Crush 40

Crush 40 is a Japanese-American rock band best known for providing music for the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Formed in the late 1990s, the group centers on the songwriting and guitar work of Jun Senoue, longtime composer for Sega, paired with the powerful rock vocals of American singer Johnny Gioeli. Their sound combines arena-rock guitar riffs, soaring melodic hooks, and high-energy vocal performances rooted in 1980s hard rock and AOR traditions.

Crush 40 became closely tied to Sonic's identity through anthemic theme songs such as «Live & Learn», «Open Your Heart», and «What I'm Made Of…», tracks that gave the games a distinctive rock edge and turned the band into a recognizable name well beyond typical video game soundtrack work. Their catalog also includes songs like «Knight of the Wind» and «His World», further cementing their role as the sonic voice of several major Sonic titles across multiple console generations.

Over the years the band's lineup has included various rhythm section players alongside its core duo, and Crush 40 has continued to perform live at gaming and music conventions worldwide, maintaining a dedicated global fanbase built around the crossover between rock music and video game culture.