Keep up with Dan here:
I started playing drums when I was 14 because a friend of mine needed someone to get lessons with, I had never really thought about playing drums before but as soon as he suggested it I was stoked on the idea! I didn’t realise it’d turn into this! My friend stopped giving a shit after about 6 months but I loved it. I spent hours playing on hard back books with my one pair of drums sticks and playing on the school drum kit after lessons were done.
Me and my brother Tom (who is also in Architects) started a band when we were 15 and we’ve been in a band together ever since. We did a bunch of terrible covers and worte a bunch of terrible songs, played with a bunch of different people, until we were 17 and then we went on tour with a band called Beecher recorded our first album!
We did 3 tours in my last year of college when I was 17-18 and then when we were done me and Tom broke it to our parents that we weren’t gonna go to University and instead we were gonna spend our time making no money and getting drunk! We’ve spent the last few years since writing, recording and touring and it’s been awesome!
Dan Searle Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Dan: 14 years old.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Dan: I didn’t play in any drum corps but I did a bunch of other stuff, I played in a Jazz band, the school “Big Band”, and pretty much everything else that needed a drummer! One time everyone had to record their own version of Superstition by Stevie Wonder and I had to play on every single one, good times.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 metal influences?
Dan: Chris Pennie – TDEP, Ben Koller – Converge, Dan Foord – Sikth, Nick Yacyshyn – A Textbook Tragedy, Brann Dailor – Mastodon
SD.com: Who are some other of your favorites?
Dan: I really like Aaron Gillespie from Underoath, which I guess is gonna sound pretty out there for a website filled with death metal drummers! But he’s awesome, he does his own thing and he beats the crap out of his drums which is always good to see. I’m also a fan of the drummer from Dredg, his drumming on their album “Catch Without Arms” is sweet, plus Terry Date made his drums sound amazing.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Dan:
Coldplay – Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends
Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Brand New – The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Of Me
Brand New – Deja Entendu
Lamb Of God – Wrath
SD.com: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Dan: I spend about 30-45 minutes doing single stroke rolls, double stroke rolls and paradiddles, swapping between leading with my right and left hand. I do a bunch of stretches just before I start warming up and just before I start playing. Sometimes I feel great, sometimes I feel like a piece of crap. I’m still trying to work out what makes the difference!
SD.com: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have effected your playing?
Dan: I learnt to read music when I was at school but I never use it in Architects. The only thing it has helped me with is my understanding of timing and it helps me visualise what I want to play when I’m learning stuff in the band.
SD.com: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
Dan: I use Mapex drums, Sabian Cymbals, Silverfox sticks and a Pearl Eliminator double pedal.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Dan: Practise with a metronome! It helps you monitor your progress and it makes your life SO much easier when it comes to the studio. I spent six weeks solid practising before we went to record our second album and since then recording has been a joy! I wish it hadn’t taken me 5 years to realise that it was a good idea!
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Dan: Difficult question! Probably Chris Pennie. The first time I saw Dillinger was in Brighton when I was 16 and he blew my mind. I had never seen anything like it! There was something quite sinister about watching the guys in front go ape and watching Chris behind it all like some kind of robot. Scary, but awesome.
SD.com: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?
Dan: Watching TV shows! Its the best thing to do whilst practising! Computer games all the time, and getting high. I’ll grow up one day!
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