Daniel Kessler
Encyclopedia
Daniel Alexander Kessler (born 25 September 1974, London
, England
) is the guitarist
and backing vocalist
for the New York City
-based band Interpol
. He was raised in the United States
.
It was Kessler's desire to play in a real band which made him approach Carlos Dengler
, with whom he attended a history class in New York University
. Kessler knew lead singer Paul Banks
from a summer program in Paris
, France
, and asked him to join the band when he ran into him in New York. Kessler's dormmate Greg Drudy
was Interpol's
first drummer
. When Drudy left the band, Kessler asked his friend Sam Fogarino
to replace him.
Kessler had prior experience in the music industry while working for Domino Records, and his knowledge of the business was very helpful to the band in their early years. He brought all the members together, and has said that he was looking mostly for specific personal qualities each member could bring to the group rather than just musical talent. He is a graduate of New York University
's (NYU) Gallatin School of Individualized Study
in French
, film
and literature
.
Kessler has been known as the member of the band who has been the most active in the New York underground rock scene, which included his jobs at multiple record labels, such as Domino Records and trading their early demo tape around to various bands and labels.
Since 2006, Kessler resides in a loft in Lower East Side
, Manhattan
and is the only band member who is a vegetarian
and does not smoke
. He also is fluent in French
.
and also a Telecaster, but has since performed with mainly a sunburst Epiphone Casino
and a cherry Gibson ES-330
as his main onstage guitars. The red Rickenbacker apparently belonged to Interpol's first keyboardist. Following Interpol's third album, Daniel has also been seen on stage playing a sunburst Gretsch 6117-TH Anniversary on the track 'The Lighthouse' and also on their new self titled album 'Interpol'.
He states in an interview around 2006, following the release of Antics, that he plays through an old Fender Twin combined with a Fender Pro Reverb.
His pedalboard includes:
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is the 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...
and backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based band Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
. He was raised in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
It was Kessler's desire to play in a real band which made him approach Carlos Dengler
Carlos Dengler
Carlos Andres Dengler , previously known as Carlos D., is an American musician best known as the former bassist for the band Interpol.-Early life:...
, with whom he attended a history class in New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. Kessler knew lead singer Paul Banks
Paul Banks
Paul Julian Banks is an English American musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and guitarist of the rock band Interpol. He is also a solo artist under the name Julian Plenti. As a singer, Banks' voice lies in the baritone range.-Early life:Banks was born in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England...
from a summer program in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and asked him to join the band when he ran into him in New York. Kessler's dormmate Greg Drudy
Greg Drudy
Greg Drudy started his career on drums practicing with the defunct band Quid Pro Quo in a Tampa warehouse next door to fellow warehouse owners Cannibal Corpse and Brutality. Drudy was the drummer for the bands Southpaw and Saetia, and was the original drummer for the band Interpol. He left Interpol...
was Interpol's
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
first drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
. When Drudy left the band, Kessler asked his friend Sam Fogarino
Sam Fogarino
Samuel Joseph Fogarino is the drummer of New York City-based band Interpol. He has played in bands The Holy Terrors, Gus, The Wahoos, Napoleon Solo, The Ton-ups and The Last Night....
to replace him.
Kessler had prior experience in the music industry while working for Domino Records, and his knowledge of the business was very helpful to the band in their early years. He brought all the members together, and has said that he was looking mostly for specific personal qualities each member could bring to the group rather than just musical talent. He is a graduate of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's (NYU) Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Gallatin School of Individualized Study
The Gallatin School of Individualized Study is a small interdisciplinary college within New York University. Gallatin aims to provide a "small college" feel, while being located within one of the largest private universities in the United States. Students design their own interdisciplinary program...
in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
.
Kessler has been known as the member of the band who has been the most active in the New York underground rock scene, which included his jobs at multiple record labels, such as Domino Records and trading their early demo tape around to various bands and labels.
Since 2006, Kessler resides in a loft in Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and is the only band member who is a vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
and does not smoke
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
. He also is fluent in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Gear
In the band's early days, he was seen playing a red RickenbackerRickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
and also a Telecaster, but has since performed with mainly a sunburst Epiphone Casino
Epiphone Casino
The Epiphone Casino is a thinline hollow body electric guitar manufactured by Epiphone, a branch of Gibson. It is essentially Epiphone's version of the Gibson ES-330...
and a cherry Gibson ES-330
Gibson ES-330
The Gibson ES-330 is a thinline hollowbody electric guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.Though similar in appearance to the popular Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow guitar, the ES-330 was a fairly different guitar in construction and sound...
as his main onstage guitars. The red Rickenbacker apparently belonged to Interpol's first keyboardist. Following Interpol's third album, Daniel has also been seen on stage playing a sunburst Gretsch 6117-TH Anniversary on the track 'The Lighthouse' and also on their new self titled album 'Interpol'.
He states in an interview around 2006, following the release of Antics, that he plays through an old Fender Twin combined with a Fender Pro Reverb.
His pedalboard includes:
- BOSS TU-2 Tuner
- BOSS TR-2 Tremolo
- BOSS DD-5 Delay (Only for Evil)
- MXR Carbon Copy
- Tech 21 Comptortion
- Vox V810
- Z.vex Super Duper 2-in-1
- Keeley Fuzz Head
- Z.vex Super Hard-On
- EHX Holy Grail