Dan Reed Network Champion video
To coincide with their UK & European tour, Dan Reed Network talk about the concept behind music video for their sublime and exhilarating new single, ‘Champion’.
“Champion deals with the concept that we are what we eat, not just our physical health but our soul’s well-being," says Dan Reed. "It's about surrounding ourselves with people that feed our dreams, support and push us to be more creative, more alive, and to enjoy the ride.”
"The video portrays the intensity in the eyes of people from every walk of life. Having the band performing in front of the rear projected screens was to immerse those of us who wrote and will be performing this song live to visually state we all live in this bubble of light where every person we meet brings new insights, lessons, strength, and if we’re lucky, wisdom.
“DRN is thrilled to be returning to Europe this next March, says Reed, “and especially excited about the extensive UK Tour in celebration of our album 'Fight Another Day' and the reaction we have received from the record, and our CD Release show at the 100 Club last June in London!”
Photo Credit: Amanda Rose
Continues Reed, “Dan Pred, Brion James, Melvin Brannon II, Rob Daiker and I are really looking forward to playing many new and unique venues throughout the UK, and rockin' up the funk hard core and meeting all those who are able to attend and bring down the house with us. We thank you for the many years of support and especially believing that we had new music in us to offer! We are forever grateful for you all being there with us on this journey!”
Photo Credit: Laurence Harvey
Frontiers Music Srl released Dan Reed Network’s latest studio album “Fight Another Day” on Friday June 3rd, 2016. The album marked a significant and anticipated return of one of the most infectious and gifted bands to come out in the melodic rock world in the second part of the 1980’s.
Originally formed in Portland, Oregon, Dan Reed Network packed out local clubs from late 1984 through 1986 with their compelling mix of musical styles ranging from hard rock, funk and soul.
Photo Credit: Amanda Rose
Following the release of their “Breathless” EP, and having a top ten single on local radio, “Steal Me”, DRN signed to Polygram/Mercury Records.
In the winter of 1987, the group released their self-titled debut album which was produced by Bruce Fairbairn (Bon Jovi, Aerosmith) and engineered/mixed by Mike Fraser in Vancouver. The first single, “Ritual”peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Charts and became a staple of the funk rock genre. The debut album received a wealth of positive reviews, not the least of which was a four-star write-up from the notoriously hard-to-please Rolling Stone magazine.
Photo Credit: Laurence Harvey
DRN supported the album in Europe with legendary performances at London’ s Marquee Club and Stockholm’s Melody Club, which are still talked about to this day. While attending the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum induction ceremony in NYC in January 1989, Dan Reed met up with producer Nile Rodgers (Duran Duran, Madonna, David Bowie) which led to the creation of the second album “Slam”.
Produced by Rodgers, it better represented the Dan Reed Network’s live sound and accelerated the band’s growing status in Europe. Dan Reed Network opened the European leg of Bon Jovi’s ‘New Jersey Tour’ in 1989 and The Rolling Stones’ European Urban Jungle Tour in 1990.
Photo Credit: Laurence Harvey
The Dan Reed Network’s third album “The Heat”, produced by Bruce Fairbairn in 1991, was their biggest success in the UK, mostly due to the single “Lover” which was accompanied by a live video from Wembley Stadium filmed when they opened for the Stones. Despite some success and disillusioned with the record business and all it’s trappings, the band disbanded, much to the dismay of their supporters around the globe.
Fast forward to the 21st century and Dan Reed Network played their 25th anniversary reunion show on New Years Eve 2012 in their home town of Portland, Oregon, with all the original band members - Dan Reed, Dan Pred, Brion James, Melvin Brannon II and Blake Sakamoto.
Photo Credit: Laurence Harvey
The members found it was incredibly fun being back together, and, consequently, DRN decided it was a good time to bring the band and the music back to Europe. In 2013, they performed three sold out shows in Stockholm at Debaser, outside of London at the Enchanted Festival, and at the Diamond Rock Club in Northern Ireland. DRN was invited to play at the UK’s Download Festival 2014 and then toured the UK again and Sweden in late 2015. The new album will dovetail the summer concert season which will see DRN appear, among others, at the prestigious Sweden Rock Festival in early June 2016.
Photo Credit: Laurence Harvey
“It's been 25 years since our last studio album “The Heat” was released, says Reed, “and to be honest, I never envisioned making another DRN album despite countless people encouraging us to do so. With a mixture of fate and a collective of trusted friends and supporters in the business coming to the table, I’m excited to say we are poised to release a brand new record entitled “Fight Another Day” on Frontiers, home of many artists that we in fact admired back when we were first hitting the scene and before.”
Photo Credit: Laurence Harvey
“The stars aligned perfectly to have it all come together and make this album, and to have Derek Shulman, who originally singed DRN to Polygram in 1987, once again being in our lives as our co-manager and A&R man, brings us full circle.”
"As for the sound and approach of the album the band and I thought it would be a great experiment and interesting challenge to revisit what endeared the band to so many back in the day and deliver a rock record with funk and soul elements, strong melodies, but this time around incorporate even edgier lyrics while not losing sight that this release needed to be uplifting, infectious, and most of all, powerful when performed live. The title Fight Another Day represents the fact that after 25 years we were able to gravitate back to the passion we discovered playing together all those years ago, and battle once more!"
The band looks forward to the world's response to this new labor of love, and this testament to the bonds of friendship and musical chemistry!
Photo Credit: Laurence Harvey
