| John Gavanti | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 1980 |
| Recorded | 1980 |
| Genre | No wave, experimental music |
| Label | Hyrax (original LP) Atavistic (CD reissue) |
John Gavanti is a 1980 no wave opera album by members of the bands Mars and DNA. It was written and played by Mark Cunningham (of Mars), Sumner Crane (of Mars), China Burg (of Mars), Ikue Mori (of DNA) and Arto Lindsay (of DNA). All were prominent members of New York City's short-lived No Wave music scene.
The opera is a loose retelling of Mozart's 1787 opera Don Giovanni, which in turn is based on the legend of Don Juan. The title character is a libidinous figure endowed with magical powers, and the songs of the opera follow him on a series of adventures, many of them involving the pursuit of various females, including a female lion, a young girl, and a grandmother "in the beautiful autumn of life."