Johnny Silverhand remained one of the most popular musicians of the time. He planned to use his star reputation to start a solo career and continue promoting his anti-corporate and anti-government message. DBS Music wanted to sign a contract with him so desperately that they blackmailed him, threatening to expose his true identity as a deserter from the Central American conflict. Instead, Johnny Silverhand re-signed with Universal Music and released a whole album called "Sins of Your Brothers," admitting to being a deserter and exposing all the horrific things ordered by the government. The album was a massive success and changed the public perception of what it meant to be a deserter.

In 2013, after a concert, Johnny went for a walk with his girlfriend, Alt Cunningham, when she was suddenly kidnapped by thugs hired by the megacorporation Arasaka. Alt was drugged and told by Toshiro that she was a valuable asset for the corporation. They wanted her to develop a program called Soulkiller, which could upload the mind of any netrunner. It was dangerous software that would kill anyone whose brain they wanted to upload, something she had previously developed for her employer, ITS.

Johnny, wanting to save her, devised a plan that required precise timing. He assembled a strike team to infiltrate Arasaka's office and rescue Alt. Additionally, he asked for the assistance of all the members of his old band. The Samurai gathered together and put on a completely free show. The show took place right in front of Arasaka Tower in Night City. This led to a riot at the tower, and troops were called in to control the situation. In a panic, Toshiro used Soulkiller on Alt while the attack was happening.

Johnny and his team, consisting of his former girlfriend Rogue (Bes Isis), and media reporter Thompson, infiltrated the tower while Alt was still trapped in cyberspace, trying to return to her body. When Johnny's team reached Alt, it was too late. In a fit of rage, he killed Toshiro and rushed to Alt's body, examining it and assuming she was dead. He lifted her still warm body from the couch, disconnecting her from the computer. On the other side of the monitors, a disembodied Alt was shouting something, but Johnny couldn't hear her.

In 2014, Johnny continued his rebellious campaign, this time in a Japanese city during his famous free charity concert, aiming to draw attention to the brutal methods NCPD used to suppress the homeless riots that same year.

From 2020 to 2023, Johnny, along with Rogue, Morgan Black hand, Shaitan, Thompson, and Spider Murphy, led the Militech strike team at Arasaka's American headquarters in Night City with the intention of ending the Fourth Corporate War by destroying the tower with a bomb. Johnny had another reason to return to the Arasaka building; he wanted to find Cunningham, but there were many obstacles in his path. The biggest obstacle was Adam Smasher, a former man who was now more machine than flesh. Johnny was believed to be dead, shot by Smasher. His body was never found due to the bomb that destroyed the Arasaka building, or so everyone thought.

In the game Cyberpunk 2077, we learn that Johnny managed to survive the explosion. He was taken to Saburo Arasaka's apartment, where he was "reset." His consciousness was previously loaded into an engram, which would later be uploaded into a chip.

After Johnny's disappearance, which left a strong impression in the memory of Night City's inhabitants, people began to mourn him. Graffiti asking "Where's Johnny?" and similar expressions could be found throughout Night City. Even after decades, people continue to hope for his return.