Keep up with Daniel here:
I have been playing drums my entire life, but only since age 10 have I had my own drumset. My father played drums for many Southern California bands, gigging throught the 70s and 80s, developing quite the reputation as one of the most solid drummers around. All my skill came from him, geneticly. My Dad and Mom seperated at age 3 and I would only see him during the summers. I would play his drums all day, then go home to my Mom’s house and not play drums for the rest of the year. Finally at the age of 10 my Dad bought me my first set of Ludwigs. I move on to a few other shotty sets over the next 5 years before getting my current set of DWs at age 15. That’s when things changed for me and my drumming got serious. Playing on drums that sound one thousand times better than you’re used to will help you improve quickly.
From age 15 until now I have been playing in “Untold Numbers,” a 2-piece instrumental progressive rock project that has still not to this day turned into more than just something we do for our own enjoyment. I finally got the urge to start playing live, and helped form a short-lived 80’s style alternitive rock band “Distance” with me being 18 and the rest of the members in their 30s’. During this time the old-timers got me tight by forcing me to play to a click and tearing me apart during practice sessions. Distance lasted no longer than our first show, but definitely was a learning experience.
I have been playing drums for “Last House on the Left” since May 2005. Since then we have played with bands such as Shadows Fall, Exhumed, Impaled, Vital Remains, All Shall Perish, My Bitter End, Suicide Silence and many more national touring bands. In 2006, Last House on the Left entered the studio and pounded out “The Road Leads to Nowhere,” our debut EP. Our style blends old school metal influences such as Dying Fetus, Danzig, Metallica and Vital Remains with the contemporary “hardcore-influenced” style bands such as All Shall Perish, Vehemence and Through the Eyes of the Dead. We appeal to many different types of metalheads, which definitely gives us an advantage, and will hopefully help Last House on the Left reach the highest rung of the metal ladder.
Daniel McBride Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Daniel: Well I have a picture of me playing bongos when I was wearing diapers, but I got my first set of drums at age 10.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Daniel: I played in beginning band my 6th grade year. My teacher suggested I skip intermediate band and move to advanced band my 7th grade year. I did, only to find out my teacher moved away and there was a new teacher. She was a crazy witch so I quit band and never went back.
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
Daniel: I took a few lessons from a private instructor, but he never taught me anything I wasn’t already familiar with, so I stopped. The only lessons that taught me anything were playing along to CDs with my headphones on.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Daniel: John Bonham, number one, without a doubt. I taught myself drums by playing to Zeppelin tapes for years. After you learn Zeppelin, other rock music seems pretty simple by comparison. Danny Carey from Tool would be number 2. Justin Foley from Killswitch Engage at number 3. Jordan Mancino from As I Lay Dying at number 4. Number 5 is my wildcard – the drummer I’m most stoked on at the moment, and that would have to be Leche from As Blood Runs Black.
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Daniel: John Bonham, Terry Bozzio, my dad, Danny McBride.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Daniel: “Allegiance” by As Blood Runs Black. “A Cold Day in Hell” by Winds of Plague. “The Price of Existance” by All Shall Perish. “Crucify. Kill. Rot.” by Rose Funeral. “Bloodlust” by Through the Eyes of the Dead.
SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?
Daniel: Definitely the time we were asked to play with Shadows Fall and Still Remains, 3 hours before the show started. We played at one of the biggest venues in town for the first time ever, and the sound on stage was PERFECT. My bass drum absolutely destroyed the place. Needless to say we rocked the house and won over a few hundred fans.
SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?
Daniel: DW and Zildjain. All I use.
SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Daniel: Pilates definitely helps me loosen up. Before we go on I’ll set up my snare and throne outside and throw a few tshirts on my snare and play on no resistance for periods of 5 minutes at a time. I like going on stage already warmed up.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Daniel: Just know that getting good takes a lot of time and patience. Lots of young drummers are all about the double bass and blast beats. Just know that what makes a good drummer is dynamics. Playing blast beats at the same velocity and straight double bass blasts only impresses people that don’t know much about drums. You’re only as good as other drummers think you are.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Daniel: As I Lay Dying and Killswitch Engage have completely melted my face every time I have seen them. Also, With Passion has given one of the most energetic performances I’ve ever seen considering the crowd had maybe 15 people in it.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Daniel: I would definitely have to rely on my graphic designing skill because at this time I have no plans to persue any education past my Associates of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. I plan on touring. Heavily.
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