D:A:D (short for Disneyland After Dark) was formed in Copenhagen,
Denmark, in the mid-'80s by Jesper Binzer (vocals/guitar), Jacob Binzer (lead
guitar), Stig Pederson (bass), and Peter Jensen (drums). The band built a following
in their homeland with a number of independent releases before signing with
Warner Brothers for a reputedly huge sum in 1988. After shortening their name
due to a lawsuit by a certain large corporation, , the band released their international
debut, No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims, the following year. But despite their
electrifying AC/DC-inspired
hard rock, a great image, and a strong showing in Europe, the album did nothing
in America. A few years later the band finally released their second album, Riskin' it All,
in 1992. After touring behind the album (with a now-legendary stage set featuring
a giant couch as a drum riser, on which the band members would constantly jump
up and down while playing) the band was dropped. By 1995, D:A:D were signed
to EMI-Medley, which released their third album, "Helpyourselfish."
It was followed by "Simpatico" in 1997, "Psychopatico" in
1998 and "Everything Glows" in 2000.
D.A.D. - No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims (Wounded Bird) 1989
1. Sleeping My Day Away (4:23)
2. Jihad (2:56)
3. Point of View (4:16)
4. Rim of Hell (4:36)
5. ZCMI (2:48)
6. True Believer (2:23)
7. Girl Nation (3:40)
8. Lords of the Atlas (3:21)
9. Overmuch (3:53)
10. Siamese Twin (2:43)
11. Wild Talk (4:08)
12. Ill Will (2:05)
Sleazy, guitar driven, Hollywood hard rock from Denmark. The band were originally called Disneyland After Dark and eventually became known as D.A.D. due to a lawsuit from everyone's favorite cartoon mouse. "No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims" is actually the band's third release, but was their first release on a major label. The album scored a minor hit in the U.S. with "Sleeping the Day Away". The music here is Western sounding with some very twangy guitar work. D.A.D. have a sound I would describe AC/DC meets Faster Pussycat at a ZZ Top concert. I almost expected the band to break into a spontaneous cover of "Raw Hide". The Good Old Boys Blues Brothers Band indeed! Jesper Binzer has a unique, slightly raspy voice with a punk delivery. Mixed with the steel-guitar of his brother Jacob Binzer, D.A.D. are basically hard driving rock and roll; simple, energetic, a bit sleazy, and not a series lyric to be found. It's all about having a good time.
D.A.D. - Riskin' it All (Megahard
Records) 2001
1. "Bad Craziness"
(3:17)
2. "D. Law" (3:50)
3. "Day of Wrong Moves" (3:58)
4. "Rock 'N' Rock Radar" (2:38)
5. "I Won't Cut My Hair" (5:24)
6. "Down That Dusty 3rd World Road" (4:26)
7. "Makin' Fun of Money" (4:09)
8. "Grow or Pay" (5:02)
9. "Smart Boy Can't Tell Ya" (3:16)
10. "Riskin' It All" (2:39)
11. "Laugh 'N' a 1/2" (3:32)
It took me a while to come up with something to say about this disc. While I like the music, I was having a hard time coming up with a description of this band without making them sound like a hair band, which is just not the case. I kept wanting to compare them to AC/DC, but that's not really an accurate description either. More like a lazy, Southern rock version of AC/DC with a touch of hollywood strip metal, if that makes any sense whatsoever. Scandanavian cowboy metal! How's that for a label? Ahhh, well, I dunno. "Riskin' It All" may not be groundbreaking or even a favorite CD, but is rocks hard, has good riffs, cool vocals, and will generally not become a dust collector in my collection. I dig the novelty blues jam. Not much else to say. Rock on!