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Danko Jones

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Danko Jones
Danko Jones live in Milan 2006

Danko Jones is a three-piece hard rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The band consists of Danko Jones (vocals/guitar), JC (also known as John Calabrese) (bass guitar), and Dan Cornelius (drums).

History

Formation

Formed in 1996, they played consistently for two years in and around the north-eastern United States and Canada, opening for The New Bomb Turks, Nashville Pussy, Blonde Redhead, The Make-Up, The Dirtbombs, The Chrome Cranks and The Demolition Doll Rods. Originally they didn't even want to release an album opting to have the band's live reputation spread via word of mouth. Eventually, the trio relented and put out a self-titled six song e.p. on Sonic Unyon records in 1998.

In 1999 they released the self-produced My Love Is Bold E.P. and achieved national exposure with the single "Bounce". They were nominated for a Juno in 2000 for Best Alternative Album.

In 2001 Bad Taste Records (Lund, Sweden) released a compilation of the band's early recordings, demos, and b-sides entitled, I'm Alive and On Fire. A 5 week European tour followed to promote the release including shows at the Roskilde festival in Denmark and Hultsfred festival in Sweden. By the end of the year they had returned 2 more times, most notably as main support for the Backyard Babies.

Born a Lion

In 2002 they released their first full-length album, Born a Lion, produced by Bill Bell, on Bad Taste Records in Europe and on Universal in Canada. The band did several European tours and two Canadian tours to promote the record including an unprecedented repeat performance at Roskilde and the now legendary return to Hultsfred as well as notable stops to Pukkelpop in Belgium and The Lowlands festival in the Netherlands. They also managed to grab the opening slot with The Rolling Stones on their "40 Licks" World tour kick-off show at the Palais Royale in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on August 16, 2002.

We Sweat Blood

Bass player John Calabrese live in Milan 2006

2003 saw the release of We Sweat Blood, produced by Matt DeMatteo, and the group taking a heavier approach to their hard-rock sound. More touring followed that included Europe and Japan. They were also nominated for two Junos: Best Rock Album and Best video.

While success was happening abroad, home relations with Universal Canada had soured and the band was dropped mid-album run. Explanations from the label were vague, but speculations point to Jones' February 2004 appearance on CBC Sunday re: file sharing where Jones appeared as a pro-downloader opposite then CRIA president, Brian Robertson (Canadian Recording Industry Association). Putting their money where their mouths were the band uploaded 5 never-before-released "web exclusive" songs for free download which remained on their site ([1]) until a site overhaul was announced.

Getting dropped from Universal Canada did little to stop the group as they continued to tour heavily for the rest of the year well into 2004 with bands like Turbonegro, Sepultura and The Bronx. While touring they managed to pick up another Juno nomination for Best Rock Album and tour Australia as well as more European dates including Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park in Germany and Download, Leeds and Redding in England.

Sleep Is the Enemy

Early 2005 was taken up by recording the follow-up to We Sweat Blood, but not without a series of tours amidst recording that brought the band to the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa. In April, American label, Razor And Tie released We Sweat Blood and the band set out to America in support as well. Working two releases simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic proved quite hard and the worldwide release for the upcoming album, Sleep Is the Enemy, produced by Matt DeMatteo, was pushed back to 2006.

During the summer and fall of 2005 the band toured America heavily with two of We Sweat Blood's singles being second most added to active rock radio in America ("Lovercall" and "Forget My Name"). Stateside tours with Flogging Molly, Our Lady Peace, The Supersuckers, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy followed.

In January and February 2006, under new Canadian label, Aquarius Records, the band set out to do their first Canadian tour in almost 4 years opening up for Nickelback. Many were confused by the decision to tour with the multi-platinum radio friendly band, to which Jones shot back, "We get to play in every NHL hockey arena, sold-out in our home country. You do the math.". With the release of Sleep Is the Enemy came more touring including America and a headlining European club tour with support from Brant Bjork & The Bros. The summer saw them perform at Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, With Full Force and Wacken Open Air in Germany; Hellfest and Furiafest in France, Metaltown in Sweden, Pinkpop and Lowlands in Holland, Tuska Festival, Ruisrock and Ankkarock in Finland, Gampel in Switzerland and Wireless in the UK among at least a dozen more.

In May 2006, the song "Baby Hates Me", was the official theme song for WWE Backlash pay-per-view.

In October 2006, a 2 week tour of Norway saw the band play with ex-Kyuss front-man, John Garcia who appeared on the song "Invisible" off of Sleep Is the Enemy. They performed a set of songs that included Thorn (Unida), Allen's Wrench (Kyuss), and Senor Moreno's Plan (Hermano). Garcia flew out to perform again with the band at the last show of their tour in Toronto this past December 2006.

Never Too Loud

In December 2007, Danko Jones announced their fourth album, Never Too Loud will be released in 2008. The first single will be 'Code of the Road' which is available for download off their myspace page. In winter of 2008 the band are touring Europe as opener for Motörhead.

Radio, Spoken Word and Columns

Jones hosts a syndicated radio show called "The Magical World Of Rock" broadcast out of 95.3 Rocket FM in Stockholm (Sweden) and syndicated to Power 97 in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada), Pure Rock Radio in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada), CT Das Radio in Bochum (Germany) and Radio Tango in Oslo (Norway). The show's website is at: [2]

He also released his first spoken word album in 2004 entitled The Magical World Of Rock and completed two spoken word tours that same year, including a show at the Crossing Borders festival in The Hague in the Netherlands where he spoke alongside Nick Hornby, Ian Mackaye, Jim White, Michael Franti and Irvine Welsh.

Danko Jones currently writes three separate bi-monthly columns for Rock Hard (Germany), Mute (Norway), and Close-Up (Sweden).

Discography

Compilations

  • "I gotta calm down" 7"/CD with Prog Punk band Removal

Videography

  • "Take Me Home" from the album Never Too Loud (2008) - Director George Vale
  • "I Love Living in the City" from the album We Sweat Blood (2004) - Director Hanna Lejonqvist
  • "I Want You" from the album We Sweat Blood (2003) - Director Craig Bernard
  • "Lovercall" from the album Born a Lion (2002) - Director Craig Bernard
  • "Sound of Love" from the album Born a Lion (2002) - Director Craig Bernard
  • "My Love is Bold" from the E.P. My Love Is Bold (2000) - Director Jason Romilly

Honours

Juno Awards

2004 Nominated, Best Rock Album (We Sweat Blood)

2003 Nominated, Best Video ("Lovercall")

2003 Nominated, Best Rock Album (Born a Lion)

2000 Nominated, Best Alternative Album (My Love Is Bold)

Trivia

  • JC plays Fender bass guitars and EBS amplifiers exclusively.
  • Dan Cornelius plays Sonor drums exclusively.
  • Jones primarily plays a Gibson Explorer guitar. He used Fender Telecaster guitars earlier before being endorseed by Gibson.
  • JC played bass on Malhavoc's 1999 album, The Lazarus Complex: A Tale of Two Zombies.
  • Drummer Dan Cornelius has also played with Damn 13, Sass Jordan and Rocket Science.
  • The Smugglers from Vancouver have a song entitled "Danko Jones' Pants" from their 2000 album, Rosie (Mint Records).
  • Bionic from Montreal have a song entitled "A Political Song For Danko Jones To Sing" from their 2002 album, Deliverance (SoundKing).
  • Dregen, guitar player from The Backyard Babies sings back-up on the song, "Strut" from We Sweat Blood.
  • John Garcia, ex-Kyuss duets with Jones on the song, "Invisible" from Sleep Is The Enemy.
  • Jones sings on "Friends" by The Backyard Babies which also features Joey Ramone, Michael Monroe and Nina Persson on the 2003 album, Stockholm Syndrome.
  • Jones appears on "I Don't Care" by Infinite Mass on the 2004 album, 1991.
  • Jones sings on the 7" series of Vancouver band, Removal, which also features tracks from Joey Shithead, Chi-Pig, Mr. Wrong, Peaches and Mike Watt.
  • Their song, "Starlicker" is featured in the 1999 Bruce LaBruce movie Skin Flick.
  • Their song, "I Want You" is featured in the 2003 Ryan Reynolds movie, Foolproof.
  • Their song, "Baby Hates Me" was the featured theme song for WWE "Backlash" in 2006. It was also used for WrestleMania 22
  • Their song, "Baby Hates Me" was used in the trailer for the mountain bike movie, New World Disorder VII - Flying High Again.
  • The band has a cameo in the 2000 Clement Virgo movie, "Love Come Down".
  • Jones worked in a sex shop in Toronto during the early years of the band.
  • Jones and Floria Sigismondi are featured opposite each other in the music video "Empty Cell" by rock band Rusty, directed by Bruce Labruce.
  • Jones is beloved by infamous Puerto Rican Daniel Rivera. Jones, says Rivera, is "kind of awesome."
  • Jones has a cameo as himself in the 2001 music video, "If It Feels Good Do It" by rock band Sloan.
  • Jones is featured in the 2005 Backyard Babies documentary entitled, "Jet Lag".
  • Danko Jones were the last band to play the Concert Hall stage in Toronto for the Exclaim! Magazine Party on April 4, 1998.
  • Danko Jones were the last local band to play Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto with Beck on February 6, 2000.
  • Jack White & The Raconteurs covered "Samuel Sin" during their 2006 summer tour.
  • Jones is one of the many guest musicians who appears on Metal, the last album from Canadian thrash metal legends Annihilator. He performs guest vocals with Dave Padden and Arch Enemy front-woman Angela Gossow on the song "Couple Suicide".
  • Jones is mentioned on the track "Zoe Is A Weirdo" by Backyard Babies.
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