Rigged: Danny Walker

Every project that Danny Walker touches is elevated by his performance – whether it’s his day-job in Intronaut, his session work with Job For A Cowboy, or his stint alongside his Intronaut bandmates in Cloudkicker. Although his chops are certainly no joke, what I love most about his playing is the personality and vision that he consistently brings to every performance.

When our comrades at MetalSucks named Walker one of the top drummers in modern metal, Axl Rosenberg compared Walker to a filmmaking auteur. In other words, like Stanley Kubrick, John Carpenter, or Quentin Tarantino, Walker is the kind of artist whose fingerprints you can detect in every interstice of his playing. That’s something as quantifiable as it is unquantifiable – we could point to chops, licks, or technique, but sometimes those terms are not enough. To me, a true auteur is someone who can suggest complete mastery with the simplest stroke – like John Bonham on “Kashmir.” Where you can hear the years of practice, the innate talent, and the unique perspective on music, in the most basic backbeat.

Danny Walker is that kind of artist – and he’s only getting better. 2012’s Habitual Levitations was, in my opinion, Intronaut’s best yet, and Walker’s best performance yet. You can’t often say about metal bands that you think their best work is in front of them rather than behind them – but you can say that about Danny and Intronaut. I’m very happy to be alive while he is playing drums and making music. And we are happy to present you with a detailed rundown of Walker’s rig. Thanks to Danny and Jon at Century Media for the photos!

Current Bands / Session Work

INTRONANT, MURDER CONSTRUCT & CLOUDKICKER.

JOB FOR A COWBOY & CEPHALIC CARNAGE.

Past Bands / Session Work

UPHILL BATTLE, EXHUMED, PHOBIA, JESU, BASTARD NOISE, BAD ACID TRIP, FLATTBUSH & CINEMA STRANGE.

DRUMS – DW Drums

KIT 1. 

DW Design Series® – Tobacco Burst Lacquer with Chrome Hardware

8×10″¹ Rack Tom

9×12″¹ Rack Tom

14×16″² Floor Tom

18×22″ Bass Drum

KIT 2.

DW Collectors Ebony Satin Oil Finish

8×10″¹ Rack Tom

8×12″¹ Rack Tom

14×16″² Floor Tom

18×22″ Bass Drum

6.5×14″ Snare Drum – Black Nickel Over Brass w/ diecast hoops.

DRUM HEADS – Aquarian Drum Heads

10” Tom – Response 2 clear for recording / Force Ten clear for live.

12” Tom – Response 2 clear for recording / Force Ten clear for live.

16” Tom – Response 2 clear for recording / Force Ten clear for live.

14” Snare – Response 2 coated for recording / Force Ten coasted for live.

22” Bass Drum – Super Kick 2.

CYMBALS – Meinl Cymbals

14” Hihats – M Series

14” Auxiliary Hihats – MB20 Heavy Soundwave Hihat

18” Crash – MB10 Medium

19” Crash – MB10 Medium

20” Ride – MB 20 Heavy Bell Ride

16” China – Byzance Traditional

18” China – MB20 Rock China

8” Splash – Byzance Traditional

10” Splash – MB10

DRUM STICKS – Vic Firth 

5B Woodtip

CLICK TRACK APPLICATION – Tempo Frozen Ape. 

PHOTO CREDITS

All The Photos in the rehearsal space are just taken by me.

The one of me standing by the drumset is taken by Niky Dogatzis

The live one with blue lighting was taken by Maclyn Bean.

The other pictures are screen shots of the Click / Tempo App I use on my phone.