A lot of people that I talk with automatically assume King Duce is an urban based record label and lifestyle brand. Although that is a proud and powerful part of our early story, it is not the complete picture of King Duce, as a record label or a brand. There is much more to our musical roots and experiences than one genre of music. To understand King Duce it’s important to know some of the rock legends and early experiences that shaped my musical world. And these are the examples that I look to, now more than ever, as I begin developing rock bands for King Duce Records. Without them King Duce would have never happened.

And they deserve their due respect as we begin this chapter of our story.

I grew up in a small town in northern California listening to all kinds of music thanks to my parent’s appreciation for playing musical instruments and listening to various types of music. The defining memory for me, though, was in Kindergarten when my buddy Mike Christiansen introduced me to the emerging rock band KISS. He handed me the cassette tape and said, “This band will change your life!” I remember running home to tell my mom and dad about this amazing new discovery. And to their credit they embraced my passion and allowed me the freedom to explore this crazy looking band that wore make-up and spit blood and fire. I was six years old and totally mesmerized. And as crazy as it sounds, that was the defining moment my life was set on course to create what would eventually become known as King Duce.

As I entered junior high as a seventh grader I discovered Heavy Metal and a faster, older crowd. All the eighth grade guys I looked up to, and played football with, were listening to bands like Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister and Motley Crue. Interesting side note, this was also when I met my friend, Kevin “Duce” Kimble for the first time and was introduced to rap and hip hop. My musical universe was in full gear and I could hardly think of anything else, well except the eighth grade girls who showed me the other side of the universe.

When I got to high school it was all about Ozzy Osbourne, Guns & Roses, Tesla, Lynyrd Skynyrd and watching them in concert at the Cal Expo Amphitheater in Sacramento. That same summer “Duce” took me to the same venue to watch Run DMC and the Beastie Boys. It was a summer I will never forget. During that time I really got into playing the electric guitar, trying to emulate my guitar idol Zakk Wylde, the fiery young lead guitarist for Ozzy. I also started playing drums, and eventually put my little brother Dan behind the set so we could jam, along with my brother Nick on guitar as well.

Fast forward to my college football days, I’m sitting in a locker room suited up and ready to step out on the field to play against USC. One of my D-Line brothers that was sitting next to me took off his head set and told me to listen to this new band called Pantera. The track was “Cowboys From Hell”. I was completely blown away! Everything about them was unlike anything I had ever heard, but dreamed of hearing. They had a powerful sound and rhythm that crushed anything I had ever listened to. Nothing compared. Not even close. And to this day I still consider Pantera the best heavy rock band of all time. With that said, I give props to the new torch bearers like the group “Lamb of God”. But even they consider Pantera the greatest of all time.

Of course, over the years, I have discovered so many types of music like Sublime, Led Zeppelin, Dr Dre, Snoop, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and many more. They were all instrumental in helping me shape the vision of what a record label should be. But for me, it always goes back to my rock roots and the band Pantera that helps me define the expectations for what rock music means to King Duce Records.

I just hope to make the bands I idolized proud of the rock music we present to the world.

Coming this fall…

Duce Up!!