Dante Adrian White aka "Dante Aliano", "Dante Adrian", "Dante White-Aliano", and "Dante White", is a Rock and Roll

Rock and roll

Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...

 and Alternative

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 songwriter, vocalist, guitar player and recording artist from Monterey , California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. His work has appeared on over 80 recordings on several record labels, including Gold Standard Laboratories

Gold Standard Laboratories

Gold Standard Laboratories or GSL was an independent record label which was founded in 1993 in Boulder, Colorado by Sonny Kay. In 2000, it was relocated to San Diego, California, USA, and two years later, to Los Angeles. It was headquartered in L.A...

, Dim Mak , Sympathy For The Record Industry

Sympathy for the Record Industry

Sympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...

, Infrasonic Sound, 10,000 Baby Names, Cold Sweat and Flapping Jet. He is currently the leader of the Los Angeles based band, Dante Vs Zombies. Previously, he was the main songwriter, vocalist and guitar player for The Starlite Desperation

The Starlite Desperation

The Starlite Desperation is a rock band originally from Monterey, California. Combining elements of garage rock, punk, psychedelic music, goth rock, post punk, glam rock and 60's Pop. They released three full length records, 1 EP, and 3 singles, on several labels, including Gold Standard Laboratories...

 as well as the vocalist for The Lost Kids and a guitar player for The Detroit Cobras

The Detroit Cobras

The Detroit Cobras are an American garage rock cover band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1994.-History:The Detroit Cobras signed with Sympathy for the Record Industry and released their first full-length album, Mink Rat or Rabbit, in 1998...

. He currently lives in Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

, Ca.

Early years

White's family moved often within Monterey and Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...

, eventually settling in East Salinas

Salinas, California

Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...

. He began playing marimba

Marimba

The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...

 at the age of 8. At age 11, he abandoned the marimba in favor of the Clarinet

Clarinet

The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...

, which he played until shortly after his father gave him his first guitar, a short scale Peavey

Peavey Electronics

Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...

 electric, on his 13th birthday. In the 8th grade, he began singing in his school choir

Choir

A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...

. Throughout high school and college, he continued teaching himself guitar and bass, occasionally dabbling in the formal study of music theory, as well as choral singing, film, creative writing and theater.

The Starlite Desperation

In November 1995, White formed The Starlite Desperation

The Starlite Desperation

The Starlite Desperation is a rock band originally from Monterey, California. Combining elements of garage rock, punk, psychedelic music, goth rock, post punk, glam rock and 60's Pop. They released three full length records, 1 EP, and 3 singles, on several labels, including Gold Standard Laboratories...

 with Jeff Ehrenberg on drums and Dana Lacono sharing songwriting and guitar duties. Often described as a blend of glam rock

Glam rock

Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...

 , post-punk

Post-punk

Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...

 , garage rock

Garage rock

Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...

 , and psychedelic music

Psychedelic music

Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...

, the band went through numerous line up changes, toured the United States and Europe and released 3 7" singles, 1 EP and 4 full length CD/LPs. From 1999-2000 they lived in Detroit, Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

. In 2001, they relocated to Los Angeles, Ca.

Lost Kids

In late 1999, while living in Detroit, Mi. White formed the Lost Kids with Jennifer Pearl, Yasmine Smith (Also of Starlite Desperation), Dave Buick and Ben Blackwell

Ben Blackwell

Ben Blackwell is the creator and director of , one of two drummers in the Detroit-based rock band the Dirtbombs, an accomplished writer and a nephew of Jack White of the White Stripes.-The Dirtbombs:...

. In 2000, Pearl, White and Smith relocated the band back to Salinas, Ca. After touring the U.S.A. in support of their sole release, the Belle Isle is On fire EP, the group disbanded.

Detroit Cobras

White played guitar in The Detroit Cobras

The Detroit Cobras

The Detroit Cobras are an American garage rock cover band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1994.-History:The Detroit Cobras signed with Sympathy for the Record Industry and released their first full-length album, Mink Rat or Rabbit, in 1998...

 for the bulk of the time he lived in Detroit and appears on the Life, Love and Leaving LP as "Dante Aliano".

Lion Fever

After disbanding The Lost Kids, White and Pearl relocated to Portland, Oregon and formed Lion Fever. Although White co-wrote numerous songs with the band, he quit before the band made any recordings. He is, however, given songwriting credit on the "Lustre" Ep and the "Haunted Water" LP.

Dante Vs Zombies

In September 2009, White began performing and recording under the name Dante Vs Zombies. The single "Yes, I'm Stalking You" was released on 10,000 baby names in October 2009. Current members include Jeff Ehrenberg, Gabriel Hart, Jada Wagensomer, Matt Polley and Laena Geronimo.

Aliases

On record and in the media, White is often credited with different surnames, including Aliano, and Adrian. Aliano is the last name of his step father, and was adopted by White at the age of 7 for use on various academic and legal records. Adrian is White's middle name.

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

White's song "Born To Be Dizzy , recorded by The Starlite Desperation, and appearing on Violate A Sundae, closes the film, The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things is a 2004 film directed by and starring Asia Argento. It is based on JT LeRoy's novel of the same name...

, directed and starring Asia Argento

Asia Argento

Aria Asia Anna Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model and director.-Family and early life:...

 .

Vocal style

White's voice falls within the baritone

Baritone

Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...

 and tenor

Tenor

The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...

 ranges and in has been variously compared in reviews to Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....

, Devo

Devo

Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...

's Mark Mothersbaugh

Mark Mothersbaugh

Mark Allen Mothersbaugh is an American musician, composer, singer and painter. He is the co-founder of the new wave band Devo and has been its lead singer since 1972. His other musical projects include work for television series, films, and video games....

 , The Gun Club's Jeffrey Lee Pierce

Jeffrey Lee Pierce

Jeffrey Lee Pierce was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was one of the founding members of the 1980s punk band The Gun Club...

 , Glen Danzig , Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison

James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...

 , Duran Duran

Duran Duran

Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...

's Simon LeBon , Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger

Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....

 , Queen

Queen (band)

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...

's Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...

 , and Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...

.

Guitar style

White's self taught and eclectic guitar style has drawn comparisons to Surf Music

Surf music

Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...

, The Troggs

The Troggs

The Troggs are an English rock band from the 1960s that had a number of hits in UK and the US. Their most famous songs include, "Wild Thing", "With a Girl Like You", and "Love Is All Around"...

 , Joy Division

Joy Division

Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...

 , The Yardbirds

The Yardbirds

- Current :* Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals * Ben King - lead guitar * David Smale - bass, backing vocals...

 , Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry

Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...

 , Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley

Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...

 , The B-52s , The Stooges

The Stooges

The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...

 , The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...

, Christian Death

Christian Death

Christian Death is an American deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band was founded and fronted by Rozz Williams. Christian Death is most notable for their first album Only Theatre of Pain....

, The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party (band)

The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...

 , The Gories

The Gories

The Gories are an American garage rock trio that formed in Detroit in 1986. They were among the first 1980s garage punk bands to incorporate overt blues influences...

 , Blue Cheer

Blue Cheer

Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...

 , Bauhaus

Bauhaus

', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...

 , The 13th Floor Elevators and The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...

 , among others.

Discography

2010
Dante Vs Zombies
"Yes, I'm Stalking You" single
10,000 Baby Names
Songwriter/vocalist/all instruments/Producer

2009
The Starlite Desperation
"Take It Personally CD/LP
Infrasonic Sound
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Bassist/Co-producer

2006
The Starlite Desperation
"Don't Do Time CD
Double Zombie
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

2005
The Starlite Desperation/Indian Jewelry
I Lost My Bees/Going South Split 7"
GSL
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

2004
The Starlite Desperation
Violate A Sundae EP/CD
Cold Sweat/Capitol
(Appears as Dante Adrian)
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

2004
Lion Fever
Haunted Water LP/CD
Dim Mak
Co-writer

2003
Lion Fever
Lustre EP/CD
Dim Mak
Co-writer

2001
Lost Kids
Belle Isle Is On Fire EP/CD
GSL
Vocalist, Co-writer, Songwriter, Co-Producer
Recorded by Jim Diamond

2001
The Detroit Cobras
Life, Love and Leaving CD/LP
Sympathy For The Record Industry
(Appears as Dante Aliano)
Guitar Player

2000
The Starlite Desperation
Go Kill Mice CD/LP
Flapping Jet
(Appears as Dante Adrian)
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

1999
The Starlite Desperation
Hot For Preacher 7"
GSL
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer
Produced by Kid Congo Powers

Kid Congo Powers

Kid Congo Powers is the stage name of Brian Tristan , an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.-Biography:...

1998
The Starlite Desperation
Show You What A Baby Won't LP/CD
GSL
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

1998
The Starlite Desperation/Sunshine
Shut My Door 7"
GSL
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

1997
The Starlite Desperation
Our Product/It Rhymes With Bitch... 7"
Catchpenny
Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist/Co-producer

External links