The General Store

The General Store is a moniker used by Tam Johnstone, a British singer/songwriter who is the son of longtime Elton John guitarist Davey Johnstone. His music is heavily inspired by Neil Young, The Byrds, and The Beatles (and also owes some debt to The Eagles) but employs a distinctive country-pop sound that also slots in with modern indie power-pop and britpop. Johnstone is now more well known as the frontman for Glass Shark, a British electronic three-piece.

Johnstone began his career working in George Martin's AIR studios as a teenager. By age 17, he was on the road for the first time in support to '80's Norwegian megastars Aha. Drumming for a succession of pure pop outfits followed, including mini cult the Green Tambourines and Warner Bros signings, Jaguar.

In April 2000, Johnstone released the debut General Store album, ?Local Honey' (which was later issued in America by Not Lame in 2002). After a long hiatus, Johnstone returned in 2008 with a new album, 'Mountain Rescue', recorded with producer Paul Reeve (Supergrass, Beta Band, Ruarri Joseph) and a host of guest musicians including Nick Zala (Mojave 3, The Loose Salute), singer/songwriter, Mike Silver and Jo Partridge (David Essex, The Who, Kiki Dee.) This time around, the Beach Boys and early ?70's Elton John join the list of The General Store's musical inspirations.

In 2012, Johnstone dispensed with the General Store moniker and released 'Fantastic Animals,' a new solo album under his own name. The new record sports notable influences from 70s/80s glam, punk, and new wave, and is a major sonic departure from the country rock of The General Store.

Tam also fronts up and coming disco-punk power trio, Glass Shark.