DevilDriver Family Tree

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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.

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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

Hank Williams was one of the original country legends. Dez lists him as one of the country guys he is a huge fan of.

Hank Williams was one of the original country legends. Dez lists him as one of the country guys he is a huge fan of.

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash is an iconic country player. Dez named him as a big influence as a kid and still listens to.

Johnny Cash is an iconic country player. Dez named him as a big influence as a kid and still listens to.

Waylon Jennings

Waylon Jennings is one of the pioneers of outlaw country. Dez is a big fan of him and outlaw country.

Waylon Jennings is one of the pioneers of outlaw country. Dez is a big fan of him and outlaw country.

Pink Floyd are one of the most influential progressive rock bands. Neil named the Dark Side of the Moon album as one that had the biggest influence on him.

Pink Floyd are one of the most influential progressive rock bands. Neil named the Dark Side of the Moon album as one that had the biggest influence on him.

Deep Purple are a hugely important hard rock band. Dez said they are one of his favorite bands.

Deep Purple are a hugely important hard rock band. Dez said they are one of his favorite bands.

 

Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop was punk before there was punk. He was the singer of The Stooges before a long solo career. Dez named him as an influence.

Iggy Pop was punk before there was punk. He was the singer of The Stooges before a long solo career. Dez named him as an influence.

 
Black Sabbath are the Fathers of metal. Dez named them and Ozzy as an influence. Mike named them as a big early influence.

Black Sabbath are the Fathers of metal. Dez named them and Ozzy as an influence. Mike named them as a big early influence.

Motorhead are a hugely important hard rock / heavy metal band. Dez said when he first heard them he thought they were the most bad ass punk band he ever heard before he realized they were something beyond punk.

Motorhead are a hugely important hard rock / heavy metal band. Dez said when he first heard them he thought they were the most bad ass punk band he ever heard before he realized they were something beyond punk.

AC/DC are the quintessential hard rock band. Dez said they were a huge influence on him when he was younger, especially Black in Black.

AC/DC are the quintessential hard rock band. Dez said they were a huge influence on him when he was younger, especially Black in Black.

Germs were a short lived but influential punk band. Dez named them as an influence.

Germs were a short lived but influential punk band. Dez named them as an influence.

X were an early LA punk band. Dez named them as a big influence.

X were an early LA punk band. Dez named them as a big influence.

Fear were an LA punk band considered important in developing hardcore punk. Dez is named them as important to him.

Fear were an LA punk band considered important in developing hardcore punk. Dez is named them as important to him.

Dead Kennedys were a punk/hardcore band. Dez named them as one of the punk bands he loves.

Dead Kennedys were a punk/hardcore band. Dez named them as one of the punk bands he loves.

The Cure were goth pioneers. Dez is a fan.

The Cure were goth pioneers. Dez is a fan.

Bauhaus wee goth pioneers. Dez names singer Peter Murphy as an influence.

Bauhaus wee goth pioneers. Dez names singer Peter Murphy as an influence.

Black Flag were pioneers of hardcore punk. Dez named them as a big influence and are the reason he got into punk

Black Flag were pioneers of hardcore punk. Dez named them as a big influence and are the reason he got into punk

Circle Jerks were another hardcore punk band from Cali. Dez named them as one of the punk bands he loves.

Circle Jerks were another hardcore punk band from Cali. Dez named them as one of the punk bands he loves.

GBH were another early hardcore band. Dez named them as an influence.

GBH were another early hardcore band. Dez named them as an influence.

The Partisans were British punk band. Dez named them as an influence.

The Partisans were British punk band. Dez named them as an influence.

Ozzy has been blessed with incredible and influential guitar players. Dez names Ozzy as an influence. Neil names Diary of a Madman as one the most influential albums on him.

Ozzy has been blessed with incredible and influential guitar players. Dez names Ozzy as an influence. Neil names Diary of a Madman as one the most influential albums on him.

Motley Crue are perhaps the most important glam metal band. Dez first heard them the same day he first heard Black Flags and they were influential.

Motley Crue are perhaps the most important glam metal band. Dez first heard them the same day he first heard Black Flags and they were influential.

Depeche Mode were a new wave band. Dez is a fan.

Depeche Mode were a new wave band. Dez is a fan.

Ministry are pioneers of industrial metal. John names them as an influence.

Ministry are pioneers of industrial metal. John names them as an influence.

Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Dez became a huge fan after hearing Ride the Lightning. Metallica were a huge influence on Jeff who was obsessed with them and James in particular. Mike also names them as a huge influence and learned a ton of th…

Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Dez became a huge fan after hearing Ride the Lightning. Metallica were a huge influence on Jeff who was obsessed with them and James in particular. Mike also names them as a huge influence and learned a ton of their songs through tab books when he was learning guitar. John named Lars as a main influence on him and Metallica on guitar playing.

Slayer were early on one of the most aggressive thrash bands. John named them as an early influence.

Slayer were early on one of the most aggressive thrash bands. John named them as an early influence.

Megadeth are very influential with Dave Mustaine often being considered the inventor of thrash metal. Mike named them as one of his main influences. John also named Megadeth as an early influence.

Megadeth are very influential with Dave Mustaine often being considered the inventor of thrash metal. Mike named them as one of his main influences. John also named Megadeth as an early influence.

Love and Rockets formed with members of Bauhaus after they split up. Dez named them as an influence.

Love and Rockets formed with members of Bauhaus after they split up. Dez named them as an influence.

Zodiac Mindwarp And The Love Reaction are a British hard rock band from the late 80’s. Dez is a huge fan.

Zodiac Mindwarp And The Love Reaction are a British hard rock band from the late 80’s. Dez is a huge fan.

Gene Hoglan

Gene Hoglan is considered one of the best metal drummers. He has played in a ton of bands notably Dark Angle, Death, Testament, Devin Townsend/Strapping Young Lad, Dethklok and a bunch of others. John named Gene as a main influence.

Gene Hoglan is considered one of the best metal drummers. He has played in a ton of bands notably Dark Angle, Death, Testament, Devin Townsend/Strapping Young Lad, Dethklok and a bunch of others. John named Gene as a main influence.

Danzig started out as singer in the Misfits before creating a solo band. Dez named him as an influence.

Danzig started out as singer in the Misfits before creating a solo band. Dez named him as an influence.

Alice in Chains were grunge pioneers and one of the biggest of the genre. Mike names Jerry Cantrell as a huge influence on him.

Alice in Chains were grunge pioneers and one of the biggest of the genre. Mike names Jerry Cantrell as a huge influence on him.

Circus of Power were another late 80’s hard rock band. Dez was a big fan.

Circus of Power were another late 80’s hard rock band. Dez was a big fan.

Primus was an experimental funk metal band. John names drummer Tim Alexander as a major influence.

Primus was an experimental funk metal band. John names drummer Tim Alexander as a major influence.

Pantera are a band that completely changed the world of metal with the creation of groove metal. Mike named them as one of his main influences. Neil named Cowboys From Hell as on of the albums that has influenced him the most.

Pantera are a band that completely changed the world of metal with the creation of groove metal. Mike named them as one of his main influences. Neil named Cowboys From Hell as on of the albums that has influenced him the most.

Fear Factor started as a death metal band and moved into an industrial metal direction. John named Raymond Herrera as an influence.

Fear Factor started as a death metal band and moved into an industrial metal direction. John named Raymond Herrera as an influence.

Machine head is a band rooted in groove metal. John named them as an influence.

Machine head is a band rooted in groove metal. John named them as an influence.

Korn are pioneers of Nu-metal. John named David Silvera as a major influence.

Korn are pioneers of Nu-metal. John named David Silvera as a major influence.

Hank Williams III

Hank Williams III, grandson of Hank Williams, plays a mix of country, punk, and metal. Dez is a big fan.

Hank Williams III, grandson of Hank Williams, plays a mix of country, punk, and metal. Dez is a big fan.

Gojira are a progressive groove/death band. Mike named them as a newer influence. John Mario Duplantier as a big influence.

Gojira are a progressive groove/death band. Mike named them as a newer influence. John Mario Duplantier as a big influence.

Mateus Asato

Mateus Asato is a guitarist who has gained fame through his Instagram videos. Neil named him as his only new influence.

Mateus Asato is a guitarist who has gained fame through his Instagram videos. Neil named him as his only new influence.

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