Bleach Blonde: Former Drop Dead, Gorgeous Singer Returns With '90s-Inspired Band (INTERVIEW)

Posted on Feb 12th 2013 3:30PM by Chris Epting Comments

Andy Mar

Most people probably know Danny Stillman as the lead vocalist for the Denver-based metalcore band Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Back in August 2011, the band went on an extended hiatus that eventually lead to a formal breakup.

In January 2012, Stillman and drummer Danny Cooper (also formerly of Drop Dead, Gorgeous) announced that they had begun a new project called Bleach Blonde.

Most recently the band released a 3-song EP after signing with Rise Records. In just a few days they head to Portland, Ore. to begin work on their debut album.

Noisecreep had the chance to speak with Stillman about the group and how fans of Drop Dead, Gorgeous might react to their music.

Danny, talk about how the EP came together.

Well first of all we are really excited about it. And I think the way we put together is pretty interesting. Obviously, it's just a preview of what's to come, but it was modern technology that really let us pull it off. When I first met up with the guitar player David Barella, who I met through a mutual friend, before we even met in person he emailed me some songs he was working on guitar. I laid some vocals down on those and emailed them back to him. Then we emailed the files to Danny, my old band's drummer, so he ended up finishing them at his end. Later, we added a second guitar player and bass player to eventually polish them up. But essentially creating the demos all via email was something pretty cool for us. It really is a New Age of recording.

Is it part of your plan to bring along some of the old Drop Dead, Gorgeous fans as you embark on this new project?

It is absolutely something that we talk a lot about. Since Drop Dead broke up two years ago and we got this going, in the back of my head I've wondered if the fans that like the more metal and a harder rock approach that we had would go along with us if we did something a little bit softer. But you know, metal fans, contrary to popular belief, seem to have a variety of tastes and so I think they'll really enjoy the new areas were exploring. I was such a huge fan of the '90s before having a band, and of a lot of emo music really appealed to me. For me, the '90s were a golden age of alternative rock. And so it's good to start playing some things that sound like a lot of my earliest influences.

Listen to 'Play Catch Up' from Bleach Blonde

Talk about your influences a little bit. Who is your favorite band growing up?

I think I have to say Blink-182. They really got me into the sort of music I wanted to play. And then I saw them live and it really affected my life. It was such an amazing show. It was Blink, Green Day, Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday. Jimmy Eat World also was a big influence on the rest of the guys in this band.

Can you lay out with the rest of the year will be like for Bleach Blonde?

Absolutely. Our plan right now is to finish the record in early April and then hit the road shortly after that. We've got the songs in pretty good shape as we head to the studio so we should be able to stick to that schedule. The album will probably be out by early summer and obviously our goal is to tour throughout the rest of the year to help promote it.