Danny Walker - California resident studio & session drummer has achieved a notable reputation as a technically high performing artist in the metal and avant-garde genres since 1997. Over 15 years of experience and training in the percussive arts.
After gaining recognition in a series of local bands in the Ventura County region, Danny surfaced with hardcore/grind group UPHILL BATTLE, sticking with the band for over 5 years. In this 5 year existence UPHILL BATTLE toured North America and Canada, released 2 eps and 3 full length records. Amongst all this Danny additionally played with local death metal band THORNLORD for a few years, playing a handful of shows and releasing a couple of demos. This band eventually faded away into obscurity.
Jumping at the chance to do something different, Danny teamed up with LA's avant garde goth-rock group CINEMA STRANGE between 2002-2006, touring extensively in regions such as North America, Europe, Japan and Mexico. During this period two records featuring Danny on drums were released.
Between 2003-2004 Danny filled in on drums for label mates and death/grind group EXHUMED touring the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia supporting their "Anatomy Is Destiny" record.
After parting ways with main group UPHILL BATTLE to pursue other musical obligations in early 2005, Danny relocated to Los Angeles birthing the progressive metal group INTRONAUT. While keeping this group a top priority, Danny teamed up with Orange County's grindcore legends PHOBIA, appearing on the albums "Cruel" and "22 Acts Random Acts Of Violence." Also touring regions such as North America and Mexico.
In early 2007 Danny Walker completed tour obligations, filling in for Hydra Head recording artists JESU (ex-GODFLESH/NAPALM DEATH) on their recent run through North America supporting ISIS.
INTRONAUT "Prehistoricisms" Century Media Records Sept 2008
PHOBIA "22 Random Acts Of Violence" Willowtip Records 2008 (coming soon)
INTRONAUT "The Challenger" EP Translation Loss Records Oct 2007
CINEMA STRANGE "Quatorze Exemples Authentiques Du Triomphe De La Musique Decorative" Trisol Records 2006
PHOBIA "Cruel" Willowtip Records 2006
INTRONAUT "Void" Goodfellow Records 2006
INTRONAUT "Null" Goodfellow Records 2006
UPHILL BATTLE "Blurred (1999-2004)" Relapse Records 2005
CINEMA STRANGE "A Cinema Strange - 10th Anniversary Novelty Product" Trisol Records 2004
UPHILL BATTLE "Wreck Of Nerves" Relapse Records 2004
UPHILL BATTLE "Uphill Battle" Relapse Records 2002
UPHILL BATTLE "Anubis Rising split" Loudnet Records 2001
UPHILL BATTLE "Quest For Quintana Roo split" ep Lo-Pan Records 2000
Danny Walker Interview:
SD.com: I have had the chance to hang with Adam Jarvis of Misery Index, Great guy! What did you like most about touring with him?
Danny: Adam is very modest and fun to travel with! He's a solid drummer and beats those skins like so nobody's business! Yeah he mentioned you guys were coming to check he and Darren(Burn In Silence) out at the Rochester show.
SD.com: Was there anything that Rich Crawford & Al Velasquez had in common, in their teaching approach?
Danny: They both stressed on counting out loud when facing a new rhythm and were both big on funk.
SD.com: You have recorded multiple albums with a few different bands, which album best represents your versatility?
Danny: Well I think they all do to some degree. I've done 3 records with UPHILL BATTLE and our "self titled" record has some wild stuff on it. I think I was in a more creative zone on this record. Also INTRONAUT is a prime example of something more fresh. The "Null" ep and "Void" record is definitely the most versatile I've ever been. With this band I focus more on groove and dabble in odd metered and poly-rhythmic patterns. It's really a lot of fun to focus more on power than speed with this band. If you want a straight up death/grind example of my playing then pick up the PHOBIA record "Cruel". That's definitely the fastest I've ever played on a record.
SD.com: When did you start playing drums?
Danny: I started playing on my moms pots and pans before the age of 8 jamming to Kiss and Motley Crue records and eventually my parents bought me a Pearl Export 5 piece kit where I experimented for years before taking lessons.
SD.com: Do you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Danny: I was in school marching band for a hot minute my freshman year in high school, but quit after I was put on cymbals. lol I wanted to play snare or the quads, but they refused to let me. I had to go through their system. I already knew how to play and read music, so after that I took off!
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
Danny: I believe I started taking lessons at the age 11. First with Rich Crawford. I started with him doing mostly funk/rock and reading a little. I was always a bit turned off by reading, so I would get by with my ear. For me that comes natural. I just hear something and pick it up or break it down and count it. After Rich was Al Velasquez, who instilled a lot of discipline in me. We worked on rudiments, technique, odd meters, poly-rhythms, funk, rock, jazz, latin etc. A lot was challenging and some came to me quick. Al Velasquez is the man!
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Danny: I'd have to say
1. Dave Weckl 2. Thomas Hakke 3. Sean Reihnert 4. Gene Hoglan 5. Tim Alexander
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Danny: On the contrary! I think my favorites including them are Kai Hato, Terry Bozzio, Brann Dailor, Dennis Chambers, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham etc...
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation
Danny:
Estradasphere - Palace Of Mirrors Meshuggah - Re-Nothing Dysrhythmia - Barriers and Passages Inhume - Choas - Dissection - Order Godflesh - In All Languages
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo's regularly?
Danny: Definitely! I always warm up with single/double/flam combos. 16th notes with one hand and quarter notes locked in on the other hand. I rotate this back and forth for about 8 quarter counts each. I like to mix up different types of paradiddles back and forth
(R L RR L R LL R L RR L R LL - RR L R LL R L RR L R LL R L - R LL R L RR L R LL R L RR L - RR L R L R LL RR L R L R LL) over and over
Also singles between the hands and feet back and forth super fast
Sanre - R L R L R L RL - Kick - R L R L R L R L
All these exercises are for warming up rather than building technique.
SD.com: What is your favorite part of your drum kit?
Danny: Probably cymbals more than anything! I tend to abuse the colorful sound of cymbals! chinas, splashes, rides, ice bell etc... I love hi-hat and floor tom.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be...
Danny: Don't poison your mind with one genre of music. You can take so many ideas from other sources and apply it to what you want. "METAL" This is what will give you character. Also practice to a click or metronome......EVEN if you think you have perfect timing.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?
Danny: That's a hard one! Well definitely Thomas Hakke of Meshuggah. He is so solid and just in the pocket. I used to work at a music shop that once put on a Terry Bozzio clinic and I got to stand right behind his set and listen to almost and hour and a half of solo pieces. Amazing!
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what else do you want to do with your life?
"The skinsmasher from Uphill Battle fits right in, as he's incredibly versatile. He can play extremely fast, especially with double bass and he has very innovative fills. Some drummers get stuck with the two or three little fills they can do well, whereas this guy seems to be able to lay down an infinite number of fills, and each one seems to belong where it is"
"Drummer Danny has a machine-like grasp on the concept of putting percussive foundation behind such merciless, unrelentingly complicated guitar and bass whirlwinds. In order to give some sense of grounding to all of the rampant changes and supreme viciousness, the man's patterns and fills compliment the 300 mph blasts and M-16 footwork. His performance combines the sweat-boiling intensity of Morbid Angel's Pete Sandoval and the physics-major-on-pcp expertise of Dillinger Escape Plan drummer Chris Pennie. Once again, as with the rest of the music, when you realize after a few listens that Danny can actually loop his intricate playing, creating actual 'beats' and somewhat repeated patterns"
"Deviously timed technical drumming which never goes off on a tangent of it's own"
MODERN DRUMMER MAGAZINE Issue – February 2005 Drumming Review on Uphill Battle's "Wreck of Nerves"
"Speaking of musical lunacy, Uphill Battle's maniacal hardcore and weird prog jazz might have you booking more shrink appointments than you can afford. During their second album "Wreck of Nerves" you'll have trouble getting Danny Walker's schizoid tempos"
