Drummer Dan Whitesides, who has been touring with the Used since 2007, speaks about the band’s current headlining tour — and more.
The Used (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records)
The past year has brought on many changes for the pop/metal band the Used. While writing and recording their latest album, Artwork, the band broke longstanding ties by seeking out both new management and a new producer.
With Matt Squire (Panic! at the Disco) producing, the goal of the new record was to shake off old genre misconceptions about the Used’s music, with a new sound — dubbed “gross pop.” Drummer Dan Whitesides, who has been touring with the band since 2007, spoke with Atlantic City Weekly about the band’s current headlining tour, the newest album (which he finally got the chance to record on with the band) and more.
How has the tour been so far? Are you excited to come back to Atlantic City?
I’m excited to go to New Jersey on this tour; we haven’t been there in a little while. Even the staff is really cool, like all the security guards are cool and the shows are always really good there. Our first [shows] in San Diego and L.A. were really good and it was warm. Now we’re in Des Moines where it’s ice-ass cold. It seems like that’s the way it’s going to be the rest of the tour.
Was recording with the rest of the band for the first time a natural progression?
It was pretty natural just because I had been touring and writing and stuff for the two years before, plus Quinn and I, long before I was in the band, would jam all the time. Bert and Jeff and Quinn are easy to work with and they’re, in my opinion, three of the best songwriters and musicians I’ve ever played with.
What’s your interpretation of Artwork?
It’s kind of come to be, even with the album cover (a syringe going into an arm), a fuck-you to corporate commercialization of everything and how there isn’t very much originality going on right now. I don’t know if you pay attention to the Grammys, but [reading the winners] was like, wow, man, there are no songwriters up there, you know what I mean? It’s just all performers.
Who are some of your favorite drummers?
I’ve got a lot of favorite drummers. As for rock drummers, I really like Tommy Lee and [John] Bonham. And then there’s more indie drummers like Peter Moffet from Burning Airlines and one of my friends, Damon Atkinson, from a band called Braid and Hey Mercedes. I’ve always looked up to him. When I got to meet him it was incredible. As for jazz and studio drummers there’s Dave Weckl, Buddy Rich, Tony Williams.
What music have you been listening to?
I’ve been listening to a lot of the Strokes, a lot of Tom Petty and Every Time I Die. We’ve been rocking the newest Brand New album. I never really thought about that band or even really listened to them but then I checked out their new album and they did a good job.
The Used appears Friday, Feb., 12, 7pm at the House of Blues at Showboat in Atlantic City. Tickets are $25-$30.
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