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Dan Wleklinski, aka “Dan Precision,” is without doubt one of the Chicago space punk scene’s top-level multi-hyphenates. As a musician, Wleklinksi was a founding member of 88 Fingers Louie; Rise In opposition to; Soulscape; Break the Silence, and now The Iron Spiders. He’s additionally a prolific report producer. I lately spent a couple of hours documenting his manufacturing work, on the upcoming Bumsy and the Moochers report, at The Bombshelter Recording Studio. He based the studio within the basement of his suburban childhood dwelling in 1999. Later, in a wide-ranging interview, by which we mentioned his work as a musician and as a producer, he recalled a few of his wildest experiences, his love of highway journeys on his bike, and extra.
MerGold (Dying Scene): How did you get into music to start out with?
Dan Wleklinksi: My mother and father had a really slight musical background, and my dad began to show me some fundamental piano taking part in after I was round 5 years outdated. I began taking precise piano classes on the age of 10, however I actually wished to play guitar. Sadly, my mother and father didn’t have the funds for to purchase a guitar for me and mentioned that I couldn’t take guitar classes. I informed them that I’d stop piano out of spite if I couldn’t take guitar classes, and being the little a**gap child that I used to be, I stop piano a couple of days later. Trying again, I want I hadn’t completed that as a result of I’d have been a a lot better and realized musician at this age. Fortunately I began studying guitar on the age of 13.
Had been there any exhibits or occasions you discover significantly memorable? Good or unhealthy?
The memorable occasions and exhibits are past depend…each good and unhealthy…like having 13 cop automobiles referred to as on us in 2004 [in Fresno, CA when a member of Break The Silence] after we threatened a venue proprietor for not paying up. We have been on tour with A Wilhelm Scream and A lot the Similar. Or in 1999, [with 88 Fingers Louie], nearly preventing some Germans in Hamburg for accusing us of trashing their van. The dudes in At The Drive-In have been going to again us up if that struggle ever occurred, however we bought out of that one. We have been on tour with A Wilhelm Scream and A lot the Similar.
One in every of my favourite instances was the weekend in 2014 [again, with 88 Fingers Louie] the place we performed Rock Fest in Montebello, Canada. There have been so many cool bands that we shared the stage with, together with Blink-182, Primus, Motley Crue, Megadeth, Danzig, Weezer, Cypress Hill, and so many extra. Many of the bands stayed in the identical 5-story lodge on the location of the competition, so we bought to hang around and speak with so many cool musicians. We additionally had a view of a number of levels from our lodge rooms, so if we didn’t really feel like happening, we may watch the bands from the consolation of our personal rooms.
Favourite venues and occasions in Chicago; the identical query for different places?
I’ve performed fairly a couple of nice venues in Chicago, together with the Hearth Bowl, Backside Lounge, The Metro, Livewire, Home of Blues, and The Vic, however I’ve at all times liked taking part in Reggies.
There are various occasions which have been a blast to play, together with Riot Fest in Chicago (we additionally performed the Denver dates), Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas (and we performed the New Jersey model as effectively), each Groezrock and Brakrock in Belgium, Music 4 Most cancers and Rockfest in Canada, Revolt Fest in the UK, and Punk Rock Vacation in Slovenia.
How do you determine which tasks, bands, or musicians with whom to work?
As a musician, I actually get pleasure from working with different gamers who share the identical long-term imaginative and prescient and expertise. I’ve been fortunate to have began bands comparable to 88 Fingers Louie, Rise In opposition to, Break the Silence, Soulscape, and now The Iron Spiders. At this level in my life, if I have been going to contemplate being in an expert band, they might must be a touring band. One of the tough issues to take care of is the truth that I’ve the liberty to tour whereas a number of bands I’ve been part of have misplaced that means over time.
How did you then get into producing data? What was your first report?
My first actual band, 88 Fingers Louie, recorded a number of instances beginning in 1993 with the esteemed producer, Mass Giorgini, at his studio, Sonic Iguana in Lafayette, Indiana. We recorded a bunch of EPs and a pair of full albums there, together with “Behind Bars” and “Again on the Streets.” Throughout the “Again on the Streets” classes, Mass commented that I had an excellent ear for music and requested if I wished to discover ways to be an audio engineer. I agreed. I began by comping vocal tracks on “Again on the Streets” in order that was technically the primary report I ever labored on.
I opened my studio, The Bombshelter Recording Studio, in 1999, and the primary band I recorded was The Poonanies. The singer, Tony, went on to kind Chicago’s very personal, Shot Baker.
How do you determine which musicians to work with? Are there parameters for which you’ll flip down bands or tasks?
Sometimes, bands ask to work with me from word-of-mouth of previous shoppers, or seeing my title within the credit of albums I’ve recorded. I really feel that with the rise in streaming during the last decade, the latter has been more and more tough to attain visibility. I consider Spotify lately has began exhibiting recording/producing/mixing credit should you click on on the discharge, however the bands nonetheless must enter that data.
Most bands are nice with sharing the recording credit to streaming platforms, and I really feel it’s of their greatest curiosity to take action. Not solely may it presumably open up different avenues of listeners, nevertheless it additionally helps the engineers and producers get their names out to different musicians who would possibly like their manufacturing.
I don’t actually flip down bands or tasks. I’ve labored with bands who have been 13 and 14 years outdated who have been desirous to study. I’ve additionally labored with seasoned musicians of their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s…and every part in between.
I’ve recommended bands to presumably go to a distinct producer if I really feel we wouldn’t be an excellent match. For instance, I really feel that bands and producers must take time within the studio to make their recording the most effective it may be. If a band desires to report 10 songs in 2 days, I allow them to know that I don’t work that rapidly as I consider the method and the standard suffers.
How collaborative is the method? Would you like the bands to return in with particular concepts, or do you are taking the lead?
The recording course of could be very collaborative, and that’s certainly one of my favourite components in producing bands. I get pleasure from when bands have particular concepts and collectively, we are able to mix all of our musical expertise and hone every track. Nevertheless, there are lots of instances when the band would really like me to take the lead, and I’m completely satisfied to take action.
That may be a bit of tougher after I work with a band for the primary time, however fortunately, I’ve quite a lot of repeat shoppers, and every subsequent time, the collaboration turns into simpler and extra fruitful. It truly is a lovely factor to be inventive with different musicians who might have totally different musical types and backgrounds.
Have you ever labored on some musician’s debut albums? As within the musician has by no means been in a studio? What’s that have like?
Sure, I’ve labored with a couple of bands’ with it being their first time within the studio. Sometimes, these are teenaged bands trying to lower their first EP. I’ve additionally labored with visitor musicians who’re singing backing vocals or taking part in an accompanying half on a longtime band’s recording. Generally they’re younger…like a band member’s son or daughter. Different instances they’re proficient moms and dads of the band at the moment within the studio. Both method, it’s at all times an pleasing expertise as they go away having realized one thing. I believe I’m a bit like my father, who was an ideal trainer. It’s an superior feeling to have bands return and to see the progress they’ve achieved since their final recording with me.
Associated to being a producer, what are the most effective components of proudly owning your personal studio? Are there challenges you weren’t totally conscious of earlier than proudly owning your personal studio?
As you will have gathered from my earlier solutions, I like being within the studio, working with musicians, and likewise mixing and mastering by myself…mainly, I like the audio portion of operating the enterprise. One of many tougher components for me is the promoting side. Whereas I’m happy with the work I do, and I get pleasure from selling bands’ releases, I don’t actually like “speaking myself up.” After I first began, I believe I used to be fortunate as a result of individuals heard concerning the Bombshelter by the bands I used to be in. Over time, word-of-mouth from completely satisfied shoppers has helped me proceed to do what I like…for 25 years! I’m nonetheless barely shocked that the month of September 2024 would be the twenty fifth anniversary of The Bombshelter Recording Studio. “Thanks” to all of my previous and particularly return shoppers who’ve helped me do what I like for thus lengthy!
Final yr you left the studio and the levels for a extremely cool cause. You launched into a solo bike highway journey throughout a part of the nation, and introduced your mates and followers with you by way of pictures and video. How and when did you begin driving? What does driving do for you?
Though I began driving 30 years in the past, my first solo bike tour was in 2022. Driving is often very stress-free for me, and I consider the enjoyment I expertise on longer excursions are an extension of my time touring with bands. There are such a lot of memorable moments I’ve skilled the previous couple of years, like driving the “Million Greenback Freeway” in Colorado and thru the “Needles Eye Tunnel” in South Dakota.
What was the journey like? Had been there any significantly memorable moments good or unhealthy? Any hair-raising moments?
I ask that final query recalling a few of my very own hair-raising moments driving in vans by Southeast Asia, and buses after I lived in Guatemala. A few of these steeply curved mountainsides have been fairly scary. I can’t think about how nerve-wracking it is likely to be on a bike.
I attempt to not suppose again an excessive amount of on the “unhealthy” or “hair-raising” moments like when animals leap in entrance of you, or making an attempt to remain awake over the past hour of your Saddlesore 1000 (touring 1000 miles in below 24 hours). Nevertheless, I’ll at all times keep in mind final yr’s 10-hour experience from Fort Collins to Montrose, Colorado over Path Ridge Street by Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park. It was each hair-raising and memorable to cross the very best level of 12,183 ft in 34 diploma (1 diploma Celsius) climate with snow on the perimeters of the highway. Fortunately the roads have been largely away from snow and ice because of the heat of the rising solar.
One of many tougher issues when touring in a band is having the time to benefit from the cities, environments, and surroundings alongside the best way. I get to get pleasure from all of these issues whereas on my bike journeys. It’s a aim of mine to mix each touring in a band whereas driving a bike. The late Neil Peart wrote about his time doing that precise factor on a number of Rush excursions, and it sounds heavenly to me!
Wleklinski is without doubt one of the most real, humble, and all-around nicest individuals I’ve met, not simply within the punk scene, however anyplace. And naturally, he has among the finest heads of hair on this scene as effectively. His lengthy silver mane makes for some superb on-stage pictures as he rocks it everywhere.
These of us photographers who’ve had the pleasure to shoot him in live performance will rue the day he ever decides to chop it off. Nevertheless, that’s one transfer I don’t see Wleklinski making.
I do look ahead to the long run strikes he makes in music, in report producing, in addition to documenting additional two-wheel adventures.
Thanks Dan, secure travels in your subsequent highway journey, and cheers!
Street journey pictures courtesy of Dan Wleklinski. All different pictures by MGold for Dying Scene.
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