 "Legendary Children" was Johnson's first release of new material since 1991 and his first since discovering he was HIV-positive that year, which triggered a temporary withdrawal from music.Johnson then began writing songs with bassist Nick Bagnall, including "Legendary Children", which Johnson recorded and released as a gift to those who had supported his career over the previous ten years, particularly the gay community.Speaking to "Vox" in 1994, Johnson spoke of the song's release on the small German label Club Tools