Dan Kelly (musician)

Dan Kelly
Dan Kelly performing in New York City in September 2011
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Kelly
Born	1974 (age 42–43)
Origin	Adelaide, Australia
Genres	Rock, Australian rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter, guitarist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2003–present
Labels	ABC Music, In-Fidelity Recordings, Shock
Associated acts	Paul Kelly The Drones Nord Stardust Five The Ukeladies Ground Components Augie March Gareth Liddiard The Devastations Oh Mercy
Website	dankelly.com.au

Daniel "Dan" Kelly (born 1974) is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Dan Kelly grew up in Queensland, the second oldest of six children. He learnt the guitar at thirteen and later studied Environmental Science at University in Brisbane. He formed his first band, Nord, in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne in 1996. In 2000 he started playing solo shows under the name Dank Alley, not wanting to trade on his famous uncle Paul Kelly's name. In May 2003 he released his first solo EP, Man O Mercy, which spawned the radio hit "Countermeal Kim".

In 2004 he formed a new band, Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males, comprising Kelly with Gareth Liddiard & Christian Strybosch (The Drones) and Tom Carlyon (The Devastations). They were best known for Dan's Australian slacker-esque guitar sounds, his falsetto vocals and vivid lyrics. The Alpha Males appeared at The Falls Festival in Melbourne and Tasmania and selected Big Day Outs. In March 2004 they released their debut album, Sing the Tabloid Blues, on In-Fidelity Recordings. At the 2004 ARIA Awards Kelly was nominated for 'Best Male Artist', with the band receiving two nominations for 'Best Independent Release' and 'Breakthrough Artist'. Around this time, Kelly also joined his uncle's band, Paul Kelly and the Boon Companions, performing on his 2004 album, Ways & Means.

In 2005 Liddiard and Carlyon travelled to Europe with their respective other projects, with Aaron Cupples, Dan Luscombe and Lewis Boyes joining the Alpha Males. The band then released an EP, Pirate Radio, in October 2005, which saw Kelly receive his second 'Best Male Artist' ARIA Award nomination for the release. The band gained significant press coverage in mid-2006 with their single "Drunk on Election Night" – a reflection on the disillusionment many experienced during the evening of the Australian federal election, 2004. The song was hand picked by Neil Young to be included in his Living With War Songs of The Times.