Dana Strum

Born in Washington, D.C., Dana Strum moved with his family and was raised in Southern California's San Fernando Valley. He developed a love of rock music and began playing the bass guitar at age eight.[3] He formed the band D.O.A. at the age of 13[3] and by age 17 was playing on records and performing on the Los Angeles Club Circuit.

In the late 1970s, Dana Strum performed with the band Badaxe, formed in 1975 in Los Angeles, CA. The other members of the group were David Carruth on guitar, Steve Ward on drums, and Stacy Moreland on vocals, who was later replaced with Bobby Gaudreau. The band recorded and released the single "Cry For Me" and "All You Can Stand" in 1977.[4] Only a few copies were made and released on a private label (Progrezzive Records). Even so the single received a recommendation from BillBoard Magazine and succeeded in landing Badaxe a recording deal. While the band recorded its second LP at Dalton Studios in Santa Monica, Ca. it became a fixture on the L.A. club circuit along with future chart-toppers Van Halen, Quiet Riot, and Mötley Crüe. The album was finished but due to conflicts within the band it has never been released.

Prior to achieving mainstream success with Slaughter in the late 1980s, Strum recorded albums with Rod Falconer and Danny Spanos. It was Strum who convinced Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads to audition for Ozzy Osbourne's new band in 1979 and he was later credited with placing Jake E. Lee in Osbourne's band following Rhoads' 1982 death in a plane crash.[2] He is also recognized as having placed Mark St. John in Kiss. Dana Strum produced Kik Tracee's 1991 'No Rules' under BMG Music. Dana Strum often plays with Vince Neil and during 2009 recorded a new studio album with him.[5]

• Slaughter

• Historical interview with Charles England