Don Clark (musician)

Last updated

Don Clark
Birth nameDonald Christopher Clark
Also known asChuck Knuckles
Born (1975-05-30) May 30, 1975 (age 49)
San Jose, California, United States
Genres Heavy Metal, Christian metal
Occupation(s) Musician, graphic designer
Instrument(s) Guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Years active1992–2009

Donald Christopher Clark [1] (born May 30, 1975) is an American musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and bassist for the Christian metal band, Demon Hunter, which he co-founded with his brother, vocalist Ryan Clark. [2] Before Demon Hunter, Clark was a former guitarist and co-founder of Training for Utopia with Rob Dennler. He appears on Zao's The Lesser Lights of Heaven DVD.

Contents

History

Before forming TFU and Demon Hunter, Clark was in a local band called Offset. [3] Offset never recorded anything and was short lived.

Clark then started Training for Utopia with Rob Dennler. [4] Clark formed the band with the Rob Dennler (vocals), Steve Saxby (bass) and Morley Boyer (drums). Dennler left the band in 1996 and Ryan joined the band. The band released an EP, a Split EP, and two studio albums.

He and his brother formed Demon Hunter in 2000 and released their debut album late the following year through Solid State Records. The group would continue to steadily gain exposure throughout the 2000s.

His grandfather, an artist, helped inspire his grandsons' work in graphic design, which is their true day job. Ryan and Don founded Seattle-based Asterik Studio [5] with their friend Demetre Arges in 2000. The design studio has created CD packaging, poster art, web design, and/or merchandise design for hundreds of artists including Poison the Well, Liz Phair, P.O.D., and The White Stripes; however, Clark also notes that he is not a fine artist and that such work is typically outsourced. Based on their design experience, Don and Ryan authored a chapter in the book New Masters of Photoshop, Volume 2 ( ISBN   1590593154). In 2007, the brothers had announced that they were leaving Asterik to start Invisible Creature. [6]

Clark was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album packaging for The Folds' Secrets Keep You Sick. He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and two children.

On August 12, 2009 in Seattle, Washington, at El Corazón, Demon Hunter announced that Don Clark had left the band to pursue his career in graphic design and to be with his family.

In an interview with Matt Johnson Clark stated that, he, Don & Ryan, and Nathan Burke formed a project called Deathbed Atheist. [7] Clark quit the band to focus on life and work. [7]

Discography

Training for Utopia
Demon Hunter

List of design works

YearArtistAlbumCredit(s)
1996Focal PointNeglected (EP)Layout, design [8]
Focal PointSuffering of the MassesLayout, design [9]
1997 Eighteen Visions Lifeless (EP)Layout [10]
Torn ApartNothing Is Permanent....Design, layout [11]
Training for UtopiaThe Falling Cycle (EP)Artwork (cover concept) [12]
UnconqueredYou Say Moderation, I Scream Prohibition!Layout [13]
1998Training for UtopiaPlastic Soul ImpalementLayout, design [14]
1999 Stretch Arm Strong Rituals of LifeArt direction, design [15]
Through the Eyes of KatelynYour Role Model's DeadLayout, design [16]
Spitfire The Dead Next DoorArt direction, design [17]
2000 Embodyment The Narrow Scope of Things Art direction [18]
AP2 Suspension of Disbelief Art direction, layout [19]
2001 God Forbid Determination Art direction, design [20]
The Juliana Theory Music from Another Room (EP) Layout [21]
VariousHappy Christmas Vol. 3Art direction [22]
2002 Cherryholmes Dressed for SuccessPhotography [23]
Soul Embraced This Is My Blood Layout, design [24]
Poison the Well Tear from the Red Artwork, design [25]
VariousStafcatorce SoundandcultureDesign [26]
Poison the WellTear from the Road (DVD)Artwork, design concept [27]
2006 Atreyu A Death-Grip on Yesterday Artwork, layout [28]
Twelve Gauge Valentine Shock Value Design [29]
Kutless Live from Portland Design [30]
2007 Drop Dead, Gorgeous "They'll Never Get Me (Word With You)"Art direction [31]
VariousCountry ChristmasDesign, illustration [32]
Mnemic Passenger Design [33]
John Reuben Word of Mouth Design [34]
Jackson WatersCome UndoneDesign [35]
Machine Head The Blackening Design (special edition package) [36]
Chasing Victory FiendsDesign [37]
Chris Cornell Carry On Design [38]
Pierce the Veil A Flair for the Dramatic Design [39]
Seven Places GlowingDesign [40]
Drop Dead, GorgeousWorse Than a Fairy TaleDesign [41]
Foo Fighters "The Pretender"Art direction, design [42]
Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace Art direction, design [43]
Falling Up Captiva Design [44]
Foo Fighters"Long Road to Ruin"Art direction, design [45]
2008Bullet for My Valentine Scream Aim Fire Illustration [46]
Advent Remove the Earth Design [47]
The Out Circuit Pierce The Empire With A SoundIllustration, design [48]
Our Last Night The Ghosts Among UsDesign [49]
Pennywise Reason to Believe Illustration, design [50]
Hawk Nelson Hawk Nelson...Is My Friend! Illustration, design [51]
P.O.D. When Angels & Serpents Dance Design [52]
Coalesce 0:12 Revolution in Just Listening Design (reissue) [53]
Since October This Is My Heart Design [54]
Inhale Exhale I Swear... Design [55]
Kutless To Know That You're Alive Design [56]
The Living End White Noise Art direction, design [57]
Various Kurt Cobain: About a Son Design (CD Packaging) [58]
Starflyer 59 Dial M Design [59]
The Red Shore Unconsecrated Design [60]
2009Coalesce Ox Design [61]
Coalesce OXEP Design [62]
2010 Sing It Loud Everything Collide Design [63]
The Red ShoreThe Avarice of ManArt direction, design [64]
Young the Giant Young the Giant Design [65]
2014 Propaganda Crimson Cord Art direction, design [66]
Jackie Hill Perry The Art of JoyArt direction, design [67]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zao (American band)</span> American metalcore band

Zao is an American metalcore band founded in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and later relocated to Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in March 1993, Zao has hosted several musicians and endured numerous roster changes to the point where no original members remain. Former drummer Jesse Smith, vocalist Dan Weyandt, and guitarists Scott Mellinger and Russ Cogdell are seen by some fans as the "core" of Zao, with the current line up being the longest running in the band's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demon Hunter (band)</span> American metal band

Demon Hunter is an American Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington, formed by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark in 2000. Ryan is the band's only remaining original member, as Don left in 2009. As of the 2010s, the band has sold over 600,000 albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solid State Records</span> American record label

Solid State Records is a metalcore record label, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore punk and heavy metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, it signed several bands with Christian members which don't label themselves as Christian bands, including Stretch Arm Strong, Gwen Stacy, He Is Legend, the Famine, Training for Utopia, and the Agony Scene.

<i>Demon Hunter</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Demon Hunter

Demon Hunter is the debut studio album by American Christian metal band Demon Hunter. It was released on Solid State Records on October 22, 2002.

<i>Summer of Darkness</i> 2004 studio album by Demon Hunter

Summer of Darkness is the second studio album by American Christian metal band Demon Hunter, released through Solid State on May 4, 2004. In the first week, the album sold 4,247 copies.

<i>The Triptych</i> 2005 studio album by Demon Hunter

The Triptych is the third studio album by American Christian metal band Demon Hunter, released on October 25, 2005. Produced by Aaron Sprinkle and mixed by Machine, The Triptych had three different album covers—implying a traditional triptych—by Dan Seagrave.

<i>Strong Tower</i> 2005 studio album by Kutless

Strong Tower is a worship album released by the Christian rock group Kutless and is also their third studio album. An enhanced deluxe edition of this album was released on March 20, 2007, with additional tracks and the "Strong Tower" live music video. The title track of this record, "Strong Tower", was once in the Top 5 on ChristianRock.net. The album peaked at No. 87 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Billboard Christian Albums. Five years later, in 2010, the album reached the Billboard Catalog Albums chart peaking at No. 39. The album was certified Gold by RIAA in 2009 and is Kutless's best-selling album to date. The official music video for "Strong Tower" came out on YouTube on February 27, 2009, and included lead singer Jon Micah Sumrall, guitarists James Mead and Nick DePartee, bassist Dave Luetkenhoelter and drummer Jeffrey Gilbert.

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

Tom Rothrock is an international musician, composer, record producer, and owner of Bong Load Records. Tom Rothrock has worked with James Blunt, Foo Fighters, Moby, Beck, Badly Drawn Boy, R. L. Burnside, Athlete, Sloan, Gwen Stefani, Motörhead, Elbow, Stevie Nicks, Poison, Elliott Smith, Richard Thompson, and Yonder Mountain String Band. Rothrock has also composed or contributed to soundtracks for notable motion pictures such as About A Boy, Good Will Hunting, Collateral, and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

Coalesce is an American metalcore band formed in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1994. They are considered pioneers of mathcore and were known for its aggressive style of music and reckless live shows. The band broke up in 2010 and has performed several reunion shows since then.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Torres</span> American rock musician

Randy Torres is an American guitarist, percussionist, keyboardist and background vocalist from Seattle. He has previously played for the bands Project 86, a Christian rock group, and Crash Rickshaw. He has filled in as rhythm guitarist for the band Demon Hunter and as keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist and background vocalist for Anberlin on a recent tour. He has worked as a producer/engineer for Aaron Sprinkle, and for the A&R division of Tooth & Nail Records. He is now a composer for film & TV. He currently is working on a project with Ryan Clark called NYVES, funded through Kickstarter.

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

Ethan John Luck is an American musician, producer, multi-instrumentalist and photographer who has played in several bands, most prominently, the ska band The O.C. Supertones, Demon Hunter, Kings of Leon, Morgan Wade, and pop punk band Relient K. He has played on albums for Kutless, Roper, Nikki Clan and Last Tuesday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Sprinkle</span> American record producer

Aaron Sprinkle is an American record producer and musician from Seattle, Washington.

<i>Phenomenon</i> (Thousand Foot Krutch album) 2003 studio album by Thousand Foot Krutch

Phenomenon is the second studio album by Christian rock band Thousand Foot Krutch, being their first project on Tooth & Nail Records. Inspired by acts like Linkin Park and Papa Roach, Phenomenon presents a fusion of nu metal and modern rock. Having been influenced by band frontman Trevor McNevan's "faith and life," the album's lyrics frequently explore Christian faith and contemporary issues from a Christian worldview. The album was released on September 30, 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Clark (musician)</span> American musician (born 1979)

Ryan Curtis Clark is an American musician who also has performed under the stage name Maven. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the Christian metal band Demon Hunter, which he co-founded with his brother, guitarist Don Clark. He was also the frontman for Christian metalcore band Training for Utopia along with being one of the guitarists for Focal Point. He is featured on Zao's The Lesser Lights of Heaven DVD and Mark Salomon's Podcast, Never Was.

Training for Utopia, also stylized as TFU, is an American metalcore band, initially active from 1996 to 2000.

<i>Live from Portland</i> 2006 live album by Kutless

Live from Portland is the first live album by the Christian rock band Kutless. It was released on December 5, 2006. It was recorded on March 16, 2006, in the band's hometown of Portland, Oregon. The album comes with a CD of the concert's audio, and a DVD with the concert itself. The DVD is slightly longer than the CD, including drum solos from drummer Jeffrey Gilbert. The DVD also contains the band's music video for "Shut Me Out", and a documentary about the show and the band being on tour. This is the band's last release with longtime guitarist Ryan Shrout, though his last studio album with them was Hearts of the Innocent.

Invisible Creature is an illustration and graphic design studio based in Seattle, Washington. It is run by brothers Don and Ryan Clark and was formed in 2006. Don and Ryan are also the co-founders of Asterik Studio (2000-2008). Clients include: NASA, Pixar, Target, Apple, USPS, LEGO, Warby Parker, Cinerama, etc. Don is also Art Director at Canlis restaurant in Seattle.Some of the studio's designs are highlighted in the two brothers' book "Face the Music: Twenty Years of Album Art". The book highlights Invisible Creature's work in album design and the meaning behind some of their more well known works.

The Ascendicate, originally known as The 7 Method is a Christian metal band from High Point, North Carolina. The band formed in 1999, but went on hiatus in 2012. The band put out tracks of one of their albums, which fell into the hands of Jimmy Ryan (Haste the Day, Trenches) and Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter, Training for Utopia), and the band signed to Solid State Records. They have shared stages with Staple, Extol, Alien Ant Farm, Disciple, Project 86, and Pillar. Guitarist Ryan Helm joined Demon Hunter, and then formed Damien Deadson.

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

Daniel Weyandt is the vocalist of the American metalcore band, Zao. He was also the bassist for Seasons in the Field and current bassist for Lonely//Ghost//Parade. Weyandt is also a tattoo artist and owns a shop in his hometown, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Kris McCaddon is an American musician. He was the second guitarist for the metalcore band Society's Finest and lead guitarist for Demon Hunter. He was also the vocalist for the bands Embodyment and The Famine. Since McCaddon left the Famine in 2010, he has not been active in the music industry as a recording or performing artist.

References

  1. "AS WE WEPT". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  2. Wilson, MacKenzie. "Biography: Demon Hunter". AllMusic . Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  3. Decibel Magazine Archived April 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Consumer Credit Counseling Service". Asterikstudio.com. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  5. "Asterik Turns Invisible". HM News Update: Week Ending 1-27. HM. January 27, 2007. Archived from the original on February 12, 2007. Retrieved February 25, 2007.
  6. 1 2
  7. Focal Point – Neglected in Discogs
  8. Focal Point – Suffering Of The Masses in Discogs
  9. Eighteen Visions – Lifeless in Discogs
  10. Torn Apart – Nothing Is Permanent.... in Discogs
  11. Training For Utopia – The Falling Cycle in Discogs
  12. Unconquered – You Say Moderation, I Scream Prohibition! in Discogs
  13. Training For Utopia – Plastic Soul Impalement in Discogs
  14. Stretch Arm Strong – Rituals Of Life in Discogs
  15. Through The Eyes Of Katelyn – Your Role Model's Dead in Discogs
  16. Spitfire (5) – The Dead Next Door in Discogs
  17. Embodyment – The Narrow Scope Of Things in Discogs
  18. AP2 – Suspension Of Disbelief in Discogs
  19. God Forbid – Determination in Discogs
  20. The Juliana Theory – Music From Another Room in Discogs
  21. Various – Happy Christmas Vol. 3 in Discogs
  22. The Cherryholmes Family Band* – Dressed For Success in Discogs
  23. Soul Embraced – This Is My Blood in Discogs
  24. Poison The Well – Tear From The Red in Discogs
  25. Various – Stafcatorce Soundandculture in Discogs
  26. Poison The Well – Tear From The Road in Discogs
  27. Atreyu – A Death-Grip On Yesterday in Discogs
  28. Twelve Gauge Valentine – Shock Value in Discogs
  29. Kutless – Live From Portland in Discogs
  30. Drop Dead, Gorgeous – They'll Never Get Me (Word With You) in Discogs
  31. Various – Country Christmas in Discogs
  32. Mnemic – Passenger in Discogs
  33. John Reuben – Word Of Mouth in Discogs
  34. Jackson Waters – Come Undone in Discogs
  35. Machine Head (3) – The Blackening in Discogs
  36. Chasing Victory – Fiends in Discogs
  37. Chris Cornell – Carry On in Discogs
  38. Pierce The Veil – A Flair For The Dramatic in Discogs
  39. Seven Places – Glowing in Discogs
  40. Drop Dead, Gorgeous – Worse Than A Fairy Tale in Discogs
  41. Foo Fighters – The Pretender in Discogs
  42. Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in Discogs
  43. Falling Up – Captiva in Discogs
  44. Foo Fighters – Long Road To Ruin in Discogs
  45. Bullet For My Valentine – Scream Aim Fire in Discogs
  46. Advent – Remove The Earth in Discogs
  47. The Out_Circuit – Pierce The Empire With A Sound in Discogs
  48. Our Last Night – The Ghosts Among Us in Discogs
  49. Pennywise – Reason To Believe in Discogs
  50. Hawk Nelson – ... Is My Friend in Discogs
  51. P.O.D. – When Angels & Serpents Dance in Discogs
  52. Coalesce – 012:2 in Discogs
  53. Since October – This Is My Heart in Discogs
  54. Inhɐle/Exhɐle* – I Swear... in Discogs
  55. Kutless – To Know That You're Alive in Discogs
  56. The Living End – White Noise in Discogs
  57. Various – Kurt Cobain: About A Son (Music From The Motion Picture) in Discogs
  58. Starflyer 59 – Dial M in Discogs
  59. The Red Shore – Unconsecrated in Discogs
  60. Coalesce – Ox in Discogs
  61. Coalesce – OXEP in Discogs
  62. SingItLoud* – Everything Collide in Discogs
  63. The Red Shore – The Avarice Of Man in Discogs
  64. Young The Giant – Young The Giant in Discogs
  65. Propaganda (2) – Crimson Cord in Discogs
  66. Jackie Hill Perry – The Art Of Joy in Discogs