Sick Drummer Magazine

 

Keep up with Dan here:

www.myspace.com/inheritdisease

www.myspace.com/mcdeathmetal

 

 

I picked up my first drumstick around the age of 11 after a friend taught me a drum beat with no kick drum. That opened up an entire new dimension to music. The drums stuck out to me in every song, and from there I continued by teaching myself how to drum. That same friend gave me drum set and thats when it started. I picked up drumming very quickly, I realized I needed to make my limbs independent  of each other and literally a few weeks after I got my set I was in a local crust punk band. After playing shows for a few months with local punk band Officer Negative, their drummer quit and the band broke up. I was asked to play drums for them and thats when my drumming got serious. I started touring when I was 14, I graduated high school at 16 to be able to tour full time. Eventually Officer Negative's music style changed and we changed our name to The Death Campaign and signed to Solid State Records. The Death Campaign was a hardcore band, slightly on the metal side. I hadn't like punk for years, I first time I heard death metal was when I was in 4th grade, Napalm Death's 'Utopia Banished' made me realize there was more to music then I though but the only available spots for drumming in my city were in a punk band, which was fine with me.

I wanted to start a Death Metal band!! So I asked a couple of my buddies if they were down to play with me. They said yes and thats when I started Akeldama. I believe i was 17 at that time. I didn't progress much while in Akeldama, it was hard to get the rest of the band members to practice. Maybe once a week, if that, for an hour or two. We managed to get on some pretty sick shows, opening for Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus, Hate Eternal, Vile, Exhumed, etc.
Akeldama broke up pretty quickly, because I started a Death Metal band with people who didn't like or listen to Death Metal. I guess it was inevitable, haha.

After that, I continued to jam At The Gates/Amon Amarth stlye music ever couple weeks or so with my buddy Joey Buli from Akeldama, then I had a long break from drumming. I saw that Inherit Disease had signed to Unique Leader Records and I was STOKED for them! They practiced in Santa Barbara(45 mins from Ventura). I sent them a message asking if they needed a band member and to see if I could come to one of their practices. Obie wrote me back saying they were looking for a second guitar player. I told him, i barely played guitar, but that I still wanted to watch them jam and support them. He told me that I should
cruise to a practice and bring my guitar, so I did. They taught me a song and the next week they asked me to join on second guitar(November 2006). I WAS STOKED!!! SOO STOKED!! They ended up releasing the original guitar player and I took his spot as the only Guitar player in the band. We had a mini tour with Devourment and Guttural Secrete but 3 days before our first show, the drummer quit!! I was bummed. I hadn't played drums AT ALL in at least 6 months, but I told them I would take over drums for the band and that was Feb 2007. That was when I got serious about Death Metal drumming.

 

Dan Osborn Interview:



SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?

Dan: I started playing when i was 11, but I didn't get SERIOUS about Death Metal drumming until February of 2007, when I joined Inherit Disease on drums. I am not on the album 'PROCREATING AN APOCALYPSE 'INHERIT DISEASE: www.myspace.com/inheritdisease

 

 

SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Dan: No, I wish I would have!! I never took any lessons either, I wish I would have done that also!! DAMN!!! haha

 

 

SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

Dan: No particular order:

James King (Unmerciful)
Romain Goulon (Disavowed)
Mike Hamilton (Deeds of Flesh)
Mike Fitzgerald (Guttural Secrete)
Torrey Moores (Deprecated)
Jon Engman (Foetopsy)

 

 

SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?

Dan: James King, Romain Goulon, Mike Fitzgerald, Mike Hamilton, Lord Marco. Tightest Sickest Live Drummers. They never disappoint me live!

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation

Dan:
Devourment - 'Molesting the Decapitated'
Severe Torture - 'Misanthropic Carnage'
Inveracity - 'Extermination of Millions'
Unmerciful - 'Unmercifully Beaten'
Rhapsody - 'Symphony of Enchanted Lands'

 

 

SD.com: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Dan: If i have time to warm up, I usually stretch every part of my leg out, do double bass on the floor for about 5 mins, then switch to my kick drums. I just recently realized that its pretty important to stretch the forearms out also, haha.... took me long enough!

 

 

SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when  and where?

Dan: Man, I wish I had a night where I played my best! Two months after I started playing drums for INHERIT DISEASE, I started having this HUGE problem with my left leg. As soon as any part with double bass came in, my leg would just stop. I really can't explain it at all. But it was sooo frustrating! just a few months ago, I was able to figure out a way to get around it, and i haven't had that problem since. I'm hoping to play good on our tours coming up!!

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?

Dan: I dig Zildjian A Custom Projection crashes, and my Paiste signature series Hi-Hats are the best! My old school  Zildjian Mega Bell ride is awesome! I'm yet to find the right splashes and china's. To be Honest I haven't played on many different drum kits. I like my Yamaha set a lot, but its getting old and falling apart. I'm really not to sure what kit I will get next. I love my Axis pedals, and I really liked my old Tama Iron Cobras.

 

 

SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be...

Dan: Honestly, I would say... NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER EVER try to play drums beyond your speed abilities Live or on a Recording. It is WAY better, in my opinion, to play tight and solid, then to try to be the fastest. Practicing is different, always push yourself in every way, speed, stamina, dynamics etc.... Also, PLEASE stay away from the 'Studio Magic' when it comes to kick drums. There really isn't anything more disappointing then hearing an album with sick drumming, then to see the band live and the kick drum is a total mess, I HATE IT SOOOOO MUCH!!!

 

 

SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?

Dan: John Longstreth was insane when I saw Origin when they were touring for their Self Titled album. Also I remember being blown away by Max Kolesne when I saw KRISIUN when they were touring for their "Conquerors of Armageddon" album.

 

 

SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?

Dan: A personal goal, which I have started the process of, is to become a SWAT team member.