Agnello's life in the studio began in 1979 at the age of 19 while working as an intern at the legendary Record Plant Studios in Manhattan. He worked his way up the ladder and became the studio’s go-to-assistant. He assisted on a number of albums including those by Aerosmith, Twisted Sister, Scandal, John Cougar Mellencamp, and John Waite. John also worked briefly on “Born In the USA” with Bruce Springsteen. However, working on Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual! had the biggest recording and production impact on him at the time. He worked with some of the great engineers and producers of that time, including, Jack Douglas, Jimmy Iovine, Rick Chertoff, William Wittman, Mike Chapman, Dave Thoener, Jay Messina, Roy Cicala, and Shelly Yakus. He got his first true break engineering on the second album by The Hooters. He was involved with artists such as Patty Smyth, Sophie B. Hawkins and The Outfield. The Outfield's first record, Play Deep, had a #2 hit with "Your Love". Around that time, he also got to do one off session with Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger, two of his favorite artists. The Bob Dylan song was “Series Of Dreams” which he co-mixed with Bill Wittman. That version was used by NARAS when presenting Bob Dylan with his lifetime achievement award. And the Mick Jagger song, "Hard Woman", was for a special made-for-MTV only video.
1990s
During the early nineties, Agnello began an association with Dinosaur Jr. and the Screaming Trees. This collaboration has extended through almost a dozen records. In fact, John recently mixed the heralded Dinosaur Jr. reunion record, Beyond, with the original lineup. He was also responsible for productions with artists such as Buffalo Tom, Chainsaw Kittens, Jawbox, Chavez, Redd Kross, Madrugada and Patti Smith, among others. He also worked with Alice Cooper on The Last Temptation Of Alice Cooper.
2000–present
Agnello has worked with such artists as Sonic Youth, The Living End, Andrew W.K., Drive-By Truckers and Social Distortion. He has helmed both Boys And Girls In America and Stay Positive by The Hold Steady. Even though he excels at the hard edge sound of many of the aforementioned artists, he's also adept at working with the subtler sounds of artists such as Son Volt, The Kills, Thurston Moore, The Walkmen, and Five for Fighting. Agnello has also been involved with many newer artists including Scottish band The Hazey Janes. Agnello mixed one of their records in Spain in 2006. Agnello also worked with Jennifer O'Connor on her latest album, Here With Me, for Matador Records. Agnello has had commercial success overseas. The three records he did with Norwegian band Madrugada have scored both critical and commercial success. In the press release for the current record, Madrugada, they describe Agnello as "the external creative force that has had the most influence on Madrugada’s artistic development.” Agnello has also had success with another Norwegian band, Turbonegro, on their last record, Retox. In October 2012, Agnello produced the sixth album from indie punk band The Thermals. In 2015, Agnello produced the albumManhattan for the anti-folk singer Jeffrey Lewis.
