Rob Dukes

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Rob Dukes (born 1969) is the current vocalist for the thrash metal band Exodus.

[edit] Personal

Dukes was born New York in 1969, living in Queens before moving to Nyack, north of Manhattan.[1]

[edit] Influences

“I grew up on Hendrix, AC/DC and Sabbath and The Doors. My parents were hippies. Then I heard The Clash and realized, "fuck, I can do that". Punk made me realize that I could be in a band. I was never a good guitar player, I was mediocre but whatever, I was having fun. Randy Rhoads was a huge influence but it took me a month to learn Dee, I found out I could sing sitting in my room with an acoustic. I liked Maiden and Priest but could never sing that well, then I found Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus (band), S.O.D., Anthrax (band), Misfits,..."I can sing like that". I also liked punk and hardcore, I really could identify with their angst and attitude and it wasn't complicated music like metal was,"3 chords and scream...I can do that". I like a lot of different kinds of music, I'm a musician. I listen to a lot of music but my favorite is standup comedians. I have about 30 CDs of different comedians -- Bill Hicks, Pryor, David Cross... When I write music or lyrics, I don't listen to music. That's how I got into listening to standup.”[2]

[edit] Joining Exodus:

"...I got fired from the band I was in in NY so I rode my motorcycle to California (it took 5 months, I took all back roads and stopped to see family and friends, I went 11,000 miles). Honestly, I had no idea what I was going to do...I thought about just getting a job teaching scuba diving or something. I just wanted to surf and live at the beach. I ended up living in Hollywood and working at different clubs. I had been living in Hollywood for about 2 months, I started guitar teaching. I was guitar tech for a few different players. I did a show at the Key Club and met this dude Jeff Hickey. We became friends and he got me a lot of gigs loading bands. He's a long time friend of Exodus and he called me one night and said "can you leave for 6 weeks and be ready to go in 2 hours? Exodus needs a guitar tech." I said, "fuck yeah" and that was that. Thanks Jeff. I got along with the crew and the guys very easily (except the guy who got fired), we are all from the same mold. Being on tour we would sing on the bus to our favorite CDs and at soundchecks and stuff, just fuckin around. I played Gary, Rick and Tom a demo I did in '96 and I guess that's what gave them the idea to call me."[3]