R.I.P. Danny McClain, Grand Ulena Drummer

Mar 29, 2011 at 3:41 pm

Danny McClain

[Update, 10;43 a.m. March 30: Funeral/visitation arrangements and information on a benefit can be found here.]

Danny McClain, a long-time local drummer in numerous bands and projects, including Johnny Angel and Grand Ulena, has died. No further details are known at this time. McClain's musical talents preceded him. He's collaborated and performed with countless musicians in the local noise and experimental community both locally (Dave Stone, Chris Smentkowski, Raglani) and outside of St. Louis (John Wiese). Grand Ulena was perhaps his most well-known project, an instrumental trio featuring Darin Gray and Chris Trull that was well-respected in experimental circles. In 2003, RFT writer John Goddard described McClain as "a whip-smart percussionist whose rhythmic fury is equaled by a command of dynamics that approaches the human voice in its expressiveness."

We'll update this post when we know more.

Grand Ulena live, 2002