Although there were many incarnations of bands Dan performed with in South Dakota and in Portland it was in December of 1985 where he truly first began his musical journey as the lead singer of a band called “The Dan Reed Network”. Garnering huge local support Dan Reed Network was signed to Polygram in 1987 by Derek Shulman, famed A+R man who signed ‘Bon Jovi’.
Managed by Bill Graham and Q-Prime later, DRN played opening act on European tours for Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Midnight Oil, and performed in America with Run DMC and toured with UB40. Selling nearly 2 million albums worldwide, DRN was part of the funk rock movement and released three albums with Polygram between 1989 and 1992. The Dan Reed Network released three successful albums to much critical and commercial success between 1988 and 1992 and had the opportunity to work with producer greats Bruce Fairbairn, and Nile Rogers for the three Polygram releases, while managed by Bill Graham and Q-Prime respectively.
DRN got to see the world opening for such bands as RUN DMC, UB40, David Bowie and Bon Jovi, eventually becoming the supporting act for the Rolling Stones’ 1991 European tour. It was at this time Dan journeyed to India with Bob Guccione Jr., editor of Spin Magazine, to interview the Dalai Lama for magazine. It was during this trip that Dan began to hunger for more than the music scene had to offer. This trip was the catalyst to a long journey that eventually took Dan back to music in 2008, and to where he belonged… writing and performing new music about new experiences without the baggage of some “rock star image”.
Reed took a long hiatus from the music business in early 2003 and spent 4 years in Northern India and Jerusalem, living in a Tibetan Monastery and studying religions while in the Middle East. Coming back to music in 2009 he now performs extensively throughout Europe and the United States, both with his solo band and DRN and has in recent years performed at the ‘Sweden Rock Festival’ and England’s ‘Download Festival’.
We’ll talk new material, Dan Reed Network, his bourgeoning career as an artist and how parenting changed his perspective on life.
“I just felt it was time to get back to something that feels real, organic, and in tune with the current human condition.” – Reed
Sponsored by Music Millennium
Established over 55 years ago, Music Millennium is the oldest record store in existence in the Pacific Northwest. Throughout their history, they’ve carried the ever-evolving gamut of formats including LP, 45, reel-to-reel, 8-track, cassette, DAT, compact disc, mini-disc, DCC and CD-ROM.
As people who know and love music, Music Millennium has hosted an array of in-store performances and autograph appearances over the years, including the likes of Richard Thompson, Luscious Jackson, Loreena McKennitt, Maureen McCormick (aka “Marcia Brady”), Blue Rodeo, Shonen Knife, Matthew Sweet, Soundgarden, Mike Watt, Don Walser, Sheryl Crow, Randy Newman, Everclear, Jewel, Little Feat, Susannah Hoffs, Joe Strummer and Cheap Trick to name a few.
Be sure to check out their current calender of events online at https://musicmillennium.com. You can visit Portland’s homegrown music store at 3158 E. Burnside (at 32nd).
