DJ Ashba | |
|---|---|
 Ashba, November 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Daren Jay Ashba |
| Born | (1972-11-10)November 10, 1972 (age 52) Monticello, Indiana, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Pyromantic |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | djashba |
Daren Jay Ashba (born November 10, 1972) is an American musician, guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He was the lead guitarist ofSixx:A.M. He is also known for his work with hard rock bandsBulletBoys,Beautiful Creatures andGuns N' Roses. He has worked with various artists includingMötley Crüe,Drowning Pool,Marion Raven,Aimee Allen andNeil Diamond. He is the CEO of Ashba Media.
Ashba was born inMonticello, Indiana. He was raised inFairbury, Illinois. His mother was a classically trained pianist who began teaching him about music as a toddler. Ashba performed in his first piano recital at the age of five, where he played Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".[1] His next ambition was to learn the drums. He built kits out of garbage cans and pots and pans, until he finally acquired a real set at the age of six.[2] When he was eight, he took a job detasseling corn in the fields to earn enough money to buy his first guitar out of theSears catalog. He would ride to his job in the corn fields on the bus with a guitarist from a local band, who would teach him a new chord each day on afret that they had carved into the back of a bus seat with a pocket knife. For his 16th birthday, his father took him to his first concert:Mötley Crüe's Girls, Girls, Girls Tour. He later said, "The crowd, the music, the lights! It was the night I realized that no matter what it takes, I was gonna be on that stage one day."[3] At the age of 18, he packed up his possessions and moved to Hollywood to begin his career.
Eventually, he joined the group Barracuda and toured with the band for two years. In 1996, he released his debut instrumental album,Addiction to the Friction.[4] In 1998, Ashba joinedBulletBoys as part of the band's new lineup.[5][6] It was during his time with the band that he metJoe Lesté ofBang Tango.[7] In 1999, he departed the group to start a new band with Lesté, piecing together the band that would become Beautiful Creatures.
After finding former Shake the Faith and No. 9 bassistKenny Kweens, Ashba and Lesté hired session drummer Anthony Focx to become the group's second guitarist and Glen Sobel, another session drummer, was brought in to take over drums. This was the first lineup under the moniker Beautiful Creatures. Prior to naming, the band opened one show in Detroit, Michigan, forKiss during their farewell tour afterTed Nugent pulled out.[8] The band then signed withWarner Bros. and released their self-titled debutBeautiful Creatures, produced byMarilyn Manson cohortSean Beavan, on August 14, 2001.[9] Album track "1 A.M." was featured in the soundtrack for the 2001horror filmValentine andTV seriesSmallville. "Ride" was featured on the soundtrack to the 2002 remake ofRollerball.[10] Despite appearing atOzzfest as part of theRolling Rock Tour, the band was dropped from their label due to poor album sales. On February 13, 2002, the band announced that Ashba had left the group and the band found a replacement and continued on.[11]
.jpg)
After his departure from Beautiful Creatures, he formed another solo band,ASHBA, with Bones Elias, bassist John Younger, and formerTuff guitarist Michael Thomas, who was Ashba's replacement in Beautiful Creatures before leaving the group in 2003.[12][13] Also in 2003, Ashba was invited to participate in the groupBrides of Destruction withNikki Sixx andTracii Guns but turned it down to focus on his solo project.[14] In 2005, a small controversy was caused when it was suggested that neither Tommy Lee nor Mick Mars played on the new tracks forMötley Crüe'scompilation albumRed, White & Crüe; duties were supposedly handled by Vandals drummerJosh Freese and Ashba as well as Mick being replaced by Ashba on their reunion tour. Ashba hit back at the rumors:
Just want to set the record straight. As much as I would love to play on tour with Mötley, it's simply not true...it's a rumor. I'll be in the studio and playing shows with ASHBA. I have all the respect in the world for Mötley Crüe and I can't wait to see Mick kick ass, as always.[15]
.jpg)
In 2006 Ashba had set upFunny Farms Studios withNikki Sixx.[16] They began writing and producing, and performing music together[17] which included collaborations with singerMarion Raven, whom Sixx had worked with before, on herHeads Will RollEP[18] and albumSet Me Free.James Michael also is credited on the albums.[19] In March 2007, Sixx penned "Reason I'm Alive" forDrowning Pool's new albumFull Circle with both Sixx and Ashba co-producing the track.[20]
Ashba released the critically acclaimed albumThe Heroin Diaries Soundtrack after collaborating withMötley Crüe bassistNikki Sixx and producerJames Michael under the nameSixx:A.M. in August, 2007 serving as a soundtrack to Sixx's autobiographyThe Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star.[21] The single "Life is Beautiful" reached #2 on theBillboardHot Mainstream Rock Tracks. Originally the group stated they had no intention of touring.[22] After constant support for the band and interest in a tour, they held a nationwide vote for tour dates. The tour was scheduled to start in spring 2008, but had been postponed to the summer due to unforeseeable circumstances.[23] On April 15, 2008, Sixx:A.M. announced they would be touring as part ofMötley Crüe'sCrüe Fest, along withBuckcherry,Papa Roach andTrapt. The tour began on July 1, 2008, inWest Palm Beach, Florida.[24] During Crüe Fest,Papa Roach drummerTony Palermo served as a touring drummer for the band. A deluxe tour edition ofThe Heroin Diaries Soundtrack was released on November 25, 2008, which included a bonus live EP entitledLive Is Beautiful which features recorded performances from the band's summer tour. In April 2009, bothJames Michael andNikki Sixx confirmed that the band was in the studio, recording new material. Sixx added that the new material is "inspiring. it feels like we may have topped ourselves on this album coming up, and can't wait for you to hear what it sounds like."[25]
On March 23, 2009 Ashba was announced as the new lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses replacingRobin Finck, who had left the band to rejoinNine Inch Nails.[26][27] He first toured with the band as part of theChinese Democracy Tour where on December 11, 2009 Guns N' Roses played in Taiwan, and continued with the band for the next five years.[28]
On May 3, 2011 the Sixx:A.M. albumThis Is Gonna Hurt was released, followed byModern Vintage in 2014, and their first headlining tour in the spring of 2015.[29]
After balancing Sixx:A.M. and Guns N' Roses duties for years, and only appearing on theAppetite for Democracy 3D video release for the latter band, Ashba announced on July 27, 2015 that he was leaving the band, citing his commitment to his family and his other band.[30][31] The statement read "I have reached a point in my life where I feel it's time to dedicate myself to my band Sixx:A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me."[32]
After leaving Guns N' Roses, Sixx A.M. released two albums in 2016,Prayers for the Damned andPrayers for the Blessed, before embarking on a world tour.[33] Subsequent to the tour the group entered a hiatus, confirmed by Ashba and James Michael in February 2018.[34]
In February 2018 Ashba and James Michael announced a collaborative project called Pyromantic, focused on mixing rock with pop and dance influences. By the following year Michael had exited the project.
In 2019 Sixx A.M. reunited to record and release the charity single "Talk to Me", and announced the impending release of several other tracks recorded for a greatest hits album.
By 2020 the Pyromantic project had evolved into a resurrection of the ASHBA name, now a solo project, with the release of the singles "Hypnotic", "Let's Dance", and "A Christmas Storm". The following year he released the cover single "Bella Ciao".[35]
In 2021 Sixx A.M. releasedGreatest Hits, which featured three new songs. James Michael subsequently said that it was "a good way to kind of wrap of Sixx:A.M.'s body of work", while not ruling out future reunions.
Daren Ashba owns two corporations, Ashba Media, Inc. and Ashbaland Inc.[36] In 2003, he founded Ashba Media, Inc. This creative agency was announced the Agency of Record for Virgin Entertainment. AMI designs the look and feel of everyVirgin Megastore. They also have other clients, such asOvation guitars,Royal Underground and many more. Ashba contributed toMötley Crüe's 2008 albumSaints of Los Angeles penning all tracks with the exception of "This Ain't a Love Song".[37] The title track "Saints of Los Angeles" was nominated for aGrammy the same year.
Guitars: Schecter Guitars with his own signature electric and acoustics, Ernie Ball Music Man Axis guitars Amps: Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier 100W heads, Four straight-front Line 6 4x12 cabinets loaded with celestion vintage 30s, Line 6 Spider Valve 412Vs 240W 4X12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Straight, Two modified Line 6 POD pro amp modules, Line 6 Vetta HD and Vetta HD II HeadsPedals: Morley Dj Ashba Skeleton Wah Pedal, Digitech Whammy Pitch-Shifting Guitar Effects Pedal, GCX Ground Control PRO Midi Controller, Ernie Ball 6166 Mono Volume Pedal,
As of 2016, now uses his very own Schecter DJ Ashba signature model from the Schecter USA Custom Shop.
Ashba married Nathalia Henao on September 23, 2013 after one year of dating. He was 40 and she was 21.[38]
In 2013, three Las Vegas police officers took Ashba and his girlfriend Nathalia Henao on a ride in a police helicopter, ending with Ashba proposing marriage to Henao. The three police officers involved were punished by the department for improper and unauthorized use of a police vehicle. One officer retired in anticipation of demotion, one was transferred and the pilot was banned from flying for the metro police department.[39]
In February 2023, it was announced Ashba and Henao would be divorcing after nine years of marriage.[citation needed]
| Studio albums | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live albums | |||||
| Extended plays | |||||
| Compilation albums | |||||
| Singles |
| ||||
| Promo singles | |||||
| Other songs | |||||
| Videos and DVDs | |||||
| Tours | |||||
| Related |
| ||||
