Dan Cunneen

Last updated
Dan Cunneen
Dan Cunneen (2024).jpg
Cunneen performing as Dan Steely, 2024
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Robert Cunneen
Also known asDan Steely, DJ Diamondan, The Russian Dragon
Born (1963-03-14) March 14, 1963 (age 61)
Origin Portland, Oregon
Genres Punk rock, rock, heavy metal, soul, lounge music
Occupation(s) Musician
Songwriter
Disc jockey
Graphic designer
Screen printer
Instrument(s) Vocals, drums, guitar, bass
Years active1982–present
LabelsFatal Erection, Highgate, New Weave, Empty, Sub Pop, Rendezvous Recordings, Estrus, V2, Southern Lord, ORANJ
Website dan-steely.com

Dan Cunneen (aka Dan Steely) is an American musician, [1] songwriter, [1] disc jockey, screen printer and graphic designer [2] originally from Portland, Oregon, United States. He is best known for his drumming with the 1980s Portland bands Final Warning and The Obituaries, as well as the 1990s Seattle bands Zipgun and Nightcaps. [3] In 2020, Cunneen began recording under the moniker Dan Steely. He occasionally plays drums with the Perkins Coie Band (aka PCBs), the in house band for the Seattle law firm Perkins Coie. [4] As Dan Steely, Cunneen is currently the lead singer and principal songwriter for the Seattle-based band Roxbury Saints.

Contents

On January 3, 2015, Cunneen was ordained as a minister in the Universal Life Church. [5]

Musician

Cunneen formed his first band, Final Warning, in 1982 with Jeff “Simon” Simoncini, bassist Tim Paul and vocalist Jeff Paul. Final Warning was notable for its anti-war political themes and as one of the early hardcore bands to incorporate heavy metal into their sound. [6] [7]

After Final Warning broke up in 1987, Cunneen played drums with Portland-based folk-rock singer songwriter Lew Jones. [8] Later that year, he joined the punk, rock, and blues band, The Obituaries, [9] a significant part of the 1980s Portland underground scene alongside bands like Napalm Beach, Dead Moon, and Poison Idea. [9] Cunneen played drums and co-wrote one song on The Obituaries EP, but left the band mid-tour in 1989.

After relocating to Seattle in 1991, Cunneen formed the punk band Zipgun with guitarist Neil Rogers, singer Robb Clarke and bassist Mark Wooten. Zipgun released three singles and two full-length albums on Pacific Northwest independent record label Empty Records and several singles on various labels. [10] Zipgun toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada and appeared in the Doug Pray film Hype!, which chronicled Seattle Grunge music scene of the 1990s.

Following Zipgun's dissolution in 1995, Cunneen formed and led the Seattle-based lounge band, Nightcaps with vocalist Theresa Hannam, guitarist Garth Brandenburg and bassist William Herzog. Nightcaps were an integral part of the mid 1990s Lounge music resurgence that included bands such as Combustible Edison, Squirrel Nut Zippers and Love Jones. The Nightcaps were known for avoiding irony and kitsch. [11]

In 2011, Rendezvous Recordings released Cunneen's "The Answer b/w Shoot & Share" solo 7-inch single. He described the two songs as "Black comedy metal, combining lyrical irony with metallic garage-punk musical sensibilities." [12]

In 2020, under the name "Dan Steely", Cunneen released a single and music video of the Electric Light Orchestra song "Showdown." The seven-inch single's B-side features a remix of the A-side, "Showdown (DJ Yot Roc Mix)", in the yacht rock style.

Disc jockey

In 1994, using the moniker "DJ DiamonDan," Cunneen began what would become a two-year DJ residency at Linda's Tavern in Seattle. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s he performed at private parties and Seattle venues such as Re-bar, the Baltic Room, Moore Theater and the Capitol Club. [13] Cunneen continues to occasionally disc jockey at clubs and private events using the name "DJ Dan Steely."

Graphic design

Cunneen was art director and designer for many of the commercial releases and promotional material for the bands he played in. [14] In 2016, he founded the Seattle-based company ORANJ Custom Printing.

Discography

with Final Warning

with Lew Jones

with Obituaries

with Zipgun

with Nightcaps

Dan Cunneen

Dan Steely

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steely Dan</span> American rock band

Steely Dan is an American rock band formed in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 1971 by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Originally having a full band lineup, Becker and Fagen chose to stop playing live by the end of 1974 and continued Steely Dan as a studio-only duo, utilizing a revolving cast of session musicians. Rolling Stone has called them "the perfect musical antiheroes for the seventies".

<i>Gaucho</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Steely Dan

Gaucho is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Steely Dan, released by MCA Records on November 21, 1980. The album marked a significant stylistic shift for the band, with more focus on rhythm and atmosphere than their earlier work, but the recording sessions demonstrated the group's typical obsessive nature and perfectionism, as they used at least 42 different musicians, spent over a year in the studio, and far exceeded the original monetary advance given by the record label. At the 24th Annual Grammy Awards, Gaucho won Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical, and was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

<i>Two Against Nature</i> 2000 studio album by Steely Dan

Two Against Nature is the eighth studio album by American rock band Steely Dan. Their first studio album in 20 years, it was recorded from 1997 to 1999 and released on February 29, 2000, by Giant Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowcard</span> Rock band from Jacksonville, Florida

Yellowcard is an American rock band that formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1997. The lineup currently consists of lead singer Ryan Key, lead guitarist Ryan Mendez, bassist Josh Portman and violinist Sean Mackin. Primarily a pop-punk group, their music is recognized for having a distinct and unique sound in its genre due to their prominent use of a violin. The group's most-recognized singles include "Ocean Avenue", "Only One", and "Lights and Sounds". Released in 2003, "Ocean Avenue" and its parent album of the same name are both certified double platinum and platinum in the US respectively by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); "Only One" and the band's 2006 album Lights and Sounds have been certified gold. The band has released ten studio albums, with its most recent, Yellowcard, released on September 30, 2016. Following this release and supporting tour, the band broke up. The band reunited in September 2022 for a performance at Riot Fest and embarked on a 20th-anniversary tour for Ocean Avenue in 2023. A new EP, Childhood Eyes, was released on July 21, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poison Idea</span> American punk rock band

Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minus the Bear</span> American indie rock band

Minus the Bear was an American indie rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2001, and comprising members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound was described as "Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics with sophisticated time signature composition."

<i>Blew</i> 1989 EP by Nirvana

"Blew" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the first song on the band's debut album Bleach, released in June 1989 by Sub Pop.

The Fartz were a hardcore punk band that was founded in 1981 and were one of the first well-known bands in their genre from Seattle, Washington. They were signed to Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles Record label. They were notable not only for playing incredibly fast and heavy music, but also for their politically and socially conscious song lyrics that criticized government policies, religious hypocrisy, racism, sexism, and poverty. Throughout their musical career they championed a blue collar, working class perspective on life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.K. Subs</span> English punk rock band

U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. One of the first hardcore punk bands, elements of rhythm and blues music - including harmonica - also remained an occasional element of their work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower</span> American punk/noise band

The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower was an American four-piece noise rock/post-hardcore band from San Diego, California, United States, that formed in 2001. After disbanding in 2006, drummer Brian Hill now plays with The Soft Pack, while singer Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell formed the duo Crocodiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Nichols (recording engineer)</span> American recording engineer, producer, and inventor (1944–2011)

Roger Scott Nichols was an American recording engineer, producer, and inventor.

<i>Surf Goddess</i> 1995 EP by The Queers

Surf Goddess is an EP by the American punk rock band the Queers, released in February 1995 by Lookout! Records. It marked the return of longtime drummer Hugh O'Neill to the band, after a forced leave of absence to deal with heroin addiction. Former Screeching Weasel member Dan Vapid, who had been a member of the Queers in 1994, played on the EP as a guest guitarist. Surf Goddess was the result of band leader Joe King and Lookout! head Larry Livermore being dissatisfied with the production techniques on the band's prior album, 1994's Beat Off, which producer Ben Weasel had insisted on keeping basic. King and Livermore wanted to incorporate overdubbing and other effects which Livermore felt were essential to the Queers' sound. In addition to the title track, which was co-written by Weasel, and the Queers original "Quit Talkin'", the EP includes cover versions of Tommy James and the Shondells's "Mirage" and the Undertones' "Get Over You".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Water (band)</span> American rock band

Sweet Water is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington.

The Obituaries were an American punk, rock, and blues band from Portland, Oregon, United States. The band was most active from 1986 to 1990, although they have played several reunion shows since 2007. Described by Willamette Week writer Jason Simms as "The missing link between The Wipers and Nirvana," the Obituaries are notable as one of the most successful bands in the Pacific Northwest club scene of the late 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightcaps (Seattle band)</span> American lounge band

Nightcaps are an American lounge band from Seattle, Washington. The band was most active from 1995 through 2000, but they continue to play occasionally in the Pacific Northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isles & Glaciers</span> American post-hardcore supergroup

Isles & Glaciers was an American post-hardcore supergroup formed in 2008. They recorded material for their debut EP, The Hearts of Lonely People December 3–13, 2008 in Seattle, Washington and again in April 2009. It was produced by Casey Bates, and was released on March 9, 2010. Even though vocalist Craig Owens stated that the group will not be collaborating or releasing new material again, Vic Fuentes stated that the band may release more material in the future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zipgun</span> Musical artist

ZIPGUN are an American punk rock band from Seattle, Washington, United States, primarily active from 1991 to 1994. The original founding members were: guitarist Neil Rogers, singer Robb Clarke, bassist Mark Wooten and drummer Dan Cunneen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Final Warning</span> American hardcore punk band

Final Warning was a Portland-based hardcore punk band active in the Pacific Northwest from 1982 to 1986. The band was notable for their anti-war political themes and as one of the early hardcore bands to incorporate heavy metal into their sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayer Hawthorne</span> American singer-songwriter and audio engineer

Andrew Mayer Cohen, better known by his stage name Mayer Hawthorne, is an American singer, producer, songwriter, arranger, audio engineer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles, California. Cohen performs and records in the groups Tuxedo and Jaded Incorporated and has been nominated for a Grammy award.

Doll Factory is an American electronic rock/post-punk revival band from Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1998 by musicians Garrick Antikajian and Chris Roy, the band primarily works as a studio-based duo with Antikajian and Roy handling all writing, performance, and production duties, with additional musicians added to the lineup for live performances.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dan Cunneen | Album Discography". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "Dan Cunneen". Dancunneen.carbonmade.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Dan Cunneen". Grunnenrocks.nl. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Band from local law firm booked for a big gig". The Seattle Times . 15 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "I Am Holy". Dancunneen.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Punk's Not Dead". Wweek.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  7. ↑ "Article Archives - Portland Mercury, News, Entertainment, Trouble". Portland Mercury . Archived from the original on 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  8. ↑ says, Rob Nelson. "History of Portland Rock 4". TwoLouiesMagazine.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  9. 1 2 "History of Portland Rock 5". TwoLouiesMagazine.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Zipgun". Discogs.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  11. ↑ Casey Jarman (2012-03-29). "Nightcaps". Wweek.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  12. ↑ "Answer B/W Shoot &Share!". Amazon. 2011.
  13. ↑ "Last Night a DJ Almost Took His Life". Dancunneen.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  14. ↑ "ORANJ Posters". Theoranjgroup.com. 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.