Mattias Johansson is a guitar tech and tour manager who has worked in that role for over two decades. His résumé includes LCD Soundsystem, The Black Crowes, and Doyle Bramhall II, along with Dinosaur Jr., The Cure, Sebadoh, and Eric Clapton's band1. He is from Sweden, studied in the UK, and lived in Brighton for many years1.
The bands he has worked for
Johansson's major break came with Dinosaur Jr.'s 2005 reunion tour, where he drove the band's gear and got to know them, becoming their guitar tech on the following tour. Through that connection he became tour manager for Lou Barlow's band Sebadoh for many years, and he reconnected with Dinosaur Jr. in 2026 for the Azkena Rock Festival in the Basque Country1.
From 2007 he spent about a year and a half touring with LCD Soundsystem on their second record, Sound of Silver. The tour carried numerous Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amps, one of which was used for a bass guitar hammering out chords1.
"There were numerous Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amps on the LCD Soundsystem tour I was on. One was used for a bass guitar hammering out chords, and the JC-120 sounded brilliant doing that."
In 2011 he was asked to drive backline gear for Rich Robinson's solo tour and became his guitar tech at the last minute, working with Robinson on and off ever since, solo and in The Black Crowes1. After a 2015 London show, Doyle Bramhall II called him up, and he started guitar teching for Doyle's trio, doing that for a year and a half. From early 2018 he alternated between Doyle's solo tours and Eric Clapton's arena gigs, which he describes as his longest ongoing gig: ten years with Doyle, and eight years with him back in Clapton's band1.
In early 2023 he joined The Cure to look after Robert Smith's guitars, amps, and pedals, after Robert contacted him directly. That year included a North America trip from May to July and a South America trip later in the year1. He has also worked with The Mighty Boosh1.
| Band or artist | Role | When |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur Jr. | Drove gear on the 2005 reunion tour, then guitar tech | 2005, and 2026 for the Azkena Rock Festival1 |
| Sebadoh | Tour manager | Many years1 |
| LCD Soundsystem | Touring crew on the Sound of Silver tour | About a year and a half from 20071 |
| Rich Robinson, solo and The Black Crowes | Guitar tech | From 2011, on and off1 |
| Doyle Bramhall II | Guitar tech for his trio, then solo tours | From 20151 |
| Eric Clapton | Guitar tech on arena gigs | From early 2018, eight years1 |
| The Cure | Guitar tech for Robert Smith | From early 20231 |
The Boss pedals he carries
Johansson keeps a small set of Boss pedals at hand for his tech work:
- A couple of Chromatic Tuners, the TU-2 and TU-3
- An old CS-2 Compression Sustainer
- A BD-2 Blues Driver
- A DD-3 Digital Delay1
The CS-2, a compressor pedal, has a specific origin for him:
"I think I originally got the CS-2 because I saw in a magazine that David Gilmour used one."
Questions
Which bands has guitar tech Mattias Johansson worked for?
His résumé includes LCD Soundsystem, The Black Crowes, Doyle Bramhall II, Dinosaur Jr., The Cure, Sebadoh, Rich Robinson's solo band, Eric Clapton's band, and The Mighty Boosh. He has worked as a guitar tech and tour manager for over two decades1.
What tuner pedals does Mattias Johansson carry?
He carries a couple of Boss Chromatic Tuners at hand, the TU-2 and the TU-3, alongside an old CS-2 Compression Sustainer, a BD-2 Blues Driver, and a DD-3 Digital Delay1.
How long did Mattias Johansson tour with LCD Soundsystem?
From 2007 he spent about a year and a half touring with LCD Soundsystem on their second record, Sound of Silver1.
Where is Mattias Johansson from?
He is from Sweden. He studied in the UK and lived in Brighton for many years1.
Sources (1)
- Behind the Board: Mattias Johansson With The Cure, Dinosaur Jr., and The Black Crowes, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2025-12-18