team gave me status at school and inflated my already massive ego - but the truth is I was only the second best player in the team.
The real star was GP - he went onto play 200 games for West Ham and appeared in the 1980 FA Cup winning side.
Another member of the team was MR who people including me say I had equal talent and ability went onto play 300 games for Charlton Athletic.
All my life I regretted not being a footballer and blamed my dad. Let me explain - when I was 13 he walked out of the family home , stopped taking me football and I did not speak to him properly for 15 years.
I quit playing football at 14 in the hope it would bring him back - it didnt - so I lost out - and have spent my entire life regretting that desicion.
I got over him walking out on me but never recovered from giving up football.
I ended up in care as my mum moved to Manchester with her boyfriend - we did not speak for three years.
I became a number belonging to the Local Authority.
I lived at various institutions in Barking, Brentwood, Surrey, Oxfordshire. I was sent to a Special Secure Unit in Redhill, Detention Centre in Kidlington and Borstal in Hertfordshire.
On release I became a sofa surfer and spent a decade sleeping in spare rooms, mates floors or girlfriends beds.
At 17 I visited my mum in Cheshire - it was Summertime - and as I went to walk into the garden she said "Dont call me mum as the neighbours dont know about you"
I never returned.
In fact I have only visited my mum twice in 30 years. Once with a girl called EE - a month before she got pregnant - and for a second time with my ex-wife shortly before our wedding.
It is because of the disgusting way I was treated by my mum and dad that I decided to be a loyal and faithful husband and a devoted dad.
I wanted to be the 100% opposite of my parents.
My teenage years were a laugh at the time - they seemed to go on forever - but on reflection they were a waste of time and nothing to be proud of.
I spent my time getting into trouble with the law, taking fast drugs and treating girls like second-class citizens.
Its true I was born in a house in Hackney with a outside loo but I always wanted and believed I was destined for the good life.
It was a slum and three of my early idols came from the same manor - Reg and Ronnie Kray and Glam Rocker Marc Bolan.
I was brought up hearing about the exploits of The Twins - and because they were East End boys I thought they were glamouress and modern day Robin Hoods.
I swallowed the myth hook, line and sinker - but adulthood took away my rose-coloured spectacles.
It hurts me to admit but the truth is they were more common criminals then real-life Arthur Daley`s.
But my family did have connections to a genuine East End legend. My Grandad was related to Music Hall star Marie Llyod, she was the Madonna of her generation.
I was told how she`d visit 25 Overberry Street in Hackney in a big car, wearing flashy clothes and handout expensive gifts and money.
Is this where I got my love of showbiz?
Jumping ahead a bit - as I can is this is only a brief synopsis - Aged 19 I tagged along when a mate went to Butlins Holiday Camp in Clacton.
I wanted to be a Redcoat and to entertain the campers but ended up washing dishes.
As after 2 days they found out I had no talent and couldnt sing.
At night I hung out at the bar with the dancing girls and entertainers and decided that Showbiz was the life for me.
I returned to London and despite the fact that I couldnt sing formed a band called The Buzz Kids.
And Lady Luck was about to change my life (and others) forever. Punk Rock was invented and it no longer mattered if you couldnt sing or hold a note.
I phoned Sounds Music magazine News Desk and announced our arrival. I told them The Buzz Kids were the future of rock and roll.
The next night they sent a reporter to our gig at The Dueragon pub in Hackney.
That journo was a very young Garry Bushell and he was not impressed. He wrote "Garry Johnson cant sing and the band are rubbish"
But in a face to face conversation in the bar he added "but I do like the words - not the tunes - but the words - who writes the lyrics?"
I said "Me" adding "Good aint they?"
He agreed and advised "Give up the singing cos you cant and stick to the writing"
That night I did a Ziggy Stardust and broke up the band. The next morning I turned up at his office in Covent Garden saying "Gimme a job"
I started as a teaboy, writing about 3rd-rate bands in run down pubs - but I was happy.
Life was great. It was girls, fast drugs, parties, fast drugs, free booze, more fast drugs and having a laugh.
I ended up travelling First Class all over the UK, meeting my idols and staying in classy hotels.
And mostly thanx to networking, having lots of front and boosted by the confidence that comes with taking fast drugs I ended up working for The Sun and writing 11 books.
I even starred in TV documentary for Canadian TV called A Day In The Life Of A Beat Street Poet.
Not bad for a kid born in a East End slum who left school at 13 without a single qualification.
I have now been approached by the former head of Virgin Books to co-write my official autobiography with Fleet Street legend Garry Bushell.
And as I was given permission (with certain restrictions) by the courts what you are reading is the first draft of my autobiography.
The educated among you will already have noticed that Mr Bushell has not yet `cleaned up` the poor grammar.
Born In A House In Hackney will reveal how this former teenage tearaway got to meet David Bowie, George Best, Charlie Kray, Ozzy Osbourne, Michael Jackson and a host of other Rock Gods, Showbiz celebs and soap stars.
I will tell all about the three most inflential women in my life. They are NW, EE and my ex-wife JTJ.
NW - I met when I was 22. She was 36 and a posh fashion writer - she had a teenage daughter by a former famous actor and a au pair - I was very impressed.
She took me to fancy restaraunts, The Chelsea Arts Ball, boating in Hyde Park, tea at The Ritz and introduced me to many new things - in and out of bed.
N was very classy and I was in awe of her and we had a great 6 months together.
EE - was eight years older then me and a photographer - she was Canadian and Jewish and I was hooked.
I even took her to meet my mum! The only girlfriend - apart from my ex-wife that I ever
introduced to her.
She had a flat in Knightsbridge and I moved in. E was zany, unconventional, bisexual and like me loved `fast drugs`.
We were together for about 6 months and then she got pregnant - it split us up - though we would of partied anyway - as our relationship was more of a `all night party` then a proper love affair.
E didnt want kids - she was a career woman and decided on an abortion. I took her to the clinic in Hammersmith - brought her home - but left a few days later - the truth is I couldnt cope with the abortion.
I was struck down with guilt.
I genuinely believe that all the `bad luck` I`ve had since is `payback` because I involved myself in the `killing of a baby`.
Old fashioned maybe? - but that is my genuine belief.
My divorce, my ill-health is I believe the price I am paying for going against my personal beliefs.
JT:
My ex-wife, the love of my life and my Soul mate. We met and married within 3 months and such were my feelings for her that overnight I gave up my life-long love of Fast Drugs.
I did not indulge because she did not agree with that lifestyle.
So you see my life has more twists and turns then a corkscrew and more ups and downs then a rollercoaster.
I have done many varied things in my life and I want to tell all about my journey from uneducated teenage tearaway to self-educated adult.
I have performed as a Punk singer and my songs have appeared on various compilation albums that have sold over a million copies worldwide.
I also discovered and managed The Stone Roses and wrote the punk classic anthem Suburban Rebels for The Business.
The fact is - and as you will discover - there is much more to me then a 15-year marriage and 5 year war with my ex-wife.
And I have to mention it as I couldnt write a honest account of my life story if I was to `airbrush away` 16 years of my life.
