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Daniel Ash

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Daniel Ash
Ash on stage with Love and Rockets, c. 1989
Ash on stage with Love and Rockets, c. 1989
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Gaston Ash
Born (1957-07-31) 31 July 1957 (age 68)
Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • saxophone
Years active1979–present
Labels
Member ofPoptone
Formerly of

Daniel Gaston Ash[1] (born 31 July 1957)[2] is an English musician, songwriter and singer. Daniel Ash was born from a French mother and English father.[3] He was born in England and spent his childhood in Northampton.[4] He became prominent in the late 1970s as the guitarist for the goth rock band Bauhaus, which spawned two related bands led by Ash: Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets and more recently Ashes and Diamonds.[5] He also reunited with bandmate Kevin Haskins to form Poptone, a retrospective of their respective careers, featuring Kevin's daughter Diva Dompe on bass. He has also recorded several solo albums.[6] Several guitarists have listed Ash as an influence, including Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction,[7] Kim Thayil of Soundgarden,[8][9] Hide of X Japan[10] and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[11]

Life and work

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After going to concerts in his teenage years, Ash decided to perform on a stage in some way. He started playing guitar around the age of 15,[12] but confessed to having been very lazy and learning only three chords, and nothing more, for about three years. He began playing in cover bands, often together with future bandmates David J and Kevin Haskins, whom he had known since nursery school. His first gig was in the Glasgow Rangers Workman's Club.[citation needed]

Daniel Ash in 1986, while in Love and Rockets

Ash had become friends with Peter Murphy during his teenage years. Ash went to art school and Murphy went to work in a printing factory. They met up again five years later and Ash suggested forming a band. Rigging up a makeshift rehearsal space, Ash played an Echo 12 – bar blues, while Murphy sang a series of newspaper articles. Four weeks later, they formed Bauhaus and recorded "Bela Lugosi's Dead".

That song, released in 1979, became one of the most influential songs in gothic rock music, even though they saw themselves as a "dark glam" band and have always distanced themselves from the gothic label. From early on, he was intent on sounding original, and often tried to "make the guitar not sound like a guitar". He worked to develop a guitar style that included other-worldly and atmospheric sounds. In an interview with John Robb, he said that he first bought an EBow in 1981.[13] He typically has used a Telecaster[14] guitar, HH amplifiers and Marshall 4x12 cabinets for his stage gear. Later in his career, he relied heavily on the Fernandes Sustainer system to achieve sounds similar to the EBow.

After nearly five years of recording and performing, Bauhaus broke up and Ash put together Tones on Tail with Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins. As Ash described them: "We were a motley crew of individuals who essentially wanted to sound like a band from Venus or Mars!"[citation needed] In 1984, Tones on Tail was disbanded; Ash founded Love and Rockets in 1985 with Haskins and David J, also of Bauhaus. In an interview in June 2009, Ash emphatically stated that he had no further plans to play with Love and Rockets.[14]

Ash has stated that guitar solos do not interest him much, since they rely on a musician's ego. He cares much more for the craft of songwriting and the overall production of a song rather than a focus on guitar or any other single instrument.[15] During the last ten years, he has been experimenting more with electronic music, both with Love and Rockets and solo, limiting the use of guitar as an extra element to the songs. In an extensive interview by Visual Music Japan (VMJ) with Mandah Frénot, Ash said:

"Shredding is all testosterone and ego (laughs) — just too academic. It becomes this exercise in cramming as many notes as possible into three seconds. It’s like ego-wanking, really. No soul, no feeling [...] It leaves me absolutely cold [...] By the time I picked up a guitar, it felt like everything had already been done — and done better than I could do it. I mean, I loved Jimi Hendrix, but what’s the point in trying to compete with someone who was already a master? I just didn’t see any originality in copying that kind of playing. Also — and I’ve said this before — I was probably a bit lazy. I didn’t have the discipline or the interest to learn scales or technique in that academic way. That route just didn’t appeal to me. So, I went the experimental path because it felt more creative and more authentic to who I was. I never even considered doing it the normal way — I was just following what felt interesting to me."[16]

In 1994, Ash moved to LA, America for the motorcycle culture – one of his passion. Ash said:

"I’ve loved bikes ever since I was about twelve. My dad had Lambretta scooters, and I’d sneak out on those around the neighborhood. The day I was legally old enough to ride a motorcycle, I was on one. From about 16 or 17, I’ve always had a bike on the road. Living near the mountains now means I can get out of the city every day if I want. I really appreciate that solitude more and more as I grow older. Riding has been part of my life since I was twelve years old. It’s more than a hobby — it’s how I stay mentally balanced. I never go for a walk, I don’t swim, I don’t do yoga, I don’t meditate — I ride bikes. Every day, if I can. It’s the one thing that resets me. If I’m feeling low, anxious, depressed, or just scattered, a long ride puts me right again. Some people might find peace in nature or through exercise."[17]

In 2008, Bauhaus released Go Away White, (their first studio album in 25 years) which was followed by a world tour.

Love and Rockets played at Coachella Music and Arts Festival and Lollapalooza in 2008.

In June 2009, Ash released a cover of the David Essex song "Rock On", featuring singer Zak Ambrose on vocals.[14] Recorded at the Swing House rehearsal and recording complex in Hollywood, the track is on the Swing House Sessions Vol 1 EP. Later in 2009, Ash released a four-song EP exclusively through iTunes, entitled "It's A Burn Out".[citation needed]

In March 2017, Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins and Haskin's daughter Diva Dompé announced Poptone and a US tour, featuring songs by Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets and Bauhaus.[18]

Daniel Ash with a motorcycle

In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, Ash created a new band, Ashes and Diamonds, comprising Paul Denman on bass, formerly of Sade, and Bruce Smith the former drummer with The Pop Group, Rip Rig + Panic and Public Image Ltd.

Ash joined Jane's Addiction on stage at Madison Square Garden in 2022 to perform Jane's Addiction's "Jane Says" and "Slice of Life" by Bauhaus.[19]

Love and Rockets reunited in 2023 for a short reunion tour of the United States between May and June 2023, making their first performance since 2008 at Pasadena's annual Cruel World Festival at the Rose Bowl.[20]

Ash reunited with Kevin Haskins and Diva Dompe under the Tones on Tail moniker at Cruel World in May 2024.[21]

In 2019, Daniel Ash formed a new band with Paul Denman from Sade on bass and Bruce Smith from Public Image Ltd. on drums. The trio began to record in 2020 but due to the pandemic, the release was postponed. Ashes and Diamonds is et release of their debut album, Ashes and Diamonds are Forever in October 2025 via Cleopatra Records.[22]

Poptone (Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins, Diva Dompé) performing at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco.

Discography as band member

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Solo discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album details
1990 Coming Down
1992 Foolish Thing Desire
2002 Daniel Ash
  • Label: Psychobaby Records
2005 Come Alive
  • Label: Psychobaby Records
2014 Stripped
  • Label: GO! Studio [Reissued 2016 by MVD / Main Man]
2017 Freedom I Love

Singles, EPs and promos

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Year Album information
1990 "This Love"
1991 "Walk This Way"
1992 "Get Out of Control"
1993 "Here She Comes"
2000 Daniel Ash EP
  • Label: Self Released
2000 "Burning Man"
  • Label: Plastik Records
2001 "Spooky"
  • Label: Psychobaby Records
2002 Burning Man x6 + 1
  • Label: Psychobaby Records
2009 "Rock On (Dirty Queen)"
  • Label: Arsenal Records
2009 It's A Burn Out EP
  • iTunes Exclusive
2010 The Soldiers of Everyday
  • Label: Self Released
2011 The Push
  • iTunes Exclusive
2011 That's What She Said
  • iTunes Exclusive

Compilations

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Year Album information
2013 Anthology
  • Label: Cherry Red
  • Contained his two albums for Beggars Banquet with B-sides and a bonus disc of collaborations, compilations tracks and more.

Other

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References

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  1. ^ "ADRENALIN". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Daniel Ash Biography". Oxford Reference. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  3. ^ VMJ (15 July 2025). "Daniel Ash | Iconic and unapologetic, from Bauhaus to Ashes and Diamonds, the music icon opens up about life, art and the urge to keep moving". VMJ. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  4. ^ VMJ (15 July 2025). "Daniel Ash | Iconic and unapologetic, from Bauhaus to Ashes and Diamonds, the music icon opens up about life, art and the urge to keep moving". VMJ. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  5. ^ VMJ (15 July 2025). "Daniel Ash | Iconic and unapologetic, from Bauhaus to Ashes and Diamonds, the music icon opens up about life, art and the urge to keep moving". VMJ. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Daniel Ash closes door on Love and Rockets: 'It's boring for me to do those songs'". Slicing Up Eyeballs. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction Discusses Technique and Influences in 1991 Guitar World Interview". Guitar World. 1991. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Soundgarden – "Belligerent, Paranoid"". BraveWords. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  9. ^ Greg Prato (11 May 2022). "Kim Thayil names 11 guitar players who shaped his sound". Guitar World. Future plc, Future Publishing Limited Quay House. Retrieved 4 August 2022. "In between the late '70s punk rock/new wave explosion and 1984/SST, there was a British post-punk thing, and I picked up on the style and elements of Daniel Ash. Once again, specifically the use of feedback, slashing, and pick scrapes and finger squeaks on the strings." "All these elements that were incidental, producers and recording engineers often tried to keep off the tape. It's also stuff that guitarists tried to avoid doing because they thought it was incidental, noise and unintended. "Ash embraced that as all part of the depth of the music and created that sort of 'cinematic depth' – kind of in the way that Pere Ubu had this weird literary dynamic to the way they did things. So, they weren't afraid of the picks scrapes, the squeaks, and the use of space. It was just amazing. "And on some level, it's fun and wild, but it's also courageous and arty. It inspired me not to be afraid of these components of playing guitar. I didn't have to work my way out of them – I could incorporate them into the songs."
  10. ^ "hide's Top Favorite Albums". nopperabou. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
    hide（前編）80年代の横須賀が生んだ必然のギタリスト. Natalie (in Japanese). 26 September 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  11. ^ Joe Bosso (30 May 2012). "Book excerpt: John Frusciante on being a guitar antihero". MusicRadar. Future Plc.
  12. ^ VMJ (15 July 2025). "Daniel Ash | Iconic and unapologetic, from Bauhaus to Ashes and Diamonds, the music icon opens up about life, art and the urge to keep moving". VMJ. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  13. ^ John Robb (2 November 2021). "Daniel Ash : The John Robb interview". YouTube. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  14. ^ a b c "Daniel Ash: Rock On". SuicideGirls.com. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  15. ^ "The Wonder Years. (thirty-two influential guitar players during eighties decade)". Guitar Player. 1 April 2001.[dead link]
  16. ^ VMJ (15 July 2025). "Daniel Ash | Iconic and unapologetic, from Bauhaus to Ashes and Diamonds, the music icon opens up about life, art and the urge to keep moving". VMJ. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  17. ^ VMJ (15 July 2025). "Daniel Ash | Iconic and unapologetic, from Bauhaus to Ashes and Diamonds, the music icon opens up about life, art and the urge to keep moving". VMJ. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  18. ^ "POPTONE Rises To Embrace Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets… Tour Planned". Shockwavemagazine.com. 6 March 2017. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  19. ^ Campbell, Erica (20 October 2022). "Jane's Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins live in New York City: '90s legends stage a hit-filled fiery rock show". NME. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  20. ^ Eyeballs, Slicing Up (11 April 2023). "Love and Rockets expands reunion tour with 10 additional concerts across U.S." Slicing Up Eyeballs. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Cruel World's 2024 Lineup Has Duran Duran & A Tones On Tail Reunion". Stereogum. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  22. ^ VMJ (15 July 2025). "Daniel Ash | Iconic and unapologetic, from Bauhaus to Ashes and Diamonds, the music icon opens up about life, art and the urge to keep moving". VMJ. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
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