If you look at Dan Lilker’s band resume, you get a laundry list of bands he’s worked with. One of the masterminds behind Nuclear Assault, Brutal Truth and S.O.D; as well as an original member of thrash giants Anthrax. While filling in for the UK Grindcore Supergroup Lock Up, The New York legend was able to spare a few quick words with Reviewfix.com’s own Chris Butera to talk about his sound, his touring schedule, and how he managed to join Lock Up on tour.
Review Fix: You’re filling in for Shane Embury on bass for this tour. How did this happen?
Dan Lilker: Well, obviously I’ve known these guys for a long time – all the dudes in the band. What actually happened is that Brutal Truth and Lock Up did a show in Japan in October, and the Lock Up guys came to me and said “Hey, do you think you could help us out in February? Because Shane (Embury) overbooked himself. Shane’s very enthusiastic about playing music everywhere he sometimes bites off more than he can chew. Napalm Death is releasing a new album this year and it would be very hard for him to do these dates so do you think you could learn the songs in time to do it?†And I said “Sure.†so that’s how it came about. Helping out your friends.
Review Fix: How long did it take you to learn the songs?
Dan Lilker: I had two months to learn them so I made it happen.
Review Fix: How are your other projects going?
Dan Lilker: Pretty cool. I’m going to Japan Saturday to do a few shows with Nuclear Assault. That’s the only shows we’re doing this year. Brutal Truth is playing some shows in Mexico in early March. And the band I’m in at home in Rochester, Nokturnal Hellstorm, we’re having our album release party sometime next month..
Review Fix: How did you build your long resume of bands that you’ve worked with?
Dan Lilker: Well, aside from helping everyone out ,I’m in my own bands and moving on from Anthrax to new adventures. Just doing it as long as I’ve done it, and like I said guested with people, shit with Autopsy and shit like that. Just getting around having fun and playing metal.
Review Fix: Will there be a new Nuclear Assault album in the future or will it just be shows here and there?
Dan Lilker: Honestly, it’s just shows here and there- our singer has a full-time job. John Connely makes it hard to get together. Plus our drummer is getting ready to retire soon so he’s getting up there. We’re not going to bother getting the energy to write a new record because were not going to do too much more.
Review Fix: What are the chances of an S.O.D. reunion?
Dan Lilker: Probably pretty slim- it’s been like 11 years since that happened. I would do it but it isn’t always up to me so who knows.
Review Fix: What do you use to get that signature sound of yours?
Dan Lilker: Sans Am GT2 it’s a guitar pedal.
Review Fix: How long have you had this?
Dan Lilker: I’ve had it since 1996.
Review Fix: Where did you get it?
Dan Lilker: I probably bought it at Sam Ash or something when I lived in New York
Review Fix: What did you use before you got this pedal?
Dan Lilker: Well, on the S.O.D. stuff I used a pedal they don’t make anymore. I borrowed Scott Ian’s TC Electronics. Other than that I just used various pedals until I found that one.
Review Fix: Who’s your favorite artist to collaborate with?
Dan Lilker: It’s hard to say man, it was fun doing the Autopsy stuff, doing stuff with Chris (Reifert) and those guys. Playing with these guys, getting to play with Nic Barker on drums. It’s hard to say. I can’t really answer that like I would be insulting somebody.
Review Fix: Who’s your favorite band?
Dan Lilker: I don’t know Black Sabbath. I’d say that’s the most fair way to do it.
Review Fix: Speaking of Black Sabbath, how do you feel about what’s going on with Bill Ward?
Dan Lilker: Every band I’ve been in we tried to pay every guy 25 percent. If somebody’s getting underpaid it’s really unfair, because they put in the same effort. I think that really sucks.
Review Fix: Where’s your favorite place to play?
Dan Lilker: Playing in Japan’s great because they’re so crazy. Playing in the Netherlands is great because they’ve got really great weed. Playing in South America’s great, Chile’s great because the crowd there is fucking mental. Maybe somewhere I’ve never been like Iceland.
Review Fix: You have a book coming out, what can you tell us about that?
Dan Lilker: It’s a guy from Chicago named Dave Hofer that’s doing it. I just saw him in Chicago the other day. It’s basically a book about my history playing metal and where I started.
Review Fix: How do you feel about this “Thrash Metal Revival†going on?
Dan Lilker: I think its a cool thing if people are doing it for the right reasons. Bands like Municipal Waste, that shit’s great. It’s good for me too, people go back and buy Nuclear Assault records.
Review Fix: What is your superpower?
Dan Lilker: I can smoke tons of weed and still play as fast as possible.
Photo by David Tyler
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