Daniel Ash
Encyclopedia
Daniel Gaston Ash is the guitar
ist for Bauhaus
, Tones on Tail
, Love and Rockets
, and solo projects.
s in his teenage years, Ash made a decision to be on a stage in some way. He started playing guitar around the age of 15, but confessed to have been very lazy and only learned three chords and nothing more for about three years. He began playing in cover band
s, often together with future band mates David J
and Kevin Haskins
whom he knew since nursery school
. His first gig
was in the Glasgow Rangers
Workman's Club.
Ash had become friends with Peter Murphy
in his teenage years. Ash went to art school and Murphy went to work in a printing factory. They met up five years later and Ash suggested forming a band
. Rigging up a makeshift rehearsal
space, Ash played an Echo 12 - bar blues, while Murphy sang a series of newspaper
articles. Four weeks later, they formed Bauhaus and recorded "Bela Lugosi's Dead
".
That song, released in 1979, became one of the most influential songs in gothic rock
music, even though they saw themselves as a "dark glam" band and have always distanced themselves from the gothic label. From early on, he was intent on sounding original, and often tried to "make the guitar not sound like a guitar". He worked to develop a guitar style that included other-worldly and atmospheric sounds by the use of an EBow. He typically has used a Telecaster guitar, HH amplifiers and Marshall
4x12 cabinets for his stage gear. Later in his career, he relied heavily on the Fernandes Sustainer system to achieve similar sounds to the EBow.
After nearly five years of recording and performing, Bauhaus broke up and Ash put together Tones on Tail with Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins
. As Ash described them: "We were a motley crew of individuals who essentially wanted to sound like a band from Venus or Mars!" In 1984, Tones on Tail was disbanded, and Ash founded Love and Rockets in 1985 with Haskins and David J
, also of Bauhaus. In an interview in June 2009, Ash emphatically stated that he had no further plans to play with Love and Rockets.
Ash has stated that guitar solos do not interest him much since they rely on a musician's ego. He cares much more for the craft of songwriting and the overall production of a song rather than a focus on guitar or any other single instrument. During the last ten years, he has been experimenting more with electronic music, both with Love and Rockets and solo, limiting the use of guitar as an extra element to the songs. Since the last reformation of Bauhaus however, he has been returning to a more guitar-based rock sound.
In 2008, Bauhaus released Go Away White
(their first studio album in 25 years) and a reunited Love and Rockets played at Coachella Music and Arts Festival.
In June 2009 Ash released a cover of the David Essex
song "Rock On
" featuring singer Zak Ambrose on vocals. Recorded at the Swing House rehearsal and recording complex in Hollywood, the track is on the Swing House Sessions Vol 1 EP. Later in 2009, Ash released a four song EP exclusively through iTunes, entitled "It's A Burn Out".
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist for Bauhaus
Bauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
, Tones on Tail
Tones on Tail
Tones on Tail was an "eclectic" musical side project of Daniel Ash of Bauhaus, along with art school friend, flatmate, and "Bauhaus roadie" Glenn Campling in 1982. After the breakup of Bauhaus in 1983, they were joined by drummer Kevin Haskins. Their music was described by one critic as...
, Love and Rockets
Love and Rockets (band)
Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash , David J , and Kevin Haskins . Former Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy had embarked on a solo career after Bauhaus split in 1983...
, and solo projects.
Life and work
After going to concertConcert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s in his teenage years, Ash made a decision to be on a stage in some way. He started playing guitar around the age of 15, but confessed to have been very lazy and only learned three chords and nothing more for about three years. He began playing in cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
s, often together with future band mates David J
David J
David John Haskins , better known as David J, is a British alternative rock musician. He was the bassist for the gothic rock band Bauhaus and Love and Rockets....
and Kevin Haskins
Kevin Haskins
Kevin Haskins also known as Kevin Michael Dompe is a drummer best known from the British rock group Bauhaus. He was also a member of Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets...
whom he knew since nursery school
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
. His first gig
Gig (musical performance)
Gig is slang for a musical engagement in which musicians are hired. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement", now refers to any aspect of performing such as assisting with performance and attending musical performance...
was in the Glasgow Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
Workman's Club.
Ash had become friends with Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
in his teenage years. Ash went to art school and Murphy went to work in a printing factory. They met up five years later and Ash suggested forming a band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
. Rigging up a makeshift rehearsal
Rehearsal
For other uses, see Rehearsal or Dress rehearsal A rehearsal is a preparatory event in music and theatre that is performed before the official public performance, as a form of practice, and to ensure that all details of the performance are adequately prepared and coordinated for professional...
space, Ash played an Echo 12 - bar blues, while Murphy sang a series of newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
articles. Four weeks later, they formed Bauhaus and recorded "Bela Lugosi's Dead
Bela Lugosi's Dead
"Bela Lugosi's Dead" is a gothic rock song written by the band Bauhaus. The song was the band's first single, released in August 1979, and is often considered to be the first gothic rock record released. It did not enter the UK charts. The b-side features the song "Boys" and some versions also...
".
That song, released in 1979, became one of the most influential songs in gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
music, even though they saw themselves as a "dark glam" band and have always distanced themselves from the gothic label. From early on, he was intent on sounding original, and often tried to "make the guitar not sound like a guitar". He worked to develop a guitar style that included other-worldly and atmospheric sounds by the use of an EBow. He typically has used a Telecaster guitar, HH amplifiers and Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
4x12 cabinets for his stage gear. Later in his career, he relied heavily on the Fernandes Sustainer system to achieve similar sounds to the EBow.
After nearly five years of recording and performing, Bauhaus broke up and Ash put together Tones on Tail with Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins
Kevin Haskins
Kevin Haskins also known as Kevin Michael Dompe is a drummer best known from the British rock group Bauhaus. He was also a member of Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets...
. As Ash described them: "We were a motley crew of individuals who essentially wanted to sound like a band from Venus or Mars!" In 1984, Tones on Tail was disbanded, and Ash founded Love and Rockets in 1985 with Haskins and David J
David J
David John Haskins , better known as David J, is a British alternative rock musician. He was the bassist for the gothic rock band Bauhaus and Love and Rockets....
, also of Bauhaus. In an interview in June 2009, Ash emphatically stated that he had no further plans to play with Love and Rockets.
Ash has stated that guitar solos do not interest him much since they rely on a musician's ego. He cares much more for the craft of songwriting and the overall production of a song rather than a focus on guitar or any other single instrument. During the last ten years, he has been experimenting more with electronic music, both with Love and Rockets and solo, limiting the use of guitar as an extra element to the songs. Since the last reformation of Bauhaus however, he has been returning to a more guitar-based rock sound.
In 2008, Bauhaus released Go Away White
Go Away White
Go Away White is the fifth and final studio album by British gothic rock band Bauhaus. Released on 3 March 2008, it is the band's first album of new material since 1983...
(their first studio album in 25 years) and a reunited Love and Rockets played at Coachella Music and Arts Festival.
In June 2009 Ash released a cover of the David Essex
David Essex
David Essex OBE is an English musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Since the 1970s, Essex has attained nineteen Top 40 singles in the UK , and sixteen Top 40 albums...
song "Rock On
Rock On (David Essex song)
"Rock On" is a song that was composed and sung by English singer/songwriter David Essex in 1973. In March 1974, it reached #1 in Canada on the RPM national Top Singles chart and was a Top 5 song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop-music chart. It was Essex's only Billboard Top 40 hit. The song also...
" featuring singer Zak Ambrose on vocals. Recorded at the Swing House rehearsal and recording complex in Hollywood, the track is on the Swing House Sessions Vol 1 EP. Later in 2009, Ash released a four song EP exclusively through iTunes, entitled "It's A Burn Out".
Studio albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Coming Down Coming Down (album) Coming Down is the first solo album from former Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, and Love and Rockets guitar player Daniel Ash. First single "This Love" was a #2 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the U.S., where his former bandmates Peter Murphy and David J had already scored Top 10 hits...
|
| 1992 | Foolish Thing Desire Foolish Thing Desire Foolish Thing Desire is the second solo album from former Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, and Love and Rockets guitar player Daniel Ash.- Track listing :# Here She Comes# Foolish Thing Desire# Bluebird# Dream Machine# Get Out of Control# The Void# Roll On... Beggars Banquet Records Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels... |
| 2002 | Daniel Ash Daniel Ash (album) Daniel Ash is the third solo album from former Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, and Love and Rockets guitar player Daniel Ash. The album marks a departure from Ash's musical style as he experiments with electronica and dance elements in addition to his well-known groove rock guitar style of earlier works.-... |
| 2005 | Come Alive Come Alive (album) Come Alive is Daniel Ash's first solo live album and was recorded in early 2002 at The Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California, and Slim's in San Francisco, California... |
Singles, EPs and promos
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1991 | "This Love"
|
| 1991 | "Walk This Way"
Vertigo Records Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram... |
| 1992 | "Get Out of Control"
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... /Sony BMG/Beggars Banquet Records Beggars Banquet Records Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels... |
| 199? | "Here She Comes"
|
| 2000 | Daniel Ash EP Daniel Ash EP The Daniel Ash EP is a self-released EP made available in limited quantities directly from Daniel Ash in 2000. The EP contained versions of the then yet to be released Daniel Ash album and the exclusive track "Nosferatu, I Love You" which has, as of 29 November 2008, never seen major release.... |
| 2000 | "Burning Man"
|
| 2001 | "Spooky Spooky (classic song) "Spooky" was originally an instrumental song performed by saxophonist Mike Sharpe , written by Shapiro and Harry Middlebrooks, Jr., which first charted in 1967 hitting #57 on the US pop charts. Its best known version was created by The Classics IV when guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie... " |
| 2002 | Burning Man x6 + 1
|
| 2009 | Rock On Rock On (David Essex song) "Rock On" is a song that was composed and sung by English singer/songwriter David Essex in 1973. In March 1974, it reached #1 in Canada on the RPM national Top Singles chart and was a Top 5 song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop-music chart. It was Essex's only Billboard Top 40 hit. The song also... (Dirty Queen) |
| 2009 | It's A Burn Out
|
Other
- 1991 - "Heaven Is Waiting", a B-side from the "This Love" and "Walk This Way" singles, was included on the Beggars Banquet RecordsBeggars Banquet RecordsBeggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Money Is Not the Answer - 2000 - "Trouble" from Daniel AshDaniel Ash (album)Daniel Ash is the third solo album from former Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, and Love and Rockets guitar player Daniel Ash. The album marks a departure from Ash's musical style as he experiments with electronica and dance elements in addition to his well-known groove rock guitar style of earlier works.-...
appeared in the 2000 film American PsychoAmerican Psycho (film)American Psycho is a 2000 cult thriller film directed by Mary Harron based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel of the same name. Though predominantly a psycho thriller, the film also blends elements of horror, satire, and black comedy... - 2001 - Ash provided vocals and guitar on the title track from DJ KeokiDJ KeokiSuperstar DJ Keoki is an Electronic music,among other genres DJ. Born in El Salvador and raised in Hawaii, Keoki reached 'Superstar' status shortly after moving to New York City.-Bio:...
's album Jealousy - 2003 - Ash recorded a version of "FeverFever (1956 song)"Fever" is a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, who used the pseudonym John Davenport. It was originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1956. It has been covered by numerous artists from various musical genres, notably Peggy Lee in 1958....
" for the FX (TV network) program Nip/TuckNip/TuckNip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
, which was included on the Nip / Tuck: Original TV SoundtrackNip / Tuck: Original TV SoundtrackThe soundtrack CD of the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American television medical drama series created by Ryan Murphy for FX Networks called Nip/Tuck is mixed by the DJ duo Gabriel & Dresden and the collaborations of other artists.... - 2004 - "Come Alive" from Daniel Ash appeared in the computer role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
- 2008 - Ash provided guitar on several tracks from the rock operaRock operaA rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
filmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Repo! The Genetic OperaRepo! The Genetic OperaRepo! The Genetic Opera is a 2008 horror-rock opera musical film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. The film is based on a play written and composed by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich....
.