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Feature image courtesy of Shawn Duncan

By Andrew DiCecco

Shawn Duncan became immersed in music at an early age, due to the influence of his father, a singer, songwriter, and arranger, while his love for drumming grew out of a makeshift kit he assembled from a collection of Tupperware, coffee cans, and pots, and pans.

A winding musical path has allowed Duncan to share the stage with some of the most prolific musicians in rock and heavy metal, including Rudy Sarzo, Jimmy Bain, Joey Vera, John Bush, Frank Hannon, C.C. DeVille, and most, recently, L.A. Guns, with Tracii Guns, Phil Lewis, Ace Von Johnson, and Johnny Martin.

In our recent interview, Duncan discussed, among other things, his formative years as a musician, his time with Odin, and recently joining L.A. Guns for the Sonic Slam tour.

Andrew:
Thanks for taking the time, Shawn. To start, let’s go back to the beginning of your musical journey. What was your earliest introduction to music, and what kindled your passion for the drums?

Shawn:
Our father was a songwriter, singer, and arranger. He always had bands, and my earliest memories are filled with music. Hell, when I was just a little baby, my mother told me a story about the three of us driving up the Pacific coast because my father had gigs with Jim Messina. So, we were constantly surrounded by musical instruments, musicians, and music. I don’t know what kindled my passion for the drums. What I do know is I made drums out of Tupperware, pots, pans, and coffee cans at a very early age. [Laughs].

Andrew:
What was your first drum set? Who were some of your most prominent influences as a young musician?

Shawn:
The first drum set I actually played on was an old Frankenstein of a kit. Part Ludwig part Slingerland. It actually belonged to the singer in the band that would eventually morph into Odin. My first drum set that was mine was a Sonor; I wanted a Sonor because Steve Smith played Sonor. The earliest influences were [John] Bonham, Steve Smith, Roger Taylor, Joey Kramer, Tony Brock, and Danny Seraphine. There were more because we listened to a lot of music by the Spinners, Four Tops, Gladys Knight, Temptations, etc. So, those rhythms and feelings are deep in my head. 

Andrew:
When you were honing your skills, what was the practice regimen you followed?

Shawn:
Honestly, I just played constantly to records. Then my brother Jeff picked up the guitar, and we played in bands together – still do – and rehearsed and wrote songs. There really wasn’t a practice regimen, except maybe high school band, where I went to class every day. [Laughs].

Andrew:
Was there an event or concert as a budding musician that spurred you to pursue a career in music?

Shawn:
I always thought it was something I was gonna do. And, I never looked at it as a career; being able to be paid to play the drums is a wonderful thing. To me, it is a very important part of my life that brings me wonderful friendships and experiences. 

Andrew:
As a member of the integral Los Angeles hard rock act Odin, you ultimately gained a substantial amount of exposure. Walk me through its origins.

Shawn:
When I was in junior high school, my younger brother Jeff joined a band called The Termites. Their drummer got in trouble and his parents wouldn’t let him play, but fortunately for me, he left his drum set at the place they practiced. Long story short: Termites turned into Tempest, which turned into Odin. By the time Odin, as it is most recognized, was formed, me and my brother were the only two who were in all the bands. So, Odin was what I call a progression of a long line of music I have done with my brother.

Andrew:
What did the club circuit look like for Odin?

Shawn:
We were a very big headliner on The Strip. Bill Gazzarri painted our name on the outside wall of Gazzarri’s. We headlined The Palace, Country Club, Troubadour, Roxy, Whisky, and Gazzarri’s. Sometimes, we would headline a Friday and Saturday at some of these clubs. We also opened for some majors and honestly, life was a giant party.

Andrew:
In retrospect, what was the most memorable bill that Odin shared, and what do you remember about that particular gig?

Shawn:
There are two; We played the “Blood Drive” with W.A.S.P. W.A.S.P. was the headliner and we were direct support.  This was our first “big gig,” and we really only opened at a club maybe once or twice after that.  Second, I remember headlining the Country Club in Reseda, and there was a private balcony that only VIPs had access to. It connected to the green room and there was always a big party after. This night, on the balcony, while we were playing, was Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, Bobby Blotzer, Juan Croucier, Chris Holmes, Herman Rarebell, Dave Holland, K.K. Downing, and a few others. There was a big party after, and I remember feeling like things were really getting real.

Andrew:
How long was it before the band was slipping original songs into the setlist? What covers would Odin play in the early days?

Shawn:
We played a lot of Sabbath, Van Halen, UFO, and Cheap Trick, but mostly this was when the band was in its early stages. Once Odin (me, Jeff, Randy, and Aaron) was a band we only did originals. Occasionally, at live shows, we would do “People Are Strange” by The Doors or “DOA” by Van Halen.

Andrew:
Over the years, Odin has become synonymous with the cult classic documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years. What led to the band’s involvement with the project, and do you believe the appearance in the documentary aided or detracted from Odin’s progress at the time?

Shawn:
When we interviewed/auditioned, Odin was nearing a point of self-implosion. When we shot our scenes, I believe we were getting ready to book some of our last shows. But all in all, it didn’t hurt the band and captured my youth in the immoral world of film. I am glad we did it. 

Andrew:
Odin’s singer, Randy O., cast a confident, unapologetically-go-for-it image in Decline. Was this his true mindset at the time or was his brash persona embellished for the documentary?

Shawn:
I think everyone on The Strip felt that way. We were all young, full of vinegar, and ambitious. We were not that much different in that film than everyone around us. Life was crazy, but we really had a great ride.

Andrew:
What are the qualities that make you such an in-demand drummer from your perspective, Shawn?

Shawn:
I dunno. Maybe my charming smile. [Laughs].

Andrew:
You’ve played with the likes of Gilby Clarke, Rudy Sarzo, Dizzy Reed, Frank Hannon, and most recently, L.A. Guns. Are there any specific artists with whom you’d like to collaborate, and, secondly, is there anything you haven’t done in your career that you’d like to?

Shawn
Right now, working with Tracii Guns, Johnny Martin, Phil Lewis, and Ace Von Johnson is a pretty freaking epic experience. I do enjoy collaborating and am always open to working with people. To me, it has always come down to personalities and songs. So many good people out there. I would like to play a Stadium and one big Euro Festival. Haven’t had the pleasure to do either…yet.

Andrew:
What led you to your opportunity in L.A. Guns? How has the Sonic Slam tour been for you?

Shawn:
It is actually a long story that goes back about six years. I did a tour with BulletBoys and we shared a bus with Gunzo, which was a project that Tracii Guns and Rudy Sarzo had at the time. Also on that tour was a band called Killer Bee. Anyhow, made a lot of friends on that run. Fast forward a year later, Anders LA Ronnblom from Killer Bee asked me if I was available to do a two-week tour of the UK with them. So, I did the tour which led to recording an album in Sweden and some dates in Israel. 

Out of the blue one day, Anders called me and wanted me to record some demos for him, which I did. Then, next thing I know, he has Tracii Guns doing guitar and Rudy Sarzo plays bass on a few tracks. Then it becomes a full album, and the band is called Social Disorder. The album was released on AFM Records and did fairly well. So, we just finished recording a second one, which is being mixed as I write this. 

Anyhow, one day I get a text from Tracii that simply says, “Hey, you busy this summer?” And then about a week later, I got a call from management, and here I am. The tour has been going really well, and I am having a blast. Love the whole organization, and all the bands on the bill are great people.

Andrew:
Last one, Shawn. In terms of your drum setup for this tour, what does it consist of?

Shawn:  
I am using Pearl Masters Custom drums, sizes are 24″, 14″, 16″, and 18″. My snare is a Yamaha Recording Series in Stainless Steel 14″ x 7″.  For pedals, I am going with Yamaha FP9 doubles, and my hardware is mostly Yamaha. When it comes to cymbals, it’s all Sabian, and the setup looks like this: 14″ Fusion High Hats, 18″ AAX Medium Crash. 20″ AAX Medium Crash, 18″ AA China, 19″ AA Rock Crash, 21″ HH Raw Bell Dry Ride, Ahead Drumsticks, and all my heads are Aquarian.

Interested in learning more about L.A. Guns? Hit the link below:

Be sure to check out the full archives of Shredful Compositions, by Andrew DiCecco, here: https://vinylwritermusic.wordpress.com/shredful-compositions-archives/