Daniel Dyer

During his formative years near the outskirts of Washington, D.C., Daniel Dyer appreciated the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and the Who without developing any deep commitment to music. Everything shifted when he turned 14 and received an electric guitar from an uncle. While still in high school he played in both cover groups and punk bands, at which point his preferences moved toward the Cult’s approach to songwriting and Steve Vai’s distinctive guitar style. College in Daytona Beach, FL, introduced him to Nine Inch Nails and Skinny Puppy, prompting Dyer to begin experimenting with synthesizers and drum machines. Gathering the various demos he had assembled, he issued his debut album, RavensBlind, in 2000. Two years afterward he eased away from the gothic textures and put out the more expansive and ambitious Midnight My Angel. He joined the Rock the Vote Bus Tour on the road in 2004.