Trip Wilder
Trip Wilder is a New York City based drummer, singer and songwriter who specializes in hard rock and heavy metal. Inspired by classic British metal bands such as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, Trip founded NYC metal band Truest Damned in 2002. Trip Wilder's main drumming influences are Ian Paice of Deep Purple, Bill Ward of Black Sabbath, Mitch Mitchell of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Keith Moon of The Who. His vocal influences are Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Scott of AC/DC, and Phil Mogg of UFO.
Trip is currently overseeing the recording of Truest Damned's debut album. The album is scheduled for release in late 2009 and features a number of his original compositions. "Evil Ones" is a punchy, New Wave Of British Heavy Metal inspired rocker. "Jack The Ripper" is a historically inclined track describing the vicious exploits of the infamous London slasher. "Because I'm Evil" is an apocalyptic tour de force, complete with crushing power chords, elephantine drumming and blasphemous lyrics.
Trip has been the backbone of Truest Damned since it's inception. As the band's main singer, songwriter and drummer, Trip leads the band in concert while simultaneously supplying their driving force from behind the drum kit. With the support of his band mates, Trip helps to make Truest Damned the progenitor of power and force it is.
Writing songs from the age of 13 and playing drums and percussion from the age of 15, Trip has played in bands of many styles, from southern rock, goth and punk to Brazilian batucada and Belizean punta rock, as well as spending three years in San Diego with the Super Sonic Samba School. Trip learned a lot but never lost his true passion for English hard rock and heavy metal. Everything from the riffs, the melodies, the sophisticated, wry, bludgeoning lyrics to the band names and song titles made their mark on Trip from an early age. From the most obscure NWOBHM bands to the more well-known groups, British metal has been his lifeblood for many years.
A headbanger since day one, Trip cares nothing for trends and knows that classic metal is timeless. Bringing the crunching, ethereal vibe of this great music back, in the form of covers and originals, is the reason he formed Truest Damned with the best musicians he could find. United by their overarching love of hard rock, these players each bring a unique sound and style to the band while making Trip's job as bandleader easier. With the balance of heavy, melodic guitar and driving rhythm, they seek to bombard audiences from every stage they can and to bring the metal live for a long time to come.