Dan Reed (born February 17, 1963, Portland, Oregon) met Dan Pred in high school in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and after a time pursuing music studies at Northern State University, the pair returned to Portland and formed the Dan Reed Network in 1984. In 1986, they made their first recording, a six-track EP called Breathless which spawned a #1 single, "Steal Me," on Z-100 in Portland, Oregon.
The lineup at this point was Dan Reed on vocals and guitar, Brion James on guitar, Melvin Brannon II on bass guitar, Dan Pred on drums, and Rick DiGiarllonado on keyboards. The band's diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds (Reed is of German, Hawaiian, and Native American extraction, James and Brannon were African American, and Pred and DiGiarllonado were caucasian) were reflected in the music, which, though discernibly hard rock, was blended with soul, funk, and jazz arrangements. DiGiarllonado was soon replaced by Portlander Blake Sakamoto on keyboards; Sakamoto had returned from Los Angeles where he was playing with future Atlantic Recording artists, Dear Mr. President.
The Dan Reed Network made a name for itself with the live performances. The Washington Post described the band in one performance as "easily charming its ... audience with an unlikely brand of heavy metal-ish rock sharpened by junk funk and plenty of rock 'n' roll theatrics," and that "the Network's strength lies in its infectious temperament." Breathless produced by Michael Mavrolas & Marlon McClain showcases the beginnings of great music to come from DRN.. the band went on to sign with Polyrgam Records and tour with acts like Bon Jovi and the Rollingstones
Aussie six-piece showcases a buoyant co-mingling of jazz-funk grooves, snappy post-punk riffs, and krautrock motoriks. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 25, 2023
This massive compilation from Marvin Tate's Chicago ensemble is funny, wildly eclectic, and bursting with energy. Bandcamp Album of the Day Nov 3, 2022