The Dead Daisies were a rock supergroup formed in 2012 by musician David Lowy. Over the years, the band has gone through several line-up changes with musicians coming and going. However, some of the most prominent members of the Dead Daisies include:
Early Members
When the Dead Daisies first formed in 2012, the original line-up consisted of:
- David Lowy – Guitarist and founder of the band
- Jon Stevens – Lead vocalist
- Marco Mendoza – Bassist
- Charley Drayton – Drummer
This initial line-up recorded the band’s self-titled debut album The Dead Daisies in 2013. The album featured a blues and classic rock influenced sound and was produced by legendary rock producer Kevin Shirley. It helped establish the Dead Daisies on the rock scene and featured songs like “Lock ‘N’ Load” and “Washington” co-written by Stevens and other members.
2013 – 2016
Over the next few years, the Dead Daisies went through several line-up changes while continuing to tour and release new music. Some of the members during this period included:
- Richard Fortus – Guitarist (2013-2015)
- Dizzy Reed – Keyboardist (2013-2016)
- Darryl Jones – Bassist (2013)
- Marc LaBelle – Vocalist (2014-2016)
- Jackie Barnes – Drummer (2014-2016)
Notable releases from this period included the EPs Face I Love and Dead Daisies Revolución as well as the band’s second full-length album Revolución in 2015. Several big name special guest musicians also made appearances on the band’s records and tours during these years like John Corabi (Mötley Crüe), Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones), and Paul Laine.
John Corabi Era
In 2015, former Mötley Crüe singer John Corabi joined the Dead Daisies as their new lead vocalist. This began a period that saw relative stability for the band’s line-up including:
- John Corabi – Lead Vocals (2015-2018)
- David Lowy – Guitar
- Marco Mendoza – Bass
- Brian Tichy – Drums (2015-2018)
- Dizzy Reed – Keyboards
The Dead Daisies released two studio albums with Corabi – Make Some Noise in 2016 and Burn It Down in 2018. Both albums captured the band’s high-energy, classic-sounding hard rock approach and they toured extensively in support of both records. Songs like “We All Fall Down” and “With You and I” came to define this incarnation of the band.
Current Members
In 2018, the Dead Daisies underwent another shake-up and their current line-up includes:
- Glenn Hughes – Lead Vocals
- David Lowy – Guitar
- Doug Aldrich – Guitar
- Deen Castronovo – Drums
- David Lowy – Bass
This latest incarnation of the band has so far released one studio album, Holy Ground, in 2021. It incorporates more soul and funk influences brought by new members like Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) and Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio). Their sound has been described as reminiscent of bands like Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.
Other Notable Members
While the above musicians constitute the major line-ups of the Dead Daisies, there were some other notable members who were part of the group for shorter stints:
- Bernard Fowler – Vocals
- Darryl Jones – Bass
- Clayton Doley – Keyboards
- Deen Castronovo – Drums
- Frank Ferrer – Drums
- Tommy Clufetos – Drums
Many of these musicians filled in for tours or specific performances when main members were unavailable. Both Bernard Fowler and Darryl Jones, for instance, performed as special guests rather than official members. Nevertheless, they all contributed to the Dead Daisies’ sound.
Summary of Major Members
To summarize, here is a table outlining the major members and eras of the Dead Daisies:
Era | Vocals | Guitar | Bass | Drums | Keys |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012-2013 | Jon Stevens | David Lowy | Marco Mendoza | Charley Drayton | – |
2013-2015 | Marc LaBelle | Richard Fortus | Marco Mendoza | Jackie Barnes | Dizzy Reed |
2015-2018 | John Corabi | David Lowy | Marco Mendoza | Brian Tichy | Dizzy Reed |
2018-Present | Glenn Hughes | David Lowy | David Lowy | Deen Castronovo | – |
Conclusion
Over the course of a decade, the Dead Daisies featured some amazing musical talent in their ranks. Early members like Jon Stevens, Richard Fortus, and Dizzy Reed helped establish the band’s sound. John Corabi’s stint cemented the Dead Daisies as a high-energy rock group. And the latest line-up with seasoned veterans like Glenn Hughes has opened new musical avenues. While members came and went, David Lowy remained the constant creative center of the band. His vision for a powerful, riff-driven hard rock sound defined the Dead Daisies throughout their ongoing evolution.