BiografieGanz gewiß muß man niemandem in der Metalszene erklären, wer DAVID SHANKLE ist, erinnert man ihn doch hier noch als den legendären Gitarristen der lautesten Band der Welt, MANOWAR, der er von 1988 bis 1995 angehörte. In diesen Jahren begeisterte David mit seinem virtuosen Highspeed Gitarrenspiel und seinen ausgefeilten Soli Manowar Fans rund um den Globus. Ferner war er es, der zusammen mit Joey DeMaio einen der mittlerweile größten Klassiker der Band schrieb: ‚Master Of The Wind’, erschienen auf dem Gold-Album ‚The Triumph Of Steel’. David Shankle und Manowar waren eine perfekte Verbindung und daher war es sicherlich eine der schwierigsten Entscheidungen in Davids Leben, sich von Manowar loszulösen. Entgegen vielen seiner Musikerkollegen wollte er sich mit seinen schon zu diesem Zeitpunkt brillanten Können nicht zufrieden geben, sondern sich weiter verbessern – und so zog es ihn an die Roosevelt Music University in Chicago, an der er klassische und Jazz Gitarre studierte. Mittlerweile gilt er als eine der angesehensten Größen in diesem Bereich und unterrichtet selbst weit über 100 Studenten.

Alle Dinge brauchen den richtigen Zeitpunkt und die richtige Kombination von Mitspielern – und diese Parameter trafen aufeinander, als David Shankle seine neue Band, die David Shankle Group ins Leben rief. Ein für David ganz wichtiger Partner hierbei war sein langjähriger Freund Trace Edward Zaber – in Davids Augen der einzige Vokalist, der für diese Band in Frage kam und dessen Stimme den anspruchsvollen Vocallines gewachsen war. David und Trace kennen sich bereits seit vielen Jahren und haben schon bei zahlreichen Projekten miteinander gearbeitet. Die David Shankle Group aber war genau das, worauf die beiden immer gewartet haben, um wirklich loszulegen. Wie auf ‚Ashes To Ashes’, dem im Juni erscheinenden Debut Album der DSG zu hören ist, ergänzen Traces Vocals die Musik perfekt; seine Arbeit begrenzte sich aber nicht nur lediglich auf den Gesang, er steuerte auch seinen Teil zum Songwriting bei. Die anderen Mitstreiter sind Brian Gordon am Bass, der sich schon vor seinem 20. Geburtstag auf der Bühne aller namhaften Klassik und Jazz-Festivals in Europa und Nordamerika befunden hat, Eddie ‚Shreddy’ Betishou, einem wahren Virtuosen am Keyboard, der die Tasten in halsbrecherischer Geschwindigkeit anschlägt und sich mit Dave wahren Wettbewerben im Spielen von schnellen Riffs liefert und Eddie Foltz, einem Mann, der der Legende nach bereits mit Drumsticks in den Händen das Licht der Welt erblickt hat.

Gemeinsam rocken diese Herren, was das Zeug hält. So bietet das Album eine phantastische Mischung aus brettharten Metal Songs, treibenden Instrumentals und epischen Balladen in bester Heavy Metal Manier; spannender wird das ganze noch durch die Prise Jazz und Klassik, die sich wie ein roter Faden durch die Werke des Albums zieht. Es ist ein großer Gewinn, dass David sich nach eigenem Bekunden nicht nur auf eine Stilart festlegen wollte, sondern mit den Stilen experimentierte, die er liebte; ein weiteres Plus hierbei sind die anderen Mitglieder der Band, die für Wanderungen zwischen den Stilen gerne zu haben sind.

Das Result, ‚Ashes To Ashes’, ist ein Album, das jeden Metalfan faszinieren und begeistern wird und gleichzeitig so anspruchsvoll ist, jedem Musiker Respekt abzuverlangen. Und das sind nicht nur die schweißtreibenden Riffs, mit denen David Shankle sich selbst zu jagen scheint, nicht nur die großen musikalischen Epen – sondern das perfekte Zusammenspiel fünf phantastischer Musiker, die dieses Werk so einzigartig machen, so z.B. beim Uptempo Opener ‚Ashes To Ashes’. Die Ballade ‚Calling All Heroes’ ist ein echtes kompositorisches Meisterwerk mit definitiven Hitchancen bei allen rockorientierten Radiostationen.

Schon jetzt darf man gespannt auf die anstehende Tournee der David Shankle Group sein, die für den Sommer geplant ist. Die Mitglieder der Band jedenfalls können es kaum erwarten, die Bühnen rund um den Globus zu rocken und es gilt als sicher, dass dann viele Münder offen und kein Auge trocken bleiben wird.

Die Veröffentlichung von ‚Ashes To Ashes’ ist für den 2. Juni geplant.

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Bandmembers:

David Lee Shankle - guitars
David Shankle needs no introduction. Many will know him as the legendary lead guitarist for the loudest heavy metal band on earth, MANOWAR.

David started down his musical path at a young age and by the early 1980’s he already made a name for himself on the local Chicago circuit being the top guitar player to see and hear. He turned heads by winning first place two years in a row in the coveted Hot Licks Guitar Contest. While recording in Chicago MANOWAR became friends with Shankle after being introduced by a mutual friend

The story of Dave’s life from this point on has been extensively documented in the MANOWAR history chronicles, so only a brief synopsis will suffice. From 1988 through 1995 Dave burned up the fret board on stages all over the world, displayed his songwriting skills on MANOWAR’s classic CD, “The Triumph of Steel”, by contributing to the epic “Master of the Wind” and even made it – together with the band – into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the loudest guitarist in the world (playing at 129.5 dB)!

Dave’s departure from MANOWAR was probably one of the hardest decisions in his life, but he felt it was necessary to continue his musical education earning a degree in both Jazz and Classical guitar at the Roosevelt Music University in Chicago. He is currently one of the most renowned guitar teachers in the area with more than 100 students.

Now, Dave is back in the spotlight with his own band, The David Shankle Group, and is ready to astound audiences world wide once again with his blazing guitar antics. Teaming up with long time friend Trace Zaber, DSG vocalist and co-songwriter, Dave has managed to put together an album that is sure to give his fans the album they have been waiting for. The new record contains everything from rousing instrumentals, hard and heavy styled songs that get right in your face, to epic ballads in the true heavy metal sense, all tainted with slight influences of jazz and classical. Not to mention the dangerously high speed, virtuosic guitar playing that everyone would expect from the “Death Dealer” himself. “I just wanted to experiment a bit and play a little of all the styles I love.” This is an album that is brutal enough for true metal fans, but sophisticated enough raise the eyebrows of the most demanding musicians.
DSG are busy planning the release of their debut album “Ashes to Ashes” in May. On top of that they are planning a massive world tour that will conquer audiences all over the globe and take no prisoners!

The world of music has just become an unsafe place for all!


Trace Edward Zaber – vocal
Trace Zaber has been a close friend of David Shankle since childhood.
As soon as David was ready to from his own group, he immediately called his best friend to lay down vocal tracks for the upcoming DSG album, as he was the only singer who could handle the daunting task.

Trace is a multitalented musician who started playing piano at the age of four. He says, “Music is in my blood and has been for many generarions.”

While working in the Chicago studio and club scene he was constantly in demand for every high profile project in production. He indeed became known as the first voice and first choice on peoples minds.

Trace and David have a long history together of writing and performing but were patiently waiting for the right time to strike. That time is now. Trace can’t wait to get onto the stage and rip through these songs that will just kill the audience. His strong stage presentation is complimented by the immense power and range of his incredible voice.

Besides music, Trace is also an accomplished author and specialist in the Civil War. He has written four historical fiction novels that have won various awards for literary excellence. Trace is ready to show the world what everyone in Chicago has known for years.


Brian Gordon - bass
Brian Gordon has been playing bass nearly all his life. He originally started out playing upright in high school Orchestra and Jazz Combos. By the age of seventeen Brian was touring North America and Europe playing every high profile Classical and Jazz festival.

Contrary to many others in the Rock ‘n Roll world, Brian continued his education at the Southern Illinois University earning a bachelors degree in Computer Science, all the while continuing to perform in various settings.

Brian has played electric bass on Everything from Rock, Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, Industrial, Progressive… he’s done it all Brian is thrilled to be playing all these various styles and experimenting together with Dave Shankle. He says this album will absolutely crush the public and anticipates some insane shows.


Eddie Foltz – drums & percussion
Eddie was practically born with the drumsticks in his hand. He began playing drums when he was 10 years old and played in any situation possible.

Eddie started out playing the local circuit as early as 16! He was always the youngest person on stage. Eventually, his talent and persistence paid-off and he became the hottest drummer in town. It was then that Dave Shankle kept hearing Eddie’s name and went out to watch him play and the rest is history

Eddie admits that he was a MANOWAR fan very early on so joining the legendary Dave Shankle on stage was only a logical step for him.

Eddie’s talents reach far beyond playing the drums.

As a true metal warrior Eddie enjoys deer hunting in his spare time using a bow and arrow and also finds the time to kick back studying the history of carpentry preferring to use the old fashioned tools and methods of our forefathers.

Being the drummer for a guitar icon such as Dave Shankle definitely gives Eddie a workout, which he will be showing to the world shortly.

When asked how he feels about the album Eddie mentions that this type of music “is not mainstream and we don’t want it to be. This album goes in the face of tradition and blows everything away that stands in its path. I cannot wait to get on stage and open some eyes!”


Eddie “Shreddy” Bethishou- keyboards
Not many people can keep up with David Shankle’s blistering speed and mind-numbing riffs. That is why David granted him the nickname “Shreddy”, and for good reason.

The amazing thing about Eddie is that he is completely self-taught, and only started playing keyboards at the age of 18! It did not take long for him to realize his natural talent as he shredded his way through classical pieces from the masters.

By chance Eddie met Brian Gordon (DSG Bassist), who mentioned that David Shankle was looking for a keyboard player to complete the line up. Eddie originally went down to the studio just to meet the guys and play them a demo. Figuring a demo was way too impersonal, Eddie brought his keyboard and simply plugged in and played. What David heard then just knocked him off his feet. Eddie was hired right then and there.

“The cool thing is that Dave and I love to challenge each other when it comes to soloing. We try to see who can come up with the most insane riff at breakneck speeds”.

Quelle: http://www.sureshotworx.deDiscografieAshes To Ashes 2003 www