Page 113 - ION Indie Magazine NovDec 2018

JP: You’ve been at this for a while. You’ve seen a lot. If a 16-year-old blazing guitarist asked you for one bit of
advice about getting into the music business, what bit of advice would you give?

JD: I would say, because this is my own experience, don’t do it for any other reason other than you love to play
and that you have a passion for it. If you do it for the money, you’re going to be disappointed. That comes and
goes. If you’re going to do it for all the circusy things, like girls or partying, that’s not gonna cut it. Everything
gets old. I’d definitely say to stay the heck away from drugs and excesses like that. It’s not good for the creative
process. Stay focused on becoming the best musician you can be and do it because you love it. When the day
comes that you don’t love to do it, just stop doing it.

JP: What’s it like playing in a band with your brothers?

JD: Oh, it’s the best. How lucky am I? That’s how I’ve always looked at it. I have one brother that is an incredible
drummer and another brother who is a great bassist and a great singer. I always make the joke that the reason
it works is because we already know each other are assholes (laughing). There isn’t anything you have to worry
about popping up because you know them so well. Rowan, we have pretty much adopted at this point, ya know?
He is a brother too and probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

JP: How did you get Rowan into DC4?