Former Cro-Mags singer John Joseph, who served in the Navy, talks about emerging from abuse, drugs and prison to success he found as a punk rocker, triathlete and more in this week’s episode of the Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
John Joseph emerged from an abusive childhood in a foster home to serve in the Navy, become a successful singer of a popular punk band and to inspire others as a vegan triathlete. Music has been a thread throughout his life, serving as a lifeline when he desperately needed it.
As the special guest in this week’s episode of the Tango Alpha Lima podcast, Joseph shares his tumultuous story starting with his father, a professional boxer who turned to alcohol and violence.
“We had a tough upbringing,” he recalls. “He took it out on my mom and we got removed from the home and placed into foster care … every kind of abuse you could imagine happened to us in that place for five years.”
After fleeing, Joseph hit the streets and pursued his passion that eventually led to his role as lead singer of the successful punk band, the Cro-Mags.
“I always loved music,” he says. “When we were on the run from my father, who was a madman, music was always the outlet. Music was always the release even in this foster home. Punk rock became what I needed to work through everything.”
After serving time for a drug conviction, Joseph joined the Navy in 1980. He graduated with honors and became a physical training petty officer. But his struggles continued.
“Every dream I had kept getting snatched away from me,” he says, explaining his reliance on alcohol that led to addiction.
Finally he got a break when he had the opportunity to sing for a punk band, the Bad Brains. He was hanging out with Henry Rollins, the Beastie Boys and others. That led to his career with the Cro-Mags. As his career blossomed, he never let his support of the military dwindle.
“We never lose sight of the sacrifices that people in the military make,” he says. “Not just for themselves but being away from their families and risking their lives.”
Now, Joseph follows a plant-based diet and lives a straight edge lifestyle but does not identify with its subculture. He is a triathlete competitor and writes about his "positive mental attitude" and vegan lifestyle.
Also, co-hosts Adam Marr, Joe Worley and Stacy Pearsall chat about:
• Why the Army is reaching out to Meta and OpenAI to become senior advisors.
• How AI is streamlining the Air Force’s flight scheduling process.
• Fun Reddit takes about triathlons.
• A look back at the Battle of Stony Point, a significant victory for the Continental Army.
You can also check out the more than 300 Tango Alpha Lima podcasts available in both audio and video formats here. You can also download episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify other major podcast-hosting sites. The video version is available at the Legion’s YouTube channel.
- Tango Alpha Lima