Daren Jay Ashba (born November 10, 1972) is an American musician, guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He is currently the lead guitarist in Sixx:A.M. He is also known for his work with hard rock bands

BulletBoys BulletBoys is an American hard rock/glam metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1986. The group's original lineup was composed of singer Marq Torien (formerly of Ratt, King Kobra, and Kagny & the Dirty Rats), guitarist Mick Sweda, bassist Lonnie V ...

, Beautiful Creatures and

Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff ...

. He has worked with various artists including

Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil. Mötley Crüe has sold over 100 million albu ...

, Drowning Pool, Marion Raven, Aimee Allen and

Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adul ...

. He is the CEO of Ashba Media.

Biography

Early life

Ashba was born in

Monticello Monticello ( ) was the primary plantation of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who began designing Monticello after inheriting land from his father at age 26. Located just outside Charlottesville, V ...

, Indiana. He was raised in Fairbury, 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 "Ode to Joy" (German language, German: , literally "To heJoy") is an ode written in the summer of 1785 by German poet, playwright, and historian Friedrich Schiller and published the following year in ''Thalia (magazine), Thalia''. A slightl ...

". 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. When he was eight, he took a job detasseling corn in the fields to earn enough money to buy his first guitar out of the Sears 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 a

fret A fret is any of the thin strips of material, usually metal wire, inserted laterally at specific positions along the neck or fretboard of a stringed instrument. Frets usually extend across the full width of the neck. On some historical instru ...

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:

'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." At the age of 18, he packed up his possessions and moved to Hollywood to begin his career.

Solo, BulletBoys (1991–1999)

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''. In 1998, Ashba joined

as part of the band's new lineup. It was during his time with the band that he met

Joe Lesté Bang Tango is an American hard rock band. The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1988 and was signed to MCA Records the same year. History Formation (1988) Initially the band was founded by guitarist Mark Knight and bassist Kyle Kyle in 19 ...

Bang Tango Bang Tango is an American hard rock band. The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1988 and was signed to MCA Records the same year. History Formation (1988) Initially the band was founded by guitarist Mark Knight and bassist Kyle Kyle in ...

. In 1999, he departed the group to start a new band with Lesté, piecing together the band that would become Beautiful Creatures.

Beautiful Creatures (2000–2002)

After finding former Shake the Faith and No. 9 bassist Kenny 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

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, for

Kiss A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...

during their farewell tour after

Ted Nugent Theodore Anthony Nugent (; born December 13, 1948) is an American rock musician and activist. He initially gained fame as the lead guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of The Amboy Dukes, a band formed in 1963 that played psychedelic rock ...

pulled out. The band then signed with Warner Bros. and released their self-titled debut '' Beautiful Creatures'', produced by

Marilyn Manson Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He came to prominence as the lead singer of the band which shares his name, of which he remains the only constant member since it ...

cohort

Sean Beavan Sean Beavan is a musician, record producer, and audio engineer best known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Guns N' Roses, God Lives Underwater, and Slayer. His production style is typically heavy, with heavily saturated guitar ...

, on August 14, 2001. Album track "1 A.M." was featured in the soundtrack for the 2001

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, ap ...

'' Valentine'' and

TV series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed b ...

Smallville ''Smallville'' is an American superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produced by Millar/G ...

''. "Ride" was featured on the soundtrack to the 2002 remake of '' Rollerball''. Despite appearing at

Ozzfest Ozzfest is an annual music festival tour of the United States and sometimes Europe and later Japan, featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Sharon Osbourne and her husband Ozzy Osbourne, both ...

as part of the ''Rolling 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.

Solo (2003–2006)

Ashba with Guns N' Roses during a concert in Bangalore After his departure from Beautiful Creatures, he formed another solo band, ''ASHBA'', with Bones Elias, bassist John Younger, and former

Tuff Tuff is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected from a vent during a volcanic eruption. Following ejection and deposition, the ash is lithified into a solid rock. Rock that contains greater than 75% ash is considered tuff, while rock ...

guitarist Michael Thomas, who was Ashba's replacement in Beautiful Creatures before leaving the group in 2003. Also in 2003, Ashba was invited to participate in the group

Brides of Destruction Brides of Destruction was an American hard rock supergroup from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band's last lineup consisted of singer London LeGrand (vocals), Tracii Guns (lead guitar) and Scot Coogan (drums, percussion). Prev ...

with

Nikki Sixx Nikki Sixx (born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr.; December 11, 1958) is an American musician, best known as the co-founder, bassist, and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a me ...

and Tracii Guns but turned it down to focus on his solo project. In 2005, a small controversy was caused when it was suggested that neither Tommy Lee nor Mick Mars played on the new tracks for

compilation album A compilation album comprises tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several performers. If by one artist, then generally the tracks were not originally intended for rel ...

Red, White & Crüe ''Red, White & Crüe'' is the eighth compilation album by the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on February 1, 2005 by Mötley Records and charted at number 6 on The Billboard 200. To coincide with the album's release, the band reunited w ...

''; duties were supposedly handled by Vandals drummer

Josh Freese Joshua Ryan Freese (born December 25, 1972) is an American session drummer. He is the son of tuba soloist Stan Freese and the older brother of musician Jason Freese. He is a member of the Vandals (since 1989) and Devo (since 1996), having f ...

and Ashba as well as Mick being replaced by Ashba on their reunion tour. Ashba hit back at the rumors:

Sixx:A.M. and Guns N' Roses (2007–2016)

Ashba playing with Sixx:A.M. in 2016 In 2006 Ashba had set up ''Funny Farms Studios'' with

. They began writing and producing, and performing music together which included collaborations with singer Marion Raven, whom Sixx had worked with before, on her '' Heads Will Roll EP'' and album '' Set Me Free''. James Michael also is credited on the albums. In March 2007, Sixx penned "Reason I'm Alive" for Drowning Pool's new album '' Full Circle'' with both Sixx and Ashba co-producing the track. Ashba released the critically acclaimed album ''

The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack ''The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack'', often referred to as simply ''The Heroin Diaries'', is the debut studio album by Sixx:A.M., a side project of Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx. The band also features lead vocalist James Michael and guitarist ...

'' after collaborating with

bassist

and producer James Michael under the name Sixx:A.M. in August, 2007 serving as a soundtrack to Sixx's autobiography '' The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star''. The single "

Life is Beautiful ''Life Is Beautiful'' ( it, La vita è bella, ) is a 1997 Italian comedy drama film directed by and starring Roberto Benigni, who co-wrote the film with Vincenzo Cerami. Benigni plays Guido Orefice, a Jewish Italian bookshop owner, who emplo ...

" reached #2 on the

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...

Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock is a music chart in '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States, a category that combines the formats of active rock and heritage rock. The chart was launched in ...

. Originally the group stated they had no intention of touring. 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. On April 15, 2008, Sixx:A.M. announced they would be touring as part of

Crüe Fest ''Crüe Fest'' was a summer 2008 tour by Mötley Crüe, which commenced on July 1, 2008 and concluded on August 31, 2008. It featured Mötley Crüe themselves, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M., and Trapt. ''Crüe Fest'' was said to be "the Lou ...

, along with

Buckcherry Buckcherry is an American rock band from Anaheim, California, formed in 1995. The band released two albums, '' Buckcherry'' (1999) and '' Time Bomb'' (2001), before dissolving in 2002. Buckcherry's first album ''Buckcherry'' was DreamWorks first ...

Papa Roach Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California, formed in 1993. The original lineup consisted of lead vocalist Jacoby Shaddix, guitarist Jerry Horton, drummer Dave Buckner, bassist Will James, and trombonist Ben Luther. After t ...

and Trapt. The tour began on July 1, 2008, in

West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lagoon. The populati ...

. During Crüe Fest,

drummer

Tony Palermo Anthony Joseph Palermo (born November 22, 1969) is an American musician who is the drummer of Californian rock band Papa Roach and is the former drummer of punk rock bands Pulley and Unwritten Law. He was also a touring drummer for Sixx:A.M ...

served as a touring drummer for the band. A deluxe tour edition of ''

'' was released on November 25, 2008, which included a bonus live EP entitled ''

Live Is Beautiful ''Live Is Beautiful'' is a live EP by Sixx:A.M., side project of Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx, released both with the deluxe edition of ''The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack'' and separately, on November 25, 2008. The EP was recorded live during vario ...

'' which features recorded performances from the band's summer tour. In April 2009, both James Michael and

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.''" DJ Ashba 2013

On March 23, 2009 Ashba was announced as the new lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses replacing

Robin Finck Robert John "Robin" Finck (born November 7, 1971) is an American guitarist. Finck is the longest-serving touring musician for Nine Inch Nails, performing with the band from 1994 to 2000, and returning in 2008. With Nine Inch Nails, Finck contribu ...

, who had left the band to rejoin

Nine Inch Nails Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN and stylized as NIИ, is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland in 1988. Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Trent Reznor was the only permanent member of the band ...

. He first toured with the band as part of the

Chinese Democracy Tour The Chinese Democracy Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Guns N' Roses to promote the group's album ''Chinese Democracy''. It began in 2001, with three U.S. dates and a Brazilian one, while their 2002 tour included Asian, No ...

where on December 11, 2009 Guns N' Roses played in Taiwan, and continued with the band for the next five years. On May 3, 2011 the Sixx:A.M. album '' This Is Gonna Hurt'' was released, followed by ''

Modern Vintage ''Modern Vintage'' is the third studio album by American rock band Sixx:A.M. Modern Vintage peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 on October 25, 2014. It topped the Billboard Hard Rock Charts, and reached number 5 on the Billboard Rock chart ...

'' in 2014, and their first headlining tour in the spring of 2015. After balancing Sixx:A.M. and Guns N' Roses duties for years, and only appearing on the '' Appetite 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. 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." After leaving Guns N' Roses, Sixx A.M. released two albums in 2016, ''

Prayers for the Damned ''Prayers for the Damned'' (referred to as ''Prayers for the Damned, Vol. 1'' on its album cover) is the fourth studio album by American rock band Sixx:A.M. It is the first half of the ''Prayers for the Damned/Blessed'' double album. It was fol ...

'' and '' Prayers for the Blessed'', before embarking on a world tour. Subsequent to the tour the group entered a hiatus, confirmed by Ashba and James Michael in February 2018.

Return to solo work and Sixx:A.M. reunions (2017-present)

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". In 2021 Sixx A.M. released ''Greatest 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.

Other work

Daren Ashba owns two corporations, Ashba Media, Inc. and Ashbaland Inc. 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 every

Virgin Megastore Virgin Megastores is an international entertainment retailing chain, founded in early 1976 by Richard Branson as a record shop on London's Oxford Street. In 1979 the company opened their first Megastore at the end of Oxford Street and Tottenha ...

. They also have other clients, such as Ovation guitars
Royal Underground
and many more. Ashba contributed to

's 2008 album ''

Saints of Los Angeles ''Saints of Los Angeles'' is the ninth and final studio album by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on June 24, 2008. It was the first full-length studio album with the band's original lineup since 1997's ''Generation Swine'' ...

'' penning all tracks with the exception of "This Ain't a Love Song". The title track "

" was nominated for a Grammy the same year.

Equipment

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 Heads Pedals: 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.

Personal life

DJ’s favorite drink is Jagermeister. Ashba married Nathalia Henao on September 23, 2013 after one year of dating. He was 40 and she was 21. 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.

Discography

Solo

*''Addiction to the Friction'' (1996) *''Songs for the Demented Mind'' (2012)

With Beautiful Creatures

*'' Beautiful Creatures'' (2001)

With Guns N' Roses

*'' Appetite for Democracy 3D'' (2014)

With Sixx:A.M.

*''

'' (2007) *''

'' (2008) *'' This Is Gonna Hurt'' (2011) *'' 7'' (2011) *''

'' (2014) *''

'' (2016) *'' Prayers for the Blessed'' (2016)

Production, songwriting and guest credits

References

External links

*
Sixx:A.M. official website

Talk live to Daren @ Stickam.com

Guns N' Roses.com

Forum fans club French
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashba, Daren Jay 1972 births 20th-century American musicians 21st-century American musicians American heavy metal guitarists Beautiful Creatures (band) members Guns N' Roses members Lead guitarists Living people People from Monticello, Indiana Sixx:A.M. members Songwriters from Indiana American multi-instrumentalists People from Fairbury, Illinois Guitarists from Indiana American male guitarists BulletBoys members