Interview with DaVang Drummer Ross Knapp















By Mick Michaels


Cosmick View: Hello Ross! Welcome to the COSMICK VIEW. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it is greatly appreciated.

Ross Knapp: It’s great to be able to tell the DaVang story.  And it’s an exciting one to tell. I am Ross Knapp the drummer and newest member of DaVang but the one who should tell you about DaVang because culturally in Vietnam you really do not speak about yourself or your band. That’s bragging and distasteful. Thank God in the USA shameless self-promotion is more of an art form than boasting.

CV: What was the Heavy Metal climate like in 1990 in Vietnam when DaVang first formed?

RK: When DaVang began in Vietnam it was a time when there was strict communist rule and censoring. Dat Nguyen our band founder was a lead guitarist and vocalist at the time. Bands at that time either played traditional Vietnamese music or cover tunes of Western bands. Dat began in a Deep Purple tribute band but he wanted to write and play his own music. The communist censors did their best to persuade Dat not to write his own tunes but when that did not work they tried their best to control his writing. They even tried to guide the musical style. But most importantly the content could not go against the Communist government. I think few of us in the USA could have survived under those conditions but Dat was never discouraged. Even after songs were complete and recorded and he was directed to make changes to the songs. DaVang was the first Metal band in Vietnam and paved the way for bands that play there today. Even to this day Dat will be approached by Vietnamese fans for autographs. It just happened last year at the NAMM Show when I was with him. I have watched videos of Dat on Youtube playing for 30 and 40 thousand fans. He was voted the best guitarist in Vietnam at the time and his band number two at a time when Metal Music was not the norm.

CV: What prompted the move from Vietnam to the United States in 2010?
                                                                                     
RK: Dat moved to the USA to be with his father and mother who had already migrated. He stepped up his English by attending school full time and began his search for Vietnamese players to carry on the DaVang sound in the USA


CV: With your move to the US in 2010 you began seeking musicians for DaVang. What was that two-year process like as you sought out new members?

RK: Dat started in the US by playing in several American Bands and finding out how the business worked here. He met a Vietnamese Punk Bassist, Phil Nguyen who was a fan of DaVang and understood what Dat was about. They began rehearsing together and were soon joined by second Vietnamese guitarist Khang Tran. Over the next year a number of drummers were in and out of the group. And just when they thought they had found the right one, he had a serious illness and had to leave the band. Phil the bassist had filled in for a show with a cover band I played in and remembered me. He suggested that I might be a good addition to the group and that I was American…not Vietnamese. I had to pass an audition to be in the group. I was sent a CD of tunes and a week to learn them. I must admit after listening to the first two tunes I had my doubts about agreeing to the audition. These were not your usual three chord rock tunes. Luckily I had a six hour road trip to and from Las Vegas and got to carefully listen to and learn the tunes…I thought. I squeaked through the audition but I had a lot to still learn. I remember the second practice and being handed sheet music with my drum parts written out note for note. We even practiced with a metronome so the harmonic guitar leads would not be rushed. I knew this was going to be something much different than any band I had experienced before. Dat definitely has the ear and knows what he wants from us as musicians. And that is what the other three of us are…musicians. Dat on the other hand is a true artist. He walks out in front before shows and goes back on stage to adjust the bass amp and the guitar amp. Every show Dat comes with a new effect or setup. He is constantly evolving as an artist and that is what makes the group so special. He plays exceptional guitar, writes and sings the songs and is an excellent recording engineer. We have complete respect for Dat as our leader and follow his direction almost without question. He has proven time and again to be right on the money when it comes to our sound and how we perform it.

CV: How do you feel this current US DaVang line-up compares to earlier line-ups while in Vietnam?

RK: The DaVang in Vietnam had the best guitarists, bass players and best drummers in the country. It was a true honor to play with Dat in the Vietnamese DaVang. But the DaVang in the USA has now been together longer than any combination of players in Vietnam. The US version is extremely tight and has two lead vocalists. Additionally Dat’s writing and musicianship has continued to grow and evolve. The songs have become very progressive and modernized. Dat has incorporated a lot of modern effects and sounds into the DaVang music. It’s very cutting edge.

CV: Is there any thought to have this current line-up return to Vietnam for a string of shows?

RK: I think if DaVang USA can achieve a level of success that Dat is pleased with then a tour of Vietnam could be in the cards. He certainly knows all the right people to make that happen. But I know he is driven to succeed here whatever the cost. That has to happen first.


CV: Are there any plans for a follow up album to 2000’s release “S.O.S.”?

RK: Yes that is paramount. We have been working diligently to record all the music tracks to the original SOS album for a USA release and of course in English. Remember it’s all new music here. Once the instrumental tracks are complete we plan to record the vocals in a “really” good studio and take the whole thing to be mixed by someone with a progressive metal background and reputation. Any suggestions?

CV: The one album you feel every Metalhead should own and why?

RK: Let’s see… there are four of us, so there are going to be four very different answers… but that’s what helps make our sound different.

CV: DaVang’s style is a mixture of classic, power and progressive Metal. What artists have influenced and helped shape the DaVang sound and style? 

RK: Anyone who plays with no boundaries and is open minded with no limits on creativity.

CV: After seeing the band perform live, it’s apparent that the music is both intensely and sophisticatedly written. Is this by design or more of a natural progression on your song writing style and approach?

RK: You are VERY observant! As you know from this interview the driving force behind DaVang is the artistry of Dat which is constantly evolving and growing. So yes, you nailed it. Is has been a natural progression of Dat as an artist and the group following. He even writes the drum parts and they are really great. So because of Dat we are growing as musicians as well. If the teacher in the movie Whiplash was a really nice guy then that would be DaVang. Dat really draws the best out of his bandmates and in very nice way. He is a great teacher and friend.


CV: What or who inspires you to write?

RK: Most of the songs that Dat has written were to tell a story or present an idea. That came first and he would write the music to tell the story. That is why you see such a progressive blending of musical styles. Blood of the Motherland tells us to be good to the environment. SOS is about the horrors of nuclear war. Bach Dang River tells the story of the Mongols invading 12th century Vietnam and getting beaten. Listen to this one to hear the armies marching, the cavalry charging, the battle itself and the victory celebration. Bach Dang River has been used as the sound track to several children’s cartoons to teach history in Vietnam.

CV: What do you think separates bands of today from bands of the past?

RK: Social Media….that should be whole story in itself.

CV: What has been the biggest difference with having a band in Vietnam and a version of the band here in America?

RK: The audience is what is different. DaVang is unknown is the USA. We are playing smaller shows and clubs so audiences are much smaller. However the American audiences are much more enthusiastic music fans than the Vietnamese. They yell, they clap and they scream. DaVang gets an immediate reaction from American audiences which can be inspiring. Also as we mentioned before, social media can expose us to many more viewers than the audience actually at the club with LIVE broadcasts etc.


CV: What’s next for DaVang?

RK: We will continue to play in LA clubs and surrounding areas until DaVang is a recognizable brand. It’s good for the group to play as many different clubs and venues as possible before launching an album or even a single. Whether it’s a small club or a huge outdoor event we want the band to deliver a consistent and exciting show. Meanwhile we are working at rerecording the original DaVang SOS material as well as newly written songs. It’s a long process because as I said Dat is a true artist and for him the songs will never really be done. He is constantly composing and reinventing the material. It’s a very exciting process and we're glad to be part of the DaVang story.

CV: Thank you again Ross for spending your time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success!

Check out Ross and DaVang at:

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