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photo by Diana Lannes
Levi and Danny started LEVI DEXTER and the RIPCHORDS, ironically the original line-up of THE RIPCHORDS included Brian Setzer, later of the STRAY CATS and his brother GARY SETZER, they both dropped out when their current band THE BLOODLESS PHARAOHS got a record deal with CBS. Levi and Danny decide to go on as a four piece and arrived in London at the beginning of the new rockabilly revival. Levi had previously been singing with LEVI and the ROCKATS who had a good reputation as being the first of the new rockabilly bands (3 years before the The Stray Cats and a year or two before The Polecats). Their first six months in London they played almost all their shows with The Polecats as the opening act and after the Polecats had a national hit in England THE METEORS took over the opening slot. Danny left Levi after only a year and a half to join up in New York with his Levi's former Band mates THE ROCKATS.
THE ROCKATS released one LP on RCA (Make That Move) and appeared in a movie (Where The Boys are..Now) as well as made appearances on AMERICAN BANDSTAND, USA Networks "HOT SPOTS" and countless local TV shows. They toured with David Bowie, Hall and Oates, The Clash, The Go-Go's, Flock of Seagulls and The Pretenders among many. In 1984 after changing their name to THE SECRET HEARTS (Their manager Tommy Mottola's idea) they released one LP on MCA and shortly thereafter disbanded. In 1986 Danny moved back to England to join THE TWENTY FLIGHT ROCKERS a new band featuring GARY TWINN and MARK LAFF (drummer from Generation X). They were managed by BERNIE RHODES (The Clash's ex manager) and soon got signed to Epic records. They recorded two LPs for Epic but unfortunately because of legal woes neither LP was ever released.
In mid 1996 Danny got together with GARY TWINN again and they formed The Honeydippers whose first CD is currently available all over the world. In late 1996 he also started playing with his long time mates TIM POLECAT (The Polecats) , SMUTTY SMITH (The Rockats) and SLIM JIM PHANTOM (The Stray Cats) under the band name 13 CATS. Later on Jonny Bowler formerly of The Guana Batz replaced Smutty on bass.
In 1996 Danny composed his first film score for a SHOWTIME Movie, produced by ROGER CORMAN and Directed by KATT SHEA (Poison Ivy), called "LAST EXIT TO EARTH". The film features an all original soundtrack by Danny as well as songs by THE HONEYDIPPERS and his previous band BIG RIG JACKNIFE. 1998 was a big year for Danny as he composed his first Studio Film "THE RAGE CARRIE 2" for MGM. The movie opened at the box office at number one and has propelled DANNY into all kind of film and music projects. The soundtrack features a lot of solo guitar pieces as well as complete orchestra cues and even a few techno backing tracks. Danny managed to sneak two 13 CAT songs into the soundtrack.
In 1998 DANNY also put together a rockabilly trio with SLIM JIM PHANTOM and LEE ROCKER on bass, (two thirds of THE STRAY CATS), called THE SWING CATS. They recorded a CD for Cleopatra Records which is currently available all over the world including the USA. On the CD they featured guest vocalists JAMIE JAMES (The King Bees), TIM POLECAT and CLAUDIA CUMMINGS. LEE ROCKER sings a few songs and for the first time ever DANNY sings a lead vocal on St. James Infirmary. Also featured on the CD is guitarist JEFF "SKUNK" BAXTER (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers) who does two guitar duets with DANNY and plays pedal steel on a third song.
1999 DANNY, SLIM JIM and LEE recorded a second SWING CATS CD which will be released in December and is called "SWING CAT STOMP". Also in 1999 Danny and Slim Jim recorded and produced a tribute to Elvis which features JOHNNY RAMONE, LEMMY KILMISTER (Motorhead), Jamie James, THE 13 CATS, KATHY VALENTINE (The Go-Go's, MICHAEL DESBARRES (Checkered Past, Detective, Power Station) and CRISTI ELLEN HARRIS for the TV show Sunset Beach. Of note Danny and JOHNNY RAMONE recorded an instrumental version of VIVA LAS VEGAS with Slim Jim on drums and GOOD ROCKIN TONIGHT with LEMMY on vocals. Not only are these the last two recordings of JOHNNY RAMONE but they are also the only two songs he recorded outside of the RAMONES.
In 2003 Danny joined rock icon NANCY SINATRA as her guitarist and has been touring with her ever since. Also in 2005 Danny produced and played on rockabilly / country western WANDA JACKSON'S CD "I Remember Elvis". Danny recorded the CD at his good friend's GILBY CLARKE'S house with rock and roll hall of famer CLEM BURKE from BLONDIE. Jonny Bowler played bass and ELVIS COSTELLO wrote the liner notes pleading with the Rock and Roll hall of fame to induce WANDA JACKSON. The CD was a huge success for Wanda and was critically acclaimed as Wanda's return to rockabilly where now tours the world constantly as the undisputed Queen of Rockabilly, thanks in part to the success of that CD.
During the recording of the WANDA JACKSON Cd Danny first met a female country singer from Dallas Texas named LYNDA KAY PARKER. Danny shared the bill with her at a club in L.A. and when he discovered WANDA JACKSON was one of her idols he asked her to sing vocals on the CD. During the recording of her parts they talked and realized they a lot more in common than just WANDA JACKSON and started a duo called THE LONESOME SPURS. Since their formation in 2005 THE LONESOME SPURS have played all over the world and have opened for lots of great artists. They self-titled debut CD on Cleopatra was critically acclaimed by all the major press and has guaranteed them a future in both the rock and country fields.
In early 2000 partly because of the success of the Tribute to Elvis CD and the fun they had in the studio LEMMY KILMISTER, SLIM JIM PHANTOM and DANNY B. formed a trio and recorded a CD of Buddy Holly songs and other notable songs of that era. They later christen themselves THE HEAD CAT and have released not only a the Cd but also a live DVD recorded at Slim Jim's club THE CAT CLUB in 2006. in recent years THE HEAD CAT has been touring whenever all three of them get a break from their other bands so look for major tours coming up.
In recent years Danny has played in stage and toured with the likes of BOW WOW WOW, WANDA JACKSON, HAL BLAINE, JOHNNY HALLYDAY, JARVIS CROCKER, "LITTLE" STEVEN VAN SANT, RICHARD HAWLEY and BRIAN SETZER.
