Interview With Drummer Danny Walker

Intro:

When D.R.I (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) played at Launchpad, my bestie Yazmin got us on the list. We headbanged our hearts out, got caught in a mosh, and met a whole lot of new friends. But the best part of all? I briefly got to meet Danny Walker! You may know him from his past bands, including Cephalic Carnage, Phobia, Intronaut, Job For A Cowboy, Exhumed, or even Strangled by Strangulation, as well as current projects, such as Language of Flowers, Thornlord, and of course, D.R.I! We only had time for a quick hello, but still, I was starstruck. A few weeks later, I figured, hell, if he’s nice enough to greet a peasant commoner such as myself, maybe he’d be gracious enough to allow me the honor of an interview? I was pleasantly surprised when he actually agreed! Not only is he one of the most talented drummers in the industry, but he’s also a nice guy and just a standup dude overall! Read on to see our conversations about music, touring, and the punk rock lifestyle.

Interview:

When did you first start playing the drums? 

I first started playing on my mom’s pots and pans when I was about six years old. My parents bought me my first drum set when I was eight. So that would’ve been around 1989.

Who are your musical inspirations?

There are so many. Growing up, I was inspired by metal drummers like Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Igor Cavalera (Sepultura), Sean Reinert (Cynic/Death), Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel/Death), and Tomas Haake (Meshuggah). I also drew a lot of influence from punk drummers such as Bill Stevenson (Descendents), Felix Griffin (D.R.I.), Byron McMackin (Pennywise), and Lucky Lehrer (Circle Jerks). Beyond that, I’ve always admired players like Tim Alexander (Primus), Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Neil Peart (Rush), and Bill Bruford (King Crimson). Each brought something unique to the table and helped shape my approach to drumming.

What was your favorite concert moment? Why was it so special and memorable? 

Seeing Tool for the first time was absolutely mind blowing, both visually and sonically. Their light show and visuals are on another level. Meshuggah is always an intense experience, easily the heaviest band in the world. And Neurosis is probably the scariest band I’ve ever seen back in the day. There are honestly too many great shows and unforgettable experiences to count.

On the flip side of that coin: What was the worst or most stressful moment during a performance? How did you handle it? 

In 2007, I was performing with Intronaut in Durango, Spain, and my cymbals kept falling off the wobbly drum riser. I had to adapt and make do with whatever was still standing each time they fell. The stage crew tried taping them down, but eventually, they just held them in place by hand. Back in 2005, I was playing with Phobia in Monterrey, Mexico, and the drum backline was a nightmare. The kick drum had only one spur, none of the cymbal stands had wing nuts, so the cymbals kept flying off. My drum throne was literally a cinder block with a small cushion on top. I just adapted and kept playing. haha.

Where is the best place to tour? 

I personally prefer touring in Europe. The hospitality is amazing, and I love experiencing the variety of cultures, food, and all the incredible architecture. Every city has its own unique vibe.

What can you tell me about your current bands? DRI, Cephalic Carnage, etc. 

I joined DRI at the beginning of last year and toured with them nonstop all year. I’m currently on the road with them now. They are my top priority at the moment. Cephalic Carnage are great friends of mine. I have known them for ages. I started filling in as their drummer back in 2014 and have been on and off with them ever since. Whenever they are in a pinch and I am available, I play festivals and small tours with them. They don’t really have a permanent drummer right now, but I would love to be that guy. I’ve also played in several newer projects like Avitus, Language of Flowers, and the recently revived old band Thornlord. Avitus is a progressive metal project that features heavy riffs and complex, odd polyrhythmic drum patterns. We’ve released two EPs so far. Language of Flowers is another progressive metal band based in New York, featuring members of Circuit of Suns and Fall of the Albatross. Our sound is very melodic and melancholy, and we’ve released one full-length album. Thornlord started back in 2002 and was revived in 2023. It’s technical death metal with progressive and black metal influences. We released an EP last year, and we also have a full-length album from 2008.

What about your previous projects? Intronaut, Phobia, Exhumed, Cloudkicker, etc. 

Intronaut is a progressive metal band I co-founded in 2004. We toured all over the world with some incredible bands and released five full-length albums and two EPs. This band really defined my playing. Unfortunately, we parted ways in 2018. Phobia is a grindcore band I’ve played with on and off since 2004, for about 15 years. I recorded three full-length albums and two split albums with them. I teamed up with Exhumed in 2003 to fill in after Col Jones left the band. I toured with them in 2003 and 2004 but left to focus on my band Uphill Battle at the time. In 2010, I rejoined Exhumed, played on the All Guts, No Glory album, did some touring, and eventually left to focus on Intronaut. Cloudkicker is a post-rock and progressive metal instrumental solo project by Ben Sharp. Intronaut served as his live backing band. We toured together in 2014 and released a live record.

As a fan of yours, I respect you as a musician, but I also resonate with your political outlook and punk rock philosophy.  How do you feel about the current state of society? 

Thanks, I appreciate that. Honestly, society feels pretty messed up right now. There’s a lot of division, injustice, and problems everywhere. But I also see people pushing back and fighting for change, which gives me hope. Punk rock is all about questioning authority and standing up for what’s right. I believe we need more empathy and understanding, not division. Traveling has shown me how connected we all are, and that’s something we need to remember.

Do you have any advice for all the drummers out there? How to practice, tips on performing, etc. 

My advice for drummers is to focus on consistency and quality over quantity. Practice regularly even if it is just for a short time each day. Work on your timing, groove, and dynamics as these are the foundation of everything. When it comes to performing, stay relaxed and listen to the band. Playing tight with the group is much more important than showing off your chops. Also be adaptable because things do not always go as planned, so be ready to adjust on the fly. And most importantly, enjoy what you do. Passion is what drives improvement and keeps you going through the tough times.

Finally: What do you want to say to your fans?

I want to sincerely thank all the fans who have stood by me through everything. It hasn’t always been easy, and there’s been a lot of ups and downs along the way. Your support and loyalty, especially during the toughest times, mean more than words can say. Knowing that you believe in me and the music I create gives me the strength to keep moving forward and growing as an artist. I’m truly grateful to have such an amazing community behind me.