Damon DeLaPaz
Encyclopedia
Damon DeLaPaz is an American drummer and songwriter. He was a founding member of the punk rock groups Fenix TX, 30footFALL, Demasiado, and the now defunct Sing The Body Electric. Frequently switching from the position of guitarist to drummer, he is currently the drummer for UK duo The Definitive and guitarist in the metal influenced punk act Laserwolf and Thunderbolt. He has also recorded music for an instrumental solo project called Sci-Fi/Horror. DeLaPaz has recorded, performed and toured with a variety of different bands and toured as a fill in drummer for Blink-182
, The Vandals
, Good Charlotte
, Pulley
, and Homegrown. Delapaz is currently the drummer for the irish-punk group, Manoverboard.
in the early 90s by then drummer Rubio Cisneros, Broken-Note founder/guitarist Crazy Tony Avitia, and lead singer Butch Klotz.
Touring Houston, Dallas, and Austin
, 30 Foot Fall's popularity grew. The band at this point had developed their own sound, comparable to early NOFX
or based on elements developed by Minor Threat
.
DeLaPaz's first recording with the band was on the "Elementary School Love" 7". 30 Foot Fall then recorded and released their first LP with DeLaPaz, Divided We Stand on Fuzzgun Records in 1995 and began touring the United States extensively, eventually gaining a strong underground fanbase.
The band followed up their first LP with the Junior High Sucked 7" and in 1996 Fearless Records
signed the band and produced their next record, Acme-143. DeLaPaz toured extensively with the band during their most active years before moving to California with his other band, Fenix TX.
under the name Riverfenix by guitarist
s Will Salazar and Damon DeLaPaz (also the drummer for 30 Foot Fall at the time). The four piece played extensively on the Texan
pop punk
scene alongside such renowned bands as 30 Foot Fall
, Good Riddance
and Goldfinger
.
In 1996, the band released their debut EP
G.B.O.H.
under the Houston-based record label
Fuzzgun Records, which they then followed by playing the Mullets Across America Tour with Home Grown
, Cousin Oliver and The Hippos
. Two Mojo Records intern
s Richard and Stefanie Reines, were on the brink of starting their own label, Drive-Thru Records
, and agreed to sign Riverfenix as their first band.
In December 1997, Drive-Thru released Riverfenix's thirteen-track full-length debut Riverfenix
, produced by Jim Barnes. Within the following year, the album managed to sell out its first three print runs of 5,000 copies each. Blink-182
's Mark Hoppus
offered the band an opening slot on an upcoming Blink-182 tour, and eventually became their manager. Hoppus passed managing duties on to Blink-182 manager Rick DeVoe. While Fenix TX's song "Speechless" was slowly garnering radio airplay and major labels' attention, Hoppus' effort in promoting Riverfenix was overheard by Blink-182's record label MCA
, who showed major interest in signing the band.
Riverfenix became Fenix TX. With a new record deal
, Fenix TX re-recorded the majority of their 1997 eponym
ous album for their MCA debut Fenix TX with new tracks produced by Ryan Greene and mixed by Jerry Finn
, and released it July 13, 1999. The album debuted at #115 on the Billboard 200
and reached #3 on Billboard' s Top Heatseekers
. The hit single
"All My Fault" received heavy radio and TV airplay, triggered through the song's integration in the TV movie
Jailbait (2000), which even featured a cameo appearance
by Fenix TX. The music video
, in return, starred Alycia Purrott
from the cast of Jailbait, as well as Blink-182's Hoppus. "All My Fault" reached #21 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts.
Fenix TX went on numerous tours, including the Warped Tour
and both national and international tours with label mates New Found Glory
. However, in late 2000, drummer Reyes left the band to pursue other interests. To compensate, DeLaPaz took over drumming duties for the band.
DeLaPaz's second recording with the band, Lechuza was released on May 22, 2001 and debuted on #87 of the Billboard 200, with its single "Threesome" reaching #66 on the UK Singles Chart
. "Lechuza" featured DeLaPaz on Guitar as well as Drums. The album was produced by Jerry Finn
and also includes Keyboard tracks performed by Roddy Bottum
of the band Faith No More
. The hidden track at the end of the album entitled "Kool-Aid", features DeLaPaz on all instruments including bass guitar. The instrumental song was inspired by a drum cadence
that DeLaPaz and Salazar performed as part of the drum line in their high school marching band.
The decision to break up the band occurred in the middle of the writing process for what would have become Fenix TX's third album. On September 19, 2002, the disbandment of Fenix TX was officially announced. However, the band reunited again to record a live album
at The Clubhouse in Tempe, Arizona
, which was released under the title Purple Reign in Blood - Live
on November 8, 2005. DeLaPaz's concept for the album's artwork merged the band's logo with the pentagram from Thrash Metal Band Slayer
's logo on top of Prince
's iconic glyph. The album's artwork resulted in a cease and desist order from Prince's attorneys.
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
, The Vandals
The Vandals
The Vandals are an American rock band established in 1980 in Huntington Beach, California. They have released ten full-length studio albums and two live albums and have toured the world extensively, including performances on the Vans Warped Tour...
, Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...
, Pulley
Pulley (band)
Pulley is a Californian punk rock band formed in 1994. The band is known for straightforward, hard-edged melodic punk rock.-Band history:The band was formed upon vocalist Scott Radinsky's departure from Ten Foot Pole, brought about by that band's desire for a singer with a full-time focus on music...
, and Homegrown. Delapaz is currently the drummer for the irish-punk group, Manoverboard.
30 Foot Fall
DeLaPaz was recruited to play drums for 30 Foot Fall30 Foot Fall
-Band History:30 Foot Fall is an American Punk Rock band that began in Houston, Texas. The Band played their first show on Mother's Day in 1993 and were composed of Rubio Cisneros , Tony Avitia , Butch Klotz...
in the early 90s by then drummer Rubio Cisneros, Broken-Note founder/guitarist Crazy Tony Avitia, and lead singer Butch Klotz.
Touring Houston, Dallas, and Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, 30 Foot Fall's popularity grew. The band at this point had developed their own sound, comparable to early NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
or based on elements developed by Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
.
DeLaPaz's first recording with the band was on the "Elementary School Love" 7". 30 Foot Fall then recorded and released their first LP with DeLaPaz, Divided We Stand on Fuzzgun Records in 1995 and began touring the United States extensively, eventually gaining a strong underground fanbase.
The band followed up their first LP with the Junior High Sucked 7" and in 1996 Fearless Records
Fearless Records
Fearless Records is an alternative rock-oriented record label that has been signing artists since 1994. Fearless is based in Westminster, California and are best known for their early pop-punk moments captured in the Fearless Flush Sampler and Punk Bites releases, as well as additional releases by...
signed the band and produced their next record, Acme-143. DeLaPaz toured extensively with the band during their most active years before moving to California with his other band, Fenix TX.
Riverfenix / Fenix Tx
Fenix TX formed in late 1995 in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
under the name Riverfenix by guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
s Will Salazar and Damon DeLaPaz (also the drummer for 30 Foot Fall at the time). The four piece played extensively on the Texan
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
scene alongside such renowned bands as 30 Foot Fall
30 Foot Fall
-Band History:30 Foot Fall is an American Punk Rock band that began in Houston, Texas. The Band played their first show on Mother's Day in 1993 and were composed of Rubio Cisneros , Tony Avitia , Butch Klotz...
, Good Riddance
Good Riddance
Good Riddance was a punk rock band from Santa Cruz, California. They released seven full-length studio albums on Fat Wreck Chords, and their final album was a live recording of their farewell concert in 2007. Led by vocalist Russ Rankin, the band's longtime lineup included guitarist Luke Pabich,...
and Goldfinger
Goldfinger (band)
Goldfinger is a Los Angeles pop punk/ska punk band that formed in 1994. Currently, the band is composed of vocalist/guitarist John Feldmann, guitarist Charlie Paulson, bassist Kelly LeMieux, and drummer Darrin Pfeiffer...
.
In 1996, the band released their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
G.B.O.H.
G.B.O.H.
G.B.O.H. is the debut EP by Riverfenix, released in 1996 on Fuzzgun Records. It has been out of print for some time.-Track listing:#"Minimum Wage" – 2:18...
under the Houston-based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Fuzzgun Records, which they then followed by playing the Mullets Across America Tour with Home Grown
Home Grown
Home Grown was an American rock band formed in 1994 in Orange County, California. They released three full-length albums and several EPs before disbanding in 2005. Their music is often characterized as pop punk, lyrically favoring humor and silly or satirical subjects.-Formation:Home Grown was...
, Cousin Oliver and The Hippos
The Hippos
The Hippos were an American rock band formed in 1995 in Los Angeles, California, and disbanded in 2000. During the band's lifetime they released 3 full-length albums...
. Two Mojo Records intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
s Richard and Stefanie Reines, were on the brink of starting their own label, Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. It has produced various pop punk bands, many with a distinct SoCal sound....
, and agreed to sign Riverfenix as their first band.
In December 1997, Drive-Thru released Riverfenix's thirteen-track full-length debut Riverfenix
Riverfenix (album)
Riverfenix is the first full-length album by Riverfenix, released on December 16, 1997 on Drive-Thru Records. It was later re-released by MCA and Drive-Thru Records, when Riverfenix was forced to change their name, as the self-titled debut album of Fenix TX...
, produced by Jim Barnes. Within the following year, the album managed to sell out its first three print runs of 5,000 copies each. Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
's Mark Hoppus
Mark Hoppus
Mark Allan Hoppus is an American musician, record producer, and television host. He is the bass guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists of the pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the bass guitarist and lead vocalist of the alternative rock band +44. He is a co-founder of both bands...
offered the band an opening slot on an upcoming Blink-182 tour, and eventually became their manager. Hoppus passed managing duties on to Blink-182 manager Rick DeVoe. While Fenix TX's song "Speechless" was slowly garnering radio airplay and major labels' attention, Hoppus' effort in promoting Riverfenix was overheard by Blink-182's record label MCA
Music Corporation of America
MCA, Inc. was an American talent agency. Initially starting in the music business, they would next become a dominant force in the film business, and later expanded into the television business...
, who showed major interest in signing the band.
Riverfenix became Fenix TX. With a new record deal
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
, Fenix TX re-recorded the majority of their 1997 eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous album for their MCA debut Fenix TX with new tracks produced by Ryan Greene and mixed by Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
, and released it July 13, 1999. The album debuted at #115 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and reached #3 on Billboard
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
. The hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"All My Fault" received heavy radio and TV airplay, triggered through the song's integration in the TV movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
Jailbait (2000), which even featured a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
by Fenix TX. The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, in return, starred Alycia Purrott
Alycia Purrott
Alycia Purrott is a Canadian television and film actress best known for playing the Pink Ranger Sydney "Syd" Drew on TV's Power Rangers: S.P.D.-Filmography:* Twice in a Lifetime .... Callie...
from the cast of Jailbait, as well as Blink-182's Hoppus. "All My Fault" reached #21 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts.
Fenix TX went on numerous tours, including the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
and both national and international tours with label mates New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
. However, in late 2000, drummer Reyes left the band to pursue other interests. To compensate, DeLaPaz took over drumming duties for the band.
DeLaPaz's second recording with the band, Lechuza was released on May 22, 2001 and debuted on #87 of the Billboard 200, with its single "Threesome" reaching #66 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. "Lechuza" featured DeLaPaz on Guitar as well as Drums. The album was produced by Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
and also includes Keyboard tracks performed by Roddy Bottum
Roddy Bottum
Roddy Bottum , is an American musician, best known as the keyboardist for the San Francisco rock band Faith No More...
of the band Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
. The hidden track at the end of the album entitled "Kool-Aid", features DeLaPaz on all instruments including bass guitar. The instrumental song was inspired by a drum cadence
Drum cadence
In music, a drum cadence is a work played exclusively by the percussion section of a modern marching band , descended from early military marches, primarily as a purposefully emphasized means of providing a beat to marchers and often using patterned rhythmic drum strokes to produce a drum beat.A...
that DeLaPaz and Salazar performed as part of the drum line in their high school marching band.
The decision to break up the band occurred in the middle of the writing process for what would have become Fenix TX's third album. On September 19, 2002, the disbandment of Fenix TX was officially announced. However, the band reunited again to record a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
at The Clubhouse in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, which was released under the title Purple Reign in Blood - Live
Purple Reign in Blood
Purple Reign in Blood is the third album released by the pop punk band Fenix TX. The album is a live recording and it marks their first performance together in almost four years. The album was released on November 8, 2005...
on November 8, 2005. DeLaPaz's concept for the album's artwork merged the band's logo with the pentagram from Thrash Metal Band Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
's logo on top of Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's iconic glyph. The album's artwork resulted in a cease and desist order from Prince's attorneys.
Kit
- Drums - Pork Pie PercussionPork Pie PercussionPork Pie Percussion is a drum company started in 1987 by Bill Datamore. Pork Pie's motto is "Made by an American."-History:In 1987, Bill Detamore started making drums as a hobby. This hobby quickly evolved into a full service drum company. Each drum is signed by Bill Detamore with the date it was...
Custom set- 13x9" Tom
- 16x18" Floor Tom
- 18x20" Floor Tom
- 27x22" Bass Drum
- 14x9" Pork Pie PercussionPork Pie PercussionPork Pie Percussion is a drum company started in 1987 by Bill Datamore. Pork Pie's motto is "Made by an American."-History:In 1987, Bill Detamore started making drums as a hobby. This hobby quickly evolved into a full service drum company. Each drum is signed by Bill Detamore with the date it was...
Custom Snare - 14x7" Pork Pie PercussionPork Pie PercussionPork Pie Percussion is a drum company started in 1987 by Bill Datamore. Pork Pie's motto is "Made by an American."-History:In 1987, Bill Detamore started making drums as a hobby. This hobby quickly evolved into a full service drum company. Each drum is signed by Bill Detamore with the date it was...
Custom Snare - 14x9" Premiere Rock 9 Brass Snare
- Cymbals - Zildjian A's
- 15" Hi-Hats
- 24" Ride
- 18" Crash
- 20" China
- Sticks - VaterVaterVater Percussion is an American drumstick and percussion accessory manufacturing company. It was founded by Clarence Vater, and is currently run by his two grandsons Alan and Ron Vater. Although the company began producing sticks in 1956, it did not officially become Vater Percussion until much later...
- VaterVaterVater Percussion is an American drumstick and percussion accessory manufacturing company. It was founded by Clarence Vater, and is currently run by his two grandsons Alan and Ron Vater. Although the company began producing sticks in 1956, it did not officially become Vater Percussion until much later...
3A Signature Sticks (played backwards)
- Vater
Discography
- 30footFALL - "Elementary School Love" 7" (Yo Mama's Records, 1994) - Drums
- 30footFALL - "Divided We Stand" LP (Fuzzgun Records, 1994) - Drums
- 30footFALL - "Jr. High Sucked" 7" (1996) - Drums
- 30footFALL - "Acme 143" LP (Fearless RecordsFearless RecordsFearless Records is an alternative rock-oriented record label that has been signing artists since 1994. Fearless is based in Westminster, California and are best known for their early pop-punk moments captured in the Fearless Flush Sampler and Punk Bites releases, as well as additional releases by...
, 1997) - Drums - 30footFALL - "Cartoons 7" (Die Cow Die Records, 1998) - Drums
- Riverfenix - "G.B.O.H." EP (Fuzzgun Records, 1996) - Guitar
- Riverfenix - S/T LP (Drive-Thru RecordsDrive-Thru RecordsDrive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. It has produced various pop punk bands, many with a distinct SoCal sound....
, 1997) - Guitar - Fenix TX - S/T LP (MCA RecordsMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. 1999) - Guitar - Fenix TX - "Lechuza" LP MCA RecordsMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. 2001) - Drums, Guitar - Fenix TX - "Purple Reign In Blood Live" LP (MCA RecordsMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. 2005) - Drums - Sing The Body Electric - S/T (Restart Records, 2004) - Drums
- Sci-Fi/Horror - S/T (Sci-Fi/Horror Records, 2006) - All Instruments
- Demasiado - "May The Horse Be With You" LP (Sci-Fi/Horror Records, 2006) - All Instruments
- Demasiado -"EP" (Sezio Records, 2007) - Drums, Guitar
- Lindsey Cook - "Cold Days" EP (Sezio Records, 2007) - Drums, Guitar
- Avitia - "Oceanside Boulevard" EP (Broken Note Records, 2008) - Drums, Percussion
- Vanja James - "Vanja James Music" (2009) - Drums