Dan Prestup

Dan Prestup
Dan Prestup in May 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Benjamin Prestup
Born	(1984-11-13) November 13, 1984 Pequannock Township, New Jersey
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Musician (Drums)
Instruments	drums, percussion
Years active	2006–present
Associated acts	Spider Rockets, Dawn of Dreams, Rivera/Bomma

Daniel Benjamin Prestup (born November 13, 1984), better known as Dan Prestup, is an American drummer, percussionist, and drum instructor. He is best known as the drummer for New Jersey-based hard rock band Spider Rockets.

Dan Prestup is recognized as one of the fastest drummers in the world. In 2005, Prestup won the World's Fastest Drummer competition at the NAMM Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, earning top honors in the Fastest Feet category by achieving 858 drumometer hits in one minute.^[1][2] In addition, Prestup's 2004 achievement of 1,031 single strokes in 1 minute is recognized as the 21st highest mark in the world as of August 2013.^[3][4]

Prestup has performed on multiple national tours, including the Vans Warped Tour in 2010.^[5] He has endorsements with Sabian,^[6] SJC Drums,^[7] and Duallist Drum Pedals.

Early life

Prestup was born in Pequannock Township, New Jersey. He started playing drums at the age of 10, shortly before his family relocated to Wall Township, New Jersey. He started playing in local bands as a teenager, and featured in the Wall Township High School Marching Band as a percussionist.

While in high school, Prestup studied drums under Shadow Gallery drummer Joe Nevolo.^[8][9] After high school, Dan attended The Collective School of Music in New York City, graduating in 2008.^[4][6]

Career

World's Fastest Drummer (2004-2005)

Dan Prestup first emerged on the national drumming scene at the 2004 NAMM Show in Nashville, Tennessee, when he entered the World's Fastest Drummer competition. Dan finished 4th in the Fastest Hands category.^[4] His drumometer reading of 1,031 strokes is recognized as the 21st fastest performance in the world to date.^[3] While Prestup's performance was impressive, it was the following summer where he would make his breakthrough.

At the 2005 NAMM Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, Prestup entered the World's Fastest Drummer competition once again. This time, he won the competition in the Fastest Feet category, with a drumometer reading of 858 strokes in 1 minute.

Spider Rockets (2006-present)

In late 2006, Prestup auditioned for Spider Rockets, and joined the band shortly thereafter. In 2007, Spider Rockets released its second album, Ever After, which the band supported with a national tour alongside Lillian Axe.^[10][11] Dan entered the studio with Spider Rockets for the first time in 2008 to record the band's third album. The self-titled album was released the following year, in May 2009.^[12]

In February 2010, Prestup and Spider Rockets toured briefly with Pop Evil before joining the Vans Warped Tour in July. Later that year, in November, Spider Rockets toured with Framing Hanley.

In 2011, Spider Rockets announced via their website that they were recording a new album scheduled for release in 2012.^[13] Spider Rockets' newest CD entitled Bitten was released on June 5, 2012.^[14]

Rivera/Bomma (2013-present)

In 2013, Dan Prestup joined progressive metal band Rivera/Bomma, featuring alongside Symphony X bass player Mike LePond.

Discography

Full albums

Spider Rockets

• Spider Rockets (2009)
• Bitten (2012)

Singles/side projects

Semi Quaver

• "Kill It" (also feat. Dave Linsk & Joe Comeau) (2011)^[15]

Dawn of Dreams

• "Angel Eyes" (also feat. Dan Swanö) (2012)^[16]

Awards and endorsements

Awards

• WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming
  • Fastest Feet, 2005^[1][2]

Endorsements

• Sabian cymbals^[6]
• SJC Custom Drums^[7]
• Duallist Drum Pedals

Further reading

• Spider Rockets
• World's Fastest Drummer

References