Linda McDonald

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Linda McDonald

Background information
Birth name Linda Ann McDonald
Origin Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
Genre(s) Heavy Metal
Hard rock
Tribute
Occupation(s) Musician
Instrument(s) Drums
Years active 1989—Present
Label(s) DRZ Records
Powerslave Records
Associated acts The Iron Maidens
Phantom Blue
The Little Dolls
Valley Dolls
Website http://www.myspace.com/lindamcdonald
Notable instrument(s)
DW Drums
Paiste Cymbals

Linda McDonald is the drummer of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens (billed as the "World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden"). In addition, she is a member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Little Dolls (billed as, "All Female, All Ozzy, All The Time...Covering All Eras Of Ozzy"),and the all-female cover band Valley Dolls. Prior to those works, McDonald was the drummer of the all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue from its inception in 1988 to its demise in 2001.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Of Irish and Japanese descent, Linda McDonald was inspired to take up instruments after listening to her brother's copy of Iron Maiden's Maiden Japan live EP. While she took up piano, guitar and violin, her self-taught drumming skills stood out the most. Following a short stint with a three-piece female band called Andromeda, McDonald became a founding member of Phantom Blue. And while the band found some success with their self-titled debut album in 1989, the rest of their career was marred by instability with management, record labels and numerous personnel changes. By the late 1990s, McDonald was the only original member of Phantom Blue. Their last recording was the EP Full Blown (2000) before they went their separate ways in 2001.[1]

Shortly after Phantom Blue's demise, McDonald - along with fellow band mate Josephine Soegijanty and ex-Bandit member Sara Marsh - joined vocalist Jenny Warren and bassist Melanie Sisneros to form The Iron Maidens, an all-female tribute band to Iron Maiden. McDonald and Marsh have remained the original band members (which currently include vocalist Aja Kim, bassist Wanda Ortiz and guitarist Heather Baker). As a member of The Iron Maidens, McDonald's stage name is "Nikki McBurrain," an amalgamation of Iron Maiden's former drummer Clive Burr and their current drummer Nicko McBrain.[2] And much like McBrain with his drum kit, McDonald has hers decorated with a Sooty puppet.

In addition to The Iron Maidens, McDonald and Marsh are also members of The Little Dolls, an all-female tribute band to Ozzy Osbourne. The band is named after a song from Osbourne's 1981 album Diary of a Madman. For this band, McDonald's stage name is "Brandy Castillo," named after the late Randy Castillo.[3]

Aside from Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain, McDonald also cites Simon Phillips, John Bonham, Alex Van Halen and Phil Collins among her influences.[4]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Phantom Blue

[edit] The Iron Maidens

[edit] Collaborations

  • Warmth in The Wilderness (Tribute to Jason Becker)
  • Transmission (Carina Alfie)
  • Electric Fuzz (Carina Alfie)
  • Blowin' Up the Machine (Meldrum)

[edit] Equipment Endorsers

Linda McDonald is endorsed by Paiste cymbals; Vic Firth drum sticks; Drum Workshop drums, pedals and hardware; Coffin Case and Monster Energy Drink.

[edit] Media

Linda has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Guitar World, Metal Edge, Modern Drummer, DRUM! Magazine, Kerrang, Rip, Aardshock, Metal Hammer, LA Weekly, LA New Times, OC Weekly, Chicago Local Live Magazine, Portland Tribune, Playboy, Orange County Register, The National Enquirer, FHM, Maxium,two MTV videos, ABC’s Livin’ Large TV Show, 54321 on Fox Sports Net, and two Hard N' Heavy video Mag episodes, KCAL Ch 9, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Phantom Blue - Linda McDonald's Bio
  2. ^ Drum! Magazine No. 132, June 2007
  3. ^ The Little Dolls - Linda McDonald
  4. ^ Linda McDonald's MySpace Profile

[edit] External links

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