Daniel Adam Lilker (born October 18, 1964) is an American musician best known as a bass player, but also guitarist, pianist, drummer, and vocalist. He has played bass in numerous heavy metal bands, including Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, S.O.D. and Holy Moses, and grindcore bands Brutal Truth and Exit-13.
Biography Lilker was the bassist for the thrash metal band Nuclear Assault and was a founding member of Anthrax with Scott Ian. Lilker was then playing rhythm guitar and recorded bass guitar and co-wrote on their first album, Fistful of Metal (1984). Not long after the release of that album, he was dismissed from Anthrax and replaced on bass by one of the band's roadies Frank Bello. Despite this, Lilker has remained cordial with the band, receiving a co-writing credits for material on their next two albums Spreading the Disease (1985) and Among the Living (1987). Lilker also filled in for Bello on Anthrax's spring 2024 tour dates.
In addition to Anthrax and Nuclear Assault, Lilker has played bass in grindcore band Brutal Truth and crossover band Stormtroopers of Death with Scott Ian and Charlie Benante (from Anthrax), and Billy Milano (Anthrax roadie, M.O.D. singer). He has also played bass with Exit-13, Malformed Earthborn, The Ravenous, Overlord Exterminator, Venomous Concept, Crucifist, Nokturnal Hellstorm, Nunfuckritual and Extra Hot Sauce.Strong, Martin C. (2002) The Great Metal Discography, MOJO Books, , p. 30-31, 93–94, 394
During his tenure with Anthrax, Lilker played bass by fingerpicking, but since forming Nuclear Assault, he has mostly been using a pick.
Lilker played on Holy Moses' 1994 No Matter What's the Cause. He is known for his fast, guitar-like riffing through heavy distortion. Lilker has been a columnist with Zero Tolerance Magazine since the publication's inception in 2005. In 2009, it was reported that Chicago journalist Dave Hofer was writing a biography of Lilker.
Lilker formed United Forces with Stormtroopers of Death bandmate Billy Milano as their singer in 2012.
In January 2014, Lilker announced his plans to retire from being a full-time recording and touring musician. He also announced that Brutal Truth would break up on his 50th birthday. However, Lilker remained a member of Nuclear Assault, who released new material in 2015 for the EP Pounder, and had continued performing live sporadically until their breakup in 2022.
Discography
Extra Hot Sauce Date of releaseTitleLabel1989Taco of DeathPeaceville Records
Nuclear Assault Date of releaseTitleLabelUS sales1986Brain Death (EP)Combat Records / Under One Flag5,000March 10, 1986Game Over Combat Records / Under One Flag90,0001987The Plague (EP)Combat Records / Under One Flag80,0001988Fight to Be Free (EP)Relativity / Under One Flag15,0001988Good Times, Bad Times (EP)Under One Flag10,000June 13, 1988SurviveCombat Records / Under One Flag100,000November 23, 1989Handle with CareRelativity / Under One Flag500,0001989Handle with Care European Tour '89100,000September 10, 1991Out of OrderRelativity / Under One Flag40,0001991Radiation Sickness50,000May 19, 1992Live at the Hammersmith OdeonRelativity Records / Roadrunner150,000July 1, 2003Alive AgainScreaming Ferret / Steamhammer45,000August 29, 2005Third World GenocideScreaming Ferret Wreckords50,0002015Pounder (EP)Sidipus, Dry Heave
Brutal Truth Date of releaseTitleLabelUS salesOctober 6, 1992Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme ResponsesEarache Records40,000October 25, 1994Need to ControlEarache Records30,000October 1, 1996Kill Trend Suicide (EP)Relapse Records20,000September 23, 1997Sounds of the Animal KingdomRelapse Records40,0002000For Drug Crazed Grindfreaks Only!Solardisk5,000April 20, 2009Evolution Through RevolutionRelapse Records20,000September 27, 2011End TimeRelapse Records
Anthrax Date of releaseTitleLabelUS salesJanuary 1984Fistful of MetalMegaforce Records150,0001992Armed and Dangerous (reissue)Megaforce Records
Stormtroopers of Death Date of releaseTitleLabelUS salesDecember 1985Speak English or DieMegaforce Records100,0001992Live at BudokanMegaforce Records100,000May 18, 1999Bigger than the DevilNuclear Blast Records50,0001999Seasoning the Obese: 7" split with Yellow MachinegunRotten Orange/Howling Bull75,000August 21, 2007Rise of the InfidelsMegaforce Records20,000
The Ravenous Date of releaseTitleLabelUS salesAugust 29, 2000Assembled in BlasphemyHammerheart50,0002002Three on a Meathook (EP)Red Stream10,000February 24, 2004Blood DeliriumRed Stream10,000
Venomous Concept Date of releaseTitleLabel2008Poisoned AppleCentury Media
Holy Moses Date of releaseTitleLabel1994No Matter What's the CauseSPV/Steamhammer
References