A founding member of ARIA-nominated Melbourne ska-punk band Area-7, drummer Dan Morrison has died after sustaining injuries from a fall at the weekend.
The band posted the sombre news to their Facebook page, mentioning Dan's supreme talents were globally recognised, with NOFX's Eric Sandin once describing Morrison as "a freak" for his skills behind the drum kit.From the mid '90s to the mid noughties, Area-7 were one of Australia's most popular punk-ska acts supporting a slew of heavy-hitting international talent and being perennial festival favourites.
Their 2000 album 'Bitter & Twisted' was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Rock Album. Vale Dan Morrison.
Area-7 statement:
'Family and friends, unfortunately our worst fears have been confirmed this afternoon.
'Our drummer, friend and brother Dan Morrison passed away today following an accident over the weekend. He died with his family and close friends by his side.
'We have no words to convey the grief we feel right now, and we are simply shattered.
'Dan was a founding member of AREA-7 and at the top of his game he was one of the best drummers in this country.
'Dan was supremely talented; we remember Dave Grohl & Taylor Hawkins sitting on his drum riser and watching him play a whole show from start to finish, applauding his talent or Eric Sandin from NOFX calling him "a freak" after watching him play his unique style of offbeats. He was held in high regard by his fellow drummers across the ska scene and his loss is tragic.
'For us he was backbone of our music. A cracking right arm that would split your ear drums with the swing and feel of a big band player and a driving force that made you dance, all while grinning from ear to ear and spitting cheeky banter and one liners at the rest of us.
'Everyone who knew Dan, loved Dan. They loved his big heart, his big grin and his loyalty to family and friends. Dan never did anything by half – if he liked something, he was devoted to it.
'He was devoted to ska, old, new any flavour would do, and he loved all that it stood for. He has always been a staunch advocate for racial equality and truly lived the "two tone" ethos calling out racists when he encountered them – putting his own safety at risk on many occasions and sometimes paying the price for it. He was also a vegetarian and truly cared for humans and animals alike.
'Dan was also a lot of fun, loved music and was always out supporting other bands or his favourite football/ AFL teams (ManU, Melbourne Victory, The Blues). He was always last to leave events and venues too, hanging around to ensure the party continued for as long as it possibly could.
'More importantly Dan was our mate and our brother. The bonds between band members is strong, it's family. We spent decades together rehearsing, writing, recording, travelling, clowning about and of course playing and touring.
'Together we experienced the highs and the lows and shared those moments on stage that only other band people can understand. Those nods and smiles when you are "cooking" and you know you are doing something that is a privilege and only a very small number of people get to experience.
'We send love and our deepest sympathies to the Morrison Family: to John, Adele, Emma Jarrod, Dinesh thanks for sharing your son and brother with us. Much love to Jodie, Lachie and Gav and all of his close friends.
'Like you, we feel despair and we are heart-broken...
'Vale Dan, we love you brother...
'RIP from the AREA-7 Familia Past & Present.'
Read our 2018 interview with Area-7. 'Family and friends, unfortunately our worst fears have been confirmed this afternoon.
'Our drummer, friend and brother Dan Morrison passed away today following an accident over the weekend. He died with his family and close friends by his side.
'We have no words to convey the grief we feel right now, and we are simply shattered.
'Dan was a founding member of AREA-7 and at the top of his game he was one of the best drummers in this country.
'Dan was supremely talented; we remember Dave Grohl & Taylor Hawkins sitting on his drum riser and watching him play a whole show from start to finish, applauding his talent or Eric Sandin from NOFX calling him "a freak" after watching him play his unique style of offbeats. He was held in high regard by his fellow drummers across the ska scene and his loss is tragic.
'For us he was backbone of our music. A cracking right arm that would split your ear drums with the swing and feel of a big band player and a driving force that made you dance, all while grinning from ear to ear and spitting cheeky banter and one liners at the rest of us.
'Everyone who knew Dan, loved Dan. They loved his big heart, his big grin and his loyalty to family and friends. Dan never did anything by half – if he liked something, he was devoted to it.
'He was devoted to ska, old, new any flavour would do, and he loved all that it stood for. He has always been a staunch advocate for racial equality and truly lived the "two tone" ethos calling out racists when he encountered them – putting his own safety at risk on many occasions and sometimes paying the price for it. He was also a vegetarian and truly cared for humans and animals alike.
'Dan was also a lot of fun, loved music and was always out supporting other bands or his favourite football/ AFL teams (ManU, Melbourne Victory, The Blues). He was always last to leave events and venues too, hanging around to ensure the party continued for as long as it possibly could.
'More importantly Dan was our mate and our brother. The bonds between band members is strong, it's family. We spent decades together rehearsing, writing, recording, travelling, clowning about and of course playing and touring.
'Together we experienced the highs and the lows and shared those moments on stage that only other band people can understand. Those nods and smiles when you are "cooking" and you know you are doing something that is a privilege and only a very small number of people get to experience.
'We send love and our deepest sympathies to the Morrison Family: to John, Adele, Emma Jarrod, Dinesh thanks for sharing your son and brother with us. Much love to Jodie, Lachie and Gav and all of his close friends.
'Like you, we feel despair and we are heart-broken...
'Vale Dan, we love you brother...
'RIP from the AREA-7 Familia Past & Present.'
