Dante Adrian White

Last updated

Dante Adrian White aka "Dante Aliano", "Dante Adrian", "Dante White-Aliano", and "Dante White", is a Rock and Roll and Alternative songwriter, vocalist, guitar player and recording artist from Monterey, California. His work has appeared on over 80 recordings on several record labels, including Gold Standard Laboratories, Dim Mak, Sympathy For The Record Industry, Infrasonic Sound, 10,000 Baby Names, Cold Sweat and Flapping Jet. He is currently the leader of the Los Angeles based band, Dante Vs Zombies. Previously, he was the main songwriter, vocalist and guitar player for The Starlite Desperation as well as the vocalist for The Lost Kids and a guitar player for The Detroit Cobras. He currently lives in Los Angeles, Ca.

Alternative rock is a style of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. In this instance, the word "alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream rock music. The term's original meaning was broader, referring to a generation of musicians unified by their collective debt to either the musical style or simply the independent, DIY ethos of punk rock, which in the late 1970s laid the groundwork for alternative music. At times, "alternative" has been used as a catch-all description for music from underground rock artists that receives mainstream recognition, or for any music, whether rock or not, that is seen to be descended from punk rock.

California State of the United States of America

California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.6 million residents, California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions, with 18.7 million and 9.7 million residents respectively. Los Angeles is California's most populous city, and the country's second most populous, after New York City. California also has the nation's most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, San Bernardino County. The City and County of San Francisco is both the country's second-most densely populated major city after New York City and the fifth-most densely populated county, behind only four of the five New York City boroughs.

Gold Standard Laboratories or GSL was an independent record label which was founded in 1993 in Boulder, Colorado by Sonny Kay. In 2000, it was relocated to San Diego, California, United States, and two years later, to Los Angeles. It was headquartered in L.A. until closing its doors on October 29, 2007.

Contents

Early years

White's family moved often within Monterey, Santa Cruz, eventually settling in East Asia. He began playing marimba at the age of 8. At age 11, he abandoned the marimba in favor of the Clarinet, which he played until shortly after his father gave him his first guitar, a short scale Peavey electric, on his 13th birthday. In the 8th grade, he began singing in his school choir. Throughout high school and college, he continued teaching himself guitar and bass, occasionally dabbling in the formal study of music theory, as well as choral singing, film, creative writing and theater.

Santa Cruz County, California County in California

Santa Cruz County, California, officially the County of Santa Cruz, is a county on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz.

Marimba percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with mallets

The marimba is a percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with yarn or rubber mallets to produce musical tones. Resonators or pipes suspended underneath the bars amplify their sound. The bars of a chromatic marimba are arranged like the keys of a piano, with the groups of two and three accidentals raised vertically, overlapping the natural bars to aid the performer both visually and physically. This instrument is a type of idiophone, but with a more resonant and lower-pitched tessitura than the xylophone. A person who plays the marimba is called a marimbist or a marimba player.

Clarinet type of woodwind instrument

The clarinet is a musical-instrument family belonging to the group known as the woodwind instruments. It has a single-reed mouthpiece, a straight, cylindrical tube with an almost cylindrical bore, and a flared bell. A person who plays a clarinet is called a clarinetist.

The Starlite Desperation

In November 1995, White formed The Starlite Desperation with Jeff Ehrenberg on drums and Dana Lacono sharing songwriting and guitar duties. Often described as a blend of glam rock, post-punk, garage rock, and psychedelic music, the band went through numerous line up changes, toured the United States and Europe and released 3 7" singles, 1 EP and 4 full length CD/LPs. From 1999-2000 they lived in Detroit, Michigan. In 2001, they relocated to Los Angeles, Ca.

The Starlite Desperation is a rock band originally from Monterey, California. Combining elements of garage rock, punk, psychedelic music, goth rock, post punk, glam rock and 60's Pop. They released three full length records, 1 EP, and 3 singles, on several labels, including Gold Standard Laboratories. The founding members were Dante Adrian White, Jeff Ehrenberg, and Dana Lacono. In 1999, the band relocated to Detroit, Michigan and then to Los Angeles, California in 2002. In 2004, their song Born To Be Dizzy was used to close the film, The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, directed by Asia Argento. The band toured extensively in The United States, Canada and Europe with numerous groups, including The Make-Up, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Rapture, The International Noise Conspiracy, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Dirtbombs, The Donnas, The Ponys, and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The group was active from 1995-2008.

Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter. Glam artists drew on diverse sources across music and throwaway pop culture, ranging from bubblegum pop and 1950s rock and roll to cabaret, science fiction, and complex art rock. The flamboyant clothing and visual styles of performers were often camp or androgynous, and have been described as playing with nontraditional gender roles. "Glitter rock" was another term used to refer to a more extreme version of glam.

Post-punk is a broad type of rock music that emerged from the punk movement of the 1970s, in which artists departed from the simplicity and traditionalism of punk rock to adopt a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and diverse influences. Inspired by punk's energy and DIY ethic but determined to break from rock cliches, artists experimented with sources including electronic music and black styles like dub, funk, free jazz, and disco; novel recording and production techniques; and ideas from art and politics, including critical theory, modernist art, cinema and literature. Communities that produced independent record labels, visual art, multimedia performances and fanzines developed around these pioneering musical scenes, which coalesced in cities such as London, New York, Manchester, Melbourne, Sydney and San Francisco.

Lost Kids

In late 1999, while living in Detroit, Mi. White formed the Lost Kids with Jennifer Pearl, Yasmine Smith (Also of Starlite Desperation), Dave Buick and Ben Blackwell. In 2000, Pearl, White and Smith relocated the band back to Salinas, Ca. After touring the U.S.A. in support of their sole release, the Belle Isle is On fire EP, the group disbanded.

Ben Blackwell is the creator and director of Cass Records, one of two drummers in the Detroit-based rock band the Dirtbombs, a music writer, and a vinyl record collector. He's an employee at Third Man Records and the official archivist of the White Stripes.

Detroit Cobras

White played guitar in The Detroit Cobras for the bulk of the time he lived in Detroit and appears on the Life, Love and Leaving LP as "Dante Aliano".

The Detroit Cobras band that plays garage rock

The Detroit Cobras are an American garage rock band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1994.

Lion Fever

After disbanding The Lost Kids, White and Pearl relocated to Portland, Oregon and formed Lion Fever. Although White co-wrote numerous songs with the band, he quit before the band made any recordings. He is, however, given songwriting credit on the "Lustre" Ep and the "Haunted Water" LP.

Dante Vs Zombies

In September 2009, White began performing and recording under the name Dante Vs Zombies. The single "Yes, I'm Stalking You" was released on Albino Crow Music in October 2009. Current members include Jeff Ehrenberg, Gabriel Hart, Jada Wagensomer, Matt Polley and Laena Geronimo.

Aliases

On record and in the media, White is often credited with different surnames, including Aliano, and Adrian. Aliano is the last name of his step father, and was adopted by White at the age of 7 for use on various academic and legal records. Adrian is White's middle name.

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

White's song "Born To Be Dizzy" , recorded by The Starlite Desperation, and appearing on Violate A Sundae, closes the film, The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things , directed and starring Asia Argento .

<i>The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things</i> 2004 film by Asia Argento

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things is a 2004 drama film co-written and directed by Asia Argento and starring Argento, Jimmy Bennett, Dylan Sprouse, and Cole Sprouse. The screenplay by Argento and Alessandro Magania is based on JT LeRoy's novel of the same name. The film received a limited theatrical release in North America on March 10, 2006.

Asia Argento Italian actress, film director and model

Asia Argento is an Italian actress and director. The daughter of filmmaker Dario Argento, she had roles in the films XXX (2002), Land of the Dead (2005) and Marie Antoinette (2006). She has won two David di Donatello awards for Best Actress for Let's Not Keep in Touch (1994) and Traveling Companion (1996).

Vocal style

White's voice falls within the baritone and tenor ranges and in has been variously compared in reviews to Elvis Presley, Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh , The Gun Club's Jeffrey Lee Pierce , Glen Danzig , Jim Morrison , Duran Duran's Simon LeBon , Mick Jagger , Queen's Freddie Mercury , and Bryan Ferry.

Guitar style

White's self taught and eclectic guitar style has drawn comparisons to Surf Music, The Troggs , Joy Division , The Yardbirds , Chuck Berry , Bo Diddley , The B-52s , The Stooges , The Rolling Stones, Christian Death, The Birthday Party , The Gories , Blue Cheer , Bauhaus , The 13th Floor Elevators and The Jesus and Mary Chain , among others.

Discography

2010 Dante Vs Zombies"Yes, I'm Stalking You" single10,000 Baby Names Songwriter/vocalist/all instruments/Producer

2009 The Starlite Desperation"Take It Personally CD/LP Infrasonic Sound Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Bassist/Co-producer

2006 The Starlite Desperation"Don't Do Time CD Double Zombie Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

2005 The Starlite Desperation/Indian JewelryI Lost My Bees/Going South Split 7" GSL Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

2004 The Starlite DesperationViolate A Sundae EP/CD Cold Sweat/Capitol (Appears as Dante Adrian) Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

2004 Lion FeverHaunted Water LP/CD Dim Mak Co-writer

2003 Lion FeverLustre EP/CD Dim Mak Co-writer

2001 Lost KidsBelle Isle Is On Fire EP/CD GSL Vocalist, Co-writer, Songwriter, Co-Producer
Recorded by Jim Diamond

2001 The Detroit CobrasLife, Love and Leaving CD/LP Sympathy For The Record Industry (Appears as Dante Aliano) Guitar Player

2000 The Starlite DesperationGo Kill Mice CD/LP Flapping Jet (Appears as Dante Adrian) Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

1999 The Starlite DesperationHot For Preacher 7" GSL Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer
Produced by Kid Congo Powers

1998 The Starlite DesperationShow You What A Baby Won't LP/CD GSL Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

1998 The Starlite Desperation/SunshineShut My Door 7" GSL Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

1997 The Starlite DesperationOur Product/It Rhymes With Bitch... 7" Catchpenny Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

Related Research Articles

Greg Ginn American musician

Gregory Regis "Greg" Ginn is an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer, best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976–86, and again in 2003. The band announced another reunion on January 25, 2013. He was born in Tucson, Arizona. Since breaking up Black Flag, Ginn has recorded a few solo albums, and has performed with such bands as October Faction, Gone, Confront James, Mojack, and others. He also owns the Texas-based independent record label, SST, originally begun as an electronics company called Solid State Tuners when he was 12 years old and an amateur radio operator.

Pretty Girls Make Graves was a post-punk band, formed in Seattle in 2001, named after The Smiths' song of the same name. Andrea Zollo and Derek Fudesco had played together previously in The Hookers, as well as The Death Wish Kids and Area 51 along with Dann Gallucci, with whom Derek had formed Murder City Devils. Not long before the Murder City Devils disbanded, Derek and Andrea formed Pretty Girls Make Graves along with Jay, Nick and Nathan. They played the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2004. The band announced its split on 29 January 2007, with their final two shows taking place in Seattle that June.

The Von Bondies American alternative rock band

The Von Bondies were an American alternative rock band active from 1997 to 2011.

Lars Frederiksen American musician

Lars Erik Frederiksen is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer best known as the guitarist and vocalist for the punk rock band Rancid, as well as the frontman of Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and The Old Firm Casuals. In addition, he currently plays guitar in Oxley's Midnight Runners, Stomper 98, and The Last Resort. He was also briefly a member of the UK Subs in 1991. He joined Rancid in 1993 after the band was searching for a second guitar player and was present on their second album Let's Go. He has produced albums for bands such as Dropkick Murphys, Agnostic Front, The Business, Swingin Utters, Marky Ramone and the Intruders, Anti-Heros, Pressure Point, The Forgotten among others. He recently mixed GBH's 2010 album entitled Perfume and Piss, as well as Cock Sparrer's 2007 album "Here We Stand" both alongside Michael Rosen.

Envy (band) rock band

Envy is a Japanese post-hardcore band formed in Tokyo, in 1992. They are signed to Rock Action Records in Europe and Temporary Residence Limited in North America, though originally they worked with Level Plane Records. Initially influential in the post-hardcore and screamo scenes, Envy soon began to employ elements of post-rock in their work as well.

The Undead is an American horror punk band formed in 1980 in the East Village, New York City by Bobby Steele, Chris "Jack" Natz (bass) and Patrick Blanck (drums). They were one of the pioneers in the New York hardcore scene.

The Greenhornes American rock band

The Greenhornes are an American garage rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Craig Fox, bass guitarist Jack Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler. They released their debut album Gun For You in 1999, followed by a self-titled album in 2001. A third studio album, Dual Mono, was released in 2002, with the band taking a small hiatus. The Greenhornes returned in 2005 to release a new EP, East Grand Blues, and a compilation album, Sewed Soles. During this time, Lawrence and Keeler formed The Raconteurs with Detroit musicians and personal friends Jack White and Brendan Benson, leaving very few performances and interaction with Fox. In 2010, the band reunited once again to record a studio album, Four Stars, their first in eight years.

Soledad Brothers (band)

The Soledad Brothers are an American garage rock trio from Maumee, Ohio. Taking strong influence from blues rock, the band consisted of Ben Swank on drums, Johnny Walker on guitar and vocals, and Oliver Henry on sax and guitar. The band produced four albums: Soledad Brothers (2000), Steal Your Soul and Dare Your Spirit to Move (2002), Voice of Treason (2003), and The Hardest Walk (2006).

Das Oath was a thrashcore band originating in The Netherlands. They formed in 1999. After two rehearsals the band recorded their 7" eight song debut in Rotterdam. It was not until a year later when Das Oath started to play shows. With only one 7" released the band hit the road and played all over Europe during the fall of 2000. Upon their return to The Netherlands the band went straight into the studio to record songs for what would become their 9" / 10" record. After the recording session the band started to prepare for their first USA tour slated in December 2000. Shows took place on the Westcoast tour in the USA with Total Fury from Japan. One of the highlights was the show at Gilman in Berkeley with Spazz. The tour barely broke even, yet more tours in Europe and the USA. Meanwhile, the limited 10" version came out for the spring tour on the Eastcoast. The regular 9" version was finally released late 2001. Shortly upon its released it was banned by the distributor for its controversial artwork. Their self-conscious move away from a typical punk rock aesthetic presaged a signing to Dim Mak Records, an extremely varied and commercial label that released Das Oath's next release, their self-titled LP from 2004 which was not received well. A mini-LP saw release in 2006 through Youth Attack, with the compact disc released again by Dim Mak. 2006 also saw the release of a self-titled 11" on Youth Attack/Coalition with the compact disc on 31G and Das Oath's funereal release, a tour-only all-covers split LP with Ampere.

<i>Life, Love and Leaving</i> album by The Detroit Cobras

Life, Love and Leaving is the second album by The Detroit Cobras, released 1 May 2001.

Dim Stars was an alternative rock supergroup active briefly in the early 1990s. The group was composed of bassist Richard Hell of Richard Hell and the Voidoids, guitarist Thurston Moore and drummer Steve Shelley from Sonic Youth, guitarist Don Fleming from Gumball; there was some guitar work by Robert Quine, also of the Voidoids. Their initial release was a limited-edition set of three 7" EPs, which was later released as one CD on compact disc in 1992. This was followed by a full-length album, which was regarded as a showcase for Hell's songwriting abilities. The group did not tour together and essentially disbanded after the release of the LP.

Neil Nathan is an American rock/folk/alt country singer songwriter from New York City. Neil is best known for his folky cover of ELO and The Move's "Do Ya," featured on the Californication Season 2 Soundtrack. His debut album, "The Distance Calls," released in Summer 2010, was produced by Bobby Harlow and features musicians from Queens of The Stone Age, Kid Rock, The Dead Weather, King Tuff, Detroit Cobras, The Paybacks, and The Go.

Mark Steiner & His Problems is a Norwegian-American rock musician, guitarist, songwriter and producer.

Swahili Blonde is an experimental musical project formed in Los Angeles, California in 2009. Founded by former WEAVE! drummer and vocalist Nicole Turley, violinist and bassist Laena Myers-Ionita, Duran Duran bassist John Taylor and multi-instrumentalists Stella Mozgawa and Michael Quinn. Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist and Turley's now ex-husband, John Frusciante, performs guitar on the band's recordings, and did perform alongside the group at their debut performance, while he was briefly a full-time band member.

Curious (Yellow) was a pop, alternative rock band formed in 1987 by Swedish-born Karin Jansson, a singer-songwriter and guitarist, formerly of feminist punk band Pink Champagne. Curious (Yellow) had releases on Red Eye Records – an EP, I Am Curious and an album Charms and Blues. Both were produced by Steve Kilbey of The Church, who was Jansson's domestic partner. The band's name and that of their first release are references to the 1967 Swedish cult film I Am Curious (Yellow).

Jason Crowe "J." Clark is an American musician from Minneapolis, Minnesota who became well known after moving to Seattle, Washington. He has played guitar in Pretty Girls Make Graves, and Killsadie, as well as drums in Sharks Keep Moving and Jaguar Love

Ariel Rechtshaid American record producer

Ariel Rechtshaid is an American record producer, audio engineer, mixing engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. His production, songwriting, and mixing credits include HAIM, Vampire Weekend, Madonna, Usher, Adele, Brandon Flowers, Charli XCX, Kelela, Cass McCombs, Solange Knowles, Tobias Jesso Jr., Murs, Sky Ferreira, We Are Scientists, Kylie Minogue, U2, Glasser, Alex Clare, and Major Lazer. Rechtshaid co-wrote and produced Usher's 2012 single, "Climax", which won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. Rechtshaid was nominated for the 2014 Grammy Award for Producer of the Year and won a Grammy for his production on the Vampire Weekend album Modern Vampires of the City. He also produced the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1-charting single "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's in 2007. Rechtshaid is the former lead singer and guitarist of the ska/pop-punk band The Hippos and the bassist and producer of indie folk-rock group Foreign Born.

Tim David Kelly is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and composer for TV/film. He is the singer, guitarist and songwriter for the alternative rock band Kicking Harold whose still popular song "Gasoline" from Space Age Breakdown was featured as the main theme for five seasons on TLC's automobile make-over show, Overhaulin'. Kelly has written many songs for others, including co-writing "Money For That" for the band Shiny Toy Guns. He has produced several albums, including co-producing Lightning Strikes Again by Dokken. Kelly has composed main themes and music cues used in television and film including Gene Simmons Family Jewels (A&E) & Little Steven's Underground Garage. Kicking Harold released their 5th album, "Red Light District" in 2015 and completed a 25 date American tour as direct support for "The Winery Dogs". In 2017 Kelly opened a new music production studio in Burbank, CA and is currently working again with other artist as well as his own projects.

Static Revenger

Dennis White also known as Static Revenger and Latroit, is a Grammy winning American record producer, songwriter, artist and DJ working with electronic dance music.

References

NME, April 28, 2000

Your Flesh, Issue # 41, 1999

Skyscraper Magazine, Issue #6, Summer 1999

Mishmash Magazine, January 2007

Dusted Magazine, Sept 30, 2008

Buddyhead Magazine, Jan 29 2010

Contact Music.com, May 2004

Ink 19, "Ready To Kill Mice", April, 2000

LA Weekly, August 28, 2008

La Weekly, March 3, 2008

Willamette Weekly, March 29, 2000

Epitonic, 11/29/01, Jesse Ashlock

Dante Adrian White at AllMusic