Nick Douglas

Last updated

Nick Douglas
Nick Douglas 2016 Doro (cropped).jpg
Douglas live with Doro in 2016
Background information
Birth nameNicholas Charles Douklias
Also known asNick Mitchell
Born (1967-08-31) August 31, 1967 (age 56)
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres Heavy metal, hard rock, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, keyboards, vocals
Years active1986–present
LabelsStarlander, Painkiller, Metalville
Member of Doro
Formerly ofDeadly Blessing

Nick Douglas (born Nicholas Charles Douklias; August 31, 1967), also credited as Nick Mitchell, is an American rock musician, best known for being the bass player of Doro Pesch's band from 1990 to 2020. He released a solo album in 2001 and a second album in late February 2017. He worked with several other bands and artists, including Chris Caffery and BLAZE.

Contents

Biography

Nick was born in Camden, New Jersey, the son of a US Navy Father, and studied architecture before pursuing a career in music. [1] He grew up listening to his Mother's collection of soul, Motown and 60s and 70s British rock records. [2] He began playing bass at age 13 to differentiate from his brother and others in his neighborhood who had opted for the guitar. [3] He took bass guitar lessons in his youth. [4]

At the age of 19, he became a member of the heavy metal band Deadly Blessing from Turnersville, New Jersey, with which he wrote and recorded songs for their first album, titled Ascend from the Cauldron, published by New Renaissance Records in 1988. [5] Two years later, he decided to leave the band and moved to New York City, where he changed his stage name to Nick Douglas and had brief experiences with a few New York area bands. In the summer of 1990, Douglas auditioned for the German hard rock singer Doro Pesch and was chosen among many candidates. [2] Doro is the former singer of the German heavy metal band Warlock, which dissolved in 1989, and went on to become a successful solo artist. Douglas is the bassist of Doro's band since then and recorded several albums with her, and has toured Europe and all over the world.

Douglas has also worked with other bands and musicians. He was in the lineup of Blaze Bayley's band BLAZE for the tours of 2004 and 2005, along with other members of Doro's band Oliver Palotai and Luca Princiotta. [6] In 2005, he was the bass player for Chris Caffery, on his Faces tour [7] and at the end of 2005, he reunited his first band Deadly Blessing, which had been inactive for a long time, for some live performances and the release of an album containing rare and previously unreleased material.

At the end of the 1990s, Douglas began writing and recording songs that eventually made the album, Through the Pane. [4] The album was released independently in 2001 [4] and released in Europe at the end of 2006 on Painkiller Records. [8]

Douglas played bass on a track on Chris Caffery third solo album Pins and Needles in 2007 and went on tour with both Caffery and Doro. He also started to record a new solo album, to which he devoted himself to during the short breaks between tours. [4]

He also played with New York and Pennsylvania based acts like Mike Rocket and the Stars, EBE and the cover band American Tabloid, featuring also the drummer of Doro's band Johnny Dee. [4] He is also the bassist and lead singer of the Nick Douglas band, which features current and former members of Doro's touring band, and performs his own music. [9] Douglas composes and records music in his home studio and licensed some of his compositions to movie and TV companies. [3]

Nick's second solo album, Regenerations, was released in February and March 2017 in Europe and The US respectively on the German label, Metalville. It went to #4 on the Metal Contraband "most added to radio" charts in North America.

Equipment

Douglas endorses Warwick basses and amplifiers and usually uses a Katana model on stage and in the studio. He also uses DR Strings and InTune Picks. [4]

Discography

Douglas at Masters of Rock 2018 VSpectrum-Doro-Nick Douglas-0942.jpg
Douglas at Masters of Rock 2018

Solo albums

With Deadly Blessing

With Doro

Studio albums
Live albums

With Chris Caffery

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metal Church</span> American heavy metal band

Metal Church is an American heavy metal band formed in 1980. Originally based in San Francisco, California, they relocated to Aberdeen, Washington the following year and briefly called themselves Shrapnel. Led by guitarist and songwriter Kurdt Vanderhoof, the band has released thirteen studio albums and is considered to be an integral part of the Seattle heavy metal music scene of the 1980s. They achieved considerable popularity that decade, with two of their first three albums entering the Top 100 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The band's early lyrical topics such as conflict and paranoia later expanded into philosophical, political and social commentary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warlock (band)</span> German heavy metal band

Warlock was a German heavy metal band founded in 1982 in Düsseldorf by members of the underground bands Snakebite and Beast. The band gained popularity and some commercial success in Europe in the mid-1980s, due to the personality and stage presence of lead vocalist Doro Pesch. Warlock supported successful heavy metal bands on tour, such as W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Dio and Megadeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaze Bayley</span> English singer

Blaze Bayley is an English heavy metal singer. He was the lead singer of Wolfsbane from 1984 to 1994. He was also the lead singer of Iron Maiden during Bruce Dickinson's absence from 1994 to 1999. Since then, he has pursued a solo career and has released eleven studio albums. Blaze was voted number 67 in Sweden Rock magazine's top 100 singers of all time.

Metalium is a power metal band from Hamburg, Germany, who released eight albums from 1999 to 2011 before disbanding. The band was reactivated in 2023 by founding members Henning Basse and Matthias Lange. Their style of music is that of the traditional power metal sound which was pioneered by bands such as Helloween and Blind Guardian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimson Glory</span> American heavy metal band

Crimson Glory is an American heavy metal band that was formed in 1983 in Sarasota, Florida, USA. It started in 1979 under the name Pierced Arrow, then Beowulf, before settling on Crimson Glory. The classic line-up consisted of the vocalist Midnight, guitarists Jon Drenning and Ben Jackson, bass guitarist Jeff Lords and drummer Dana Burnell. With that line-up, the band rose to international fame in the mid-1980s and was considered one of the pioneers of the American progressive metal movement, along with Queensrÿche, Dream Theater, Fates Warning and Watchtower. During its career, the band released four studio albums and one EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Caffery</span> American guitarist

Christopher Caffery is an American heavy metal guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Caffery has been releasing solo records singing and playing guitar for almost 20 years, releasing nine albums and many singles since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloodsimple</span> American heavy metal band

Bloodsimple was an American heavy metal band from New York City that formed in 2002. They were signed to Warner Bros. Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doro Pesch discography</span>

Doro Pesch is a German heavy metal singer that started her career in native Düsseldorf in the early 80s with the underground bands Snakebite and Beast. In 1982, she joined the German heavy metal band Warlock, which got its first contract with the Belgian independent label Mausoleum Records to record the album Burning the Witches. The new band quickly entered the circuit of the most sought-after support bands in the European boiling panorama of metal live shows of the 80s, receiving enthusiastic reviews and gaining a solid fan base. Warlock soon stepped up to main attraction on European tours and their albums, issued under the Vertigo label, sold well in Germany and caught the attention of US promoters, who organized a tour in the United States. Their fourth album Triumph and Agony was produced in the US and entered the Billboard 200 chart, thanks also to the videos of the songs "All We Are" and "Für Immer" on rotation on MTV. By 1988, all German members of the band, except Doro, were replaced by American musicians and Warlock ceased to exist, because of legal problems about the rights on the name and logo.

<i>Calling the Wild</i> 2000 studio album by Doro

Calling the Wild is the seventh solo album by German hard rock singer Doro Pesch. It was released in 2000, in two different editions for the European market and the American one. For this release, Doro changed labels again, having signed contracts with SPV/Steamhammer for Germany and with Koch Records for the USA. Calling the Wild was the first album published in the US after the eponymous one in 1990. The US edition contains also remixed tracks taken from the previous Doro album Love Me in Black. "Love Me Forever" is a cover of Motörhead's song from the album 1916 of 1991. "White Wedding" is a cover of Billy Idol's hit single of 1982.

<i>Fight</i> (Doro album) 2002 studio album by Doro

Fight is the eighth studio album of the German female heavy metal singer Doro Pesch. It was released worldwide in 2002 by SPV/Steamhammer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sister Sin</span> Swedish heavy metal band

Sister Sin is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg. The band released four full-length albums, with the most recent, Black Lotus, released in 2014. Sister Sin toured in Europe and North America with bands such as Slayer, King Diamond, Lordi and In This Moment before splitting in November 2015. The band reunited in December 2019.

<i>Classic Diamonds</i> 2004 studio album by Doro with the Classic Night Orchestra

Classic Diamonds is the ninth studio album by the German female hard rock singer Doro Pesch. It was released worldwide in 2004 by AFM Records. The album presents new acoustic and symphonic arrangements for songs from Doro's repertoire, as well as some new compositions. The music is mostly played by the Classic Night Orchestra, an ensemble of young classical musicians that accompanied Doro in the following European tour.

<i>Warrior Soul</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Doro

Warrior Soul is the tenth studio album of the German female hard rock singer Doro Pesch. It was released worldwide in 2006 by AFM Records.

<i>All We Are</i> 1987 single by Warlock

"All We Are" is a song composed by the German heavy metal band Warlock, from their 1987 album Triumph and Agony. It was released as the band's fourth single and published by Vertigo Records. A music video for the song was shot by director Mark Rezyka in the Los Angeles river basin and was on heavy rotation on MTV's heavy metal program Headbangers' Ball. The song was published again in every compilation of Warlock songs and is a staple of Doro's live shows to this day.

<i>In Liebe und Freundschaft</i> 2005 EP by Doro

In Liebe und Freundschaft is an EP by German hard rock singer Doro Pesch, released in 2005 by AFM Records. It is an enhanced CD containing both musical tracks and a live video. The title is German for "For Love and Friendship". The EP was released to launch the upcoming album Warrior Soul and reached position No. 92 in the German singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doro (musician)</span> German singer (born 1964)

Dorothee Pesch, known professionally as Doro Pesch or simply Doro, is a German heavy metal singer and the former frontwoman of heavy metal band Warlock. Dubbed the "Metal Queen", Doro's contributions to music and culture made her a global figure in metal culture for over three decades. The name Doro has also been associated with the touring band accompanying the singer, whose members have continuously changed in more than 20 years of uninterrupted activity, the most stable presences being those of bassist Nick Douglas and drummer Johnny Dee.

<i>Classic Diamonds – The DVD</i> 2004 video by Doro with the Classic Night Orchestra

Classic Diamonds – The DVD is a DVD video album by hard rock singer Doro Pesch, released in 2004 by AFM Records. The DVD contains footage from two concerts held during the European tour which followed the release of the studio album Classic Diamonds. The album was a special project for Doro Pesch, who revised and re-arranged some of her songs for the Classic Night Orchestra, a 30-elements symphonic orchestra. A smaller ensemble of the orchestra accompanied Doro and her usual touring musicians on tour, but the full orchestra was on stage in August 2004 at Wacken Open Air for a strictly acoustic set, an unusual performance for the largest European heavy metal festival. Special guests of the night were former-Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley and guitarist Chris Caffery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Dee (musician)</span> American heavy metal drummer

Johnny Dee is an American heavy metal drummer.

<i>20 Years – A Warrior Soul</i> 2006 video by Doro

20 Years – A Warrior Soul is a double DVD video album by hard rock singer Doro Pesch, released in 2006 by AFM Records. The first DVD contains a movie shot by director Ronald Matthes during the tour supporting the release of the album Warrior Soul in 2006; it features also a selection of commented songs from the special concert held at Phillips Halle in Düsseldorf, Germany on 13 December 2003, celebrating 20 years of career of the German singer with many guests, and footage of the party after the show. The second DVD features the full 20th anniversary concert.

<i>Forever Warriors, Forever United</i> 2018 studio album by Doro

Forever Warriors Forever United is the thirteenth studio album by the German female heavy metal singer Doro, released on August 17, 2018 through Nuclear Blast Records. This is Doro's first double album, released separately as split albums, as well as a double package. The album is dedicated to Lemmy Kilmister. The first single "All For Metal" contains several guest vocalists such as Chuck Billy, Jeff Waters, Johan Hegg, Mille Petrozza, and Sabaton. "If I Can't Have You, No One Will", which has a duet with Amon Amarth bellower Johan Hegg, was released as the 2nd Single. The third and fourth singles were "Lift Me Up" and "It Cuts So Deep" respectfully. Five music videos were produced in promotion for the record's release: "All for Metal", "It Cuts So Deep", "If I Can Not Have – No One Will", "Freunde Furs Leben" and "Love's Gone to Hell".

References

  1. "Nick Douglas Biography". Nick Douglas official website. Archived from the original on May 7, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Interview with Nick Douglas". Neo Blonde.net. January 17, 2008. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Cannella, Tony (1999). "Interview with Doro's Bass Player Nick Douglas". Doro Rocks.net. Archived from the original on February 19, 2001. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Interview with Nick Douglas". Rock Rebel Magazine.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  5. "Deadly Blessing – Ascend from the Cauldron". Encyclopaedia Metallum . Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  6. "BLAZE Singer Parts Ways With Rest of the Band, New Lineup Announced". Blabbermouth.net . Roadrunner Records. September 20, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  7. "Jon Oliva's Pain, Chris Caffery, Beyond Fear To Team Up For U.S. Tour". Blabbermouth.net . Roadrunner Records. August 6, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  8. "Doro Bassist Nick Douglas Releases Solo Album". Blabbermouth.net . Roadrunner Records. November 22, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  9. "Former Doro, Lita Ford, Britny Fox Members Join Forces in the Nick Douglas Band". Blabbermouth.net . Roadrunner Records. March 30, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2012.