Danko Jones Artistfacts

1996 - Present
Danko JonesVocals/Guitar1996 -
John CalabreseBass1996 -
Atom WillardDrums2011 -
The band formed in 1996 in Toronto, Canada. "Danko Jones" is the name of both their frontman and the group.
The band was hesitant to release records, initially wanting to build their reputation as a live band. They toured for two years supporting American Rock bands such as Nashville Pussy and Blonde Redhead, before finally releasing a self-titled EP in 1998.
They released their debut album Born a Lion in 2002, eight years after the band's formation. They promoted the album with European and Canadian tours, as well as supporting Rolling Stones on their Licks Tour. In 2003, the album was nominated for a Juno award for Best Rock Album.
Their sophomore record We Sweat Blood was released in 2003 and was also nominated for a Juno award for Best Rock Album. It is lead singer Danko Jones' favorite of the band's albums.
"Full of Regret," the lead single from their 2010 album Below the Belt, is their most successful single, reaching #2 on the Canadian Rock/Alternative Chart; it was also their only single to break the Canadian Hot 100, charting at # 96. This was surely helped by the music video, which features Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood, Selma Blair, and Lemmy, bassist and lead vocalist for British rock band Motorhead.
Danko Jones has seen the departure of five drummers. The band's current drummer, Adam Willard, performed in American Punk band The Offspring and was a founding member of American Alternative Rock group Angels & Airwaves.
Canadian journalist Stuart Berman wrote a book about the band called Too Much Trouble: A Very Oral History of Danko Jones. It was published in October 2012.
Lead singer Danko Jones has hosted a syndicated radio show called The Magical World of Rock, and released a spoken word album of the same name in 2004. He also writes a weekly column for The Huffington Post, along with columns in several European music magazines.
Danko (the singer) describes their music as "meat and potatoes Rock & Roll." In our 2013 interview, he explained that many bands in this genre are very derivative, and he tries to keep their songs fresh by looking at acts in other styles. "I also try to look at how someone like Elvis Costello would take a phrase or a riff and turn it on its head the way he does, in a way that you weren't expecting," he said.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

American PieDon McLean

Don McLean's "American Pie" starts in mono and gradually goes to stereo. It isn't full stereo until the end of the song, which is over 8 minutes long.

Hangin' ToughNew Kids On The Block

"Hangin' Tough" came at the peak of New Kids On The Block mania (1988). Their writer/producer Maurice Starr wrote it about the struggles the band faced early on. It was a #1 hit in both America and the UK.

Scooby SnacksFun Lovin' Criminals

The Scooby Snacks in the Fun Lovin' Criminals song aren't dog treats, they're Valium pills.

The Girl Is MineMichael Jackson

The first single from the Thriller album was "The Girl Is Mine," chosen over "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" because it was a duet with Paul McCartney and thus guaranteed airplay.

CenterfieldJohn Fogerty

"Centerfield" was the first song enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

Love Never Felt So GoodMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson became the first artist in history to score Top 10 hits in five consecutive decades on the Hot 100 when "Love Never Felt So Good" landed at #9 on the chart dated May 31, 2014.