DevilDriver Family Tree
Metal Family Tree
This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.
We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.
DevilDriver blend groove metal and melodic death to create something fairly unique. Vocalist Dez Fafara has been the only member in the band since the beginning. Guitarist Jeff Kendrick and drummer John Boecklin were with the band from the beginning till 2014, doing the first six albums. They were replaced with guitarist Neal Tiemann and drummer Austin D'Amond, who are still with the band. Original bassist Jonathan Miller was on the first five albums. Session bassist Chris Towning was on one album before current bassist Diego Ibarra joined. The original lead guitarst Evan Pitts was only on the first ablum before being replaced by Mike Spreitzer who is still with the band making him the most constant member besides Dez.
Hank Williams
Johnny Cash
Waylon Jennings
Iggy Pop
Gene Hoglan
Hank Williams III
Mateus Asato
Dez talks about some of the stuff he grew up with from his parents music collection such as: Steppenwolf, The Doors, Three Dog Night, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Iron Butterfly. He said he then bought a Kiss record before getting into punk and then Motrohead. He says he listens to everything from Satyricon and Emperor to Billie Holiday and is a big fan of outlaw country. He also mentions being a fan of Behemoth and Nile. The only instrument he says he plays is Native American flute and listens to Carlos Nakai.
Evan Pitts played guitar on the first album but I’m unsure of his influences. According to Mike, Evan wrote most of the first album and albums after that became more collaborative.
Mike Def Leppard was the band that made him first want to play guitar but they aren’t a main influence. He said Antichrist Superstar by Marilyn Manson is his favorite album but isn’t an influence on his guitar playing.
Neil started playing guitar after hearing Nirvana on the radio although he says he’s not a big fan anymore.
Bassist Jonathan Miller played on the first 5 albums but I’m unsure of his influences.
Chris Towning played on one album but is a session player, I’m uncertain if he contributed to writing.
Diego Ibarra is the current bassist and played on the two most recent albums but hasn’t contributed to writing as of yet. (Dealing With Demons I is not out at the time of writing this.)
John mentioned “Outside of the metal realm I still listen to a lot of my childhood music: Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Huey Lewis, and a huge pop 80's catalog to boot. I am a big fan of Mumford and Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews, and that is just the beginning of my outside influences on a major level. Everything from old DJ Shadow to a new band Twisted Tounges, the acts I listed are pretty major, but I keep my ear to the ground.”
Austin has been the drummer since 2015 but I’m unsure of his influences.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=eOvyuYW4-c0&feature=emb_logo
https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/devildrivers-dez-fafara-the-10-records-that-changed-my-life-637256
https://www.loudersound.com/features/devildrivers-dez-fafara-answers-your-questions
https://lacrossetribune.com/entertainment/devildriver-singer-dez-fafara-is-one-driven-dude/article_927e2232-ab95-55e0-838c-36640efd49c5.html
https://crypticrock.com/interview-dez-fafara-of-devildriver-coal-chamber/
https://www.metal-rules.com/2007/09/27/devildriver-vocalist-dez-fafara/
http://bravewords.com/news/devildriver-guitarist-jeff-kendrick-i-dabbled-a-little-bit-on-piano-but-nothing-compared-to-guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slzp5yskkTo
https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/10-questions-devildrivers-mike-spreitzer-and-neal-tiemann
https://wgrd.com/devildriver-mike-spreitzer-favorite-guitar-riffs/
https://www.antiheromagazine.com/interview-with-mike-spreitzer-from-devildriver/
https://sickdrummermagazine.com/the-drummers/metal-hardcore/john-boecklin-of-devildriver-updates-interview-november-2013/
http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=19725
https://www.rocksins.com/2013/03/interview-with-john-boecklin-of-devildriver-16671/
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/sound-vapors-podcast/e/65724912