DAN LILKER
NUCLEAR ASSAULT, ANTHRAX and S.O.D.
Danny Lilker is a legend in thrash metal and he doesn't really need a presentation. But for you fools out there who needs to be educated I can start by saying that Dan formed Anthrax together with Scott Ian back in 1981.
Dan originally played the guitar but took he took over the bass and Anthrax released their legendary debut Fistful of Metal with Danny as their bass player. But some trouble came along and Danny left Anthrax and he founded the crossover legends Stormtroopers of Death with his buddy Scott Ian, he also formed another band that would end up as legends in the genre, Nuclear Assault. Years has passed now and Danny has been a buzy man with bands like Hemlock, Brutal Truth, Holy Moses and The Ravenous. But his main goal now is to keep Nuclear Assault alive. It's an honour to talk to one of the founders of the whole thrash genre, Mr. Dan Lilker....
I guess that you've been busy with Nuclear Assaults upcoming album lately,
tell us more about it!
Well, before I moved out of NYC in summer '02, John and I lived about a mile from each other, and we got the chance to write a bunch of stuff together. John also had material that was never used after the band broke up in the early 90's, so we all got together, jammed the new tunes, and recorded in New Hampshire at the studio of Screaming Ferret Wreckords boss Tim Kuokos. Material-wise, it's definitely similar to our known stuff, so I think most Nuke fans will enjoy it, and we hope to have it out in the summer.
Will there be any european tour to support the new Nuclear Assault album?
I'm sure there will be, but that will all be next year probably.
You have been in countless bands over the years, but which one is your favourite?
Very hard to say, each band I've been in has been cool for different reasons. For example, being in Anthrax at the beginning of the thrash metal movement was very exciting, Nuke was the first band I saw the world with, S.O.D. was great 'cos people always flipped out at our shows 'cos we played rarely, Brutal was great 'cos we pushed the limits of intensity, The Ravenous is killer 'cos I get to play with death metal legends, see what I mean??
What will happen now with S.O.D.?
Nothing. I'm not gonna get into everything here, but certain people who only care about themselves have ruined it.
And what about your old days... What happened when you where in Anthrax? Were you kicked out or did you leave Anthrax of your own will?
I was asked to leave because the original singer, Neil Turbin, was jealous that I was taller than him, not to mention he had no sense of humor and I busted his balls a lot, I admit.
I would guess that it would be quite disappointing to leave a band that was on the verge of becoming superstars in metal?
Sure, but then again I channeled any bad feelings I had into the intensity of Nuclear Assault's music, thereby dealing with my feelings in a cathartic way while at the same time creating passionate music. Man, that sounded lofty, eh?
What do you think of Anthrax without yourself in the lineup, are they as good now as when you where in the band?
That's hard to say, 'cos stylistically they're so different now than when I was in the band. Impossible to answer.
If you have to pick the best album where you handles the bass. Which album would you pick?
Hemlock- Lust For Fire.
You have been playing in a lot of different bands, thrash, death, grindcore, crossover and black metal. Which one is your personal favourite and why?
Once again I must say that's really hard to answer. Each band satisfied a particular element of my musical taste and playing style.
And what about Brutal Truth, Hemlock and Holy Moses are they finished chapters?
Well, Holy Moses is different, I was never really in that band, I just played on one of their albums 10 years ago. But B.T. and Hemlock are finished, yes.
There have been a lot of jokes about other metal bands in your career, I'm thinking of the S.O.D.-song "Celtic Frosted Flakes", and the Slayer-joke "'Seasoning Of The Obese'", an inverted Guns 'N Roses cross and even Sgt D. posing as Iron Maidens Eddie, haven't you ever gotten into trouble for joking about other bands?
I think Maiden's manager was pissed about the cover of Bigger Than The Devil, but he couldn't do anything legally about it. I'm sure the guys in the band thought it was funny, it's a manager's job to get all pissed off about these things... Besides that, nothing has happened.
What's the highlight of your career?
I think S.O.D. playing the Dynamo in '99.
How are the New York metal scene today?
I live in Rochester, NY about 360 miles from NYC, so I don't really know. Rochester has Sulaco, Withered Earth, Psyopis, etc.
Name five favourite albums!
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Slayer - Reign In Blood
Napalm Death - From Enslavement To Obliteration
Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky
Skinny Puppy - Last Rites
What are you doing five years from now?
Well, if you would have asked me that 10 years ago, I doubt I would've said "Touring with S.O.D.", and if you asked me 5 years ago, I doubt I'd say "Waiting for the new Nuke album to come out", so I'm not saying shit.
Have you got any funny metal story to tell?
I can't think of anything now, sorry.
Have you got any last words for our readers?
Cheerz to all metal freaks and supporters of underground music.
by/ Jim Ruuth
(22-05-2004)
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