Daniel Cavanagh

Daniel Cavanagh
Daniel Cavanagh, 2010
Background information
Born	(1972-10-06) 6 October 1972 (age 44)
Origin	England
Genres	Death/doom, gothic metal (early). Progressive rock, new prog, acoustic rock.
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	guitar, vocals, piano
Years active	1990–present
Associated acts	Anathema, Leafblade, Antimatter, Agua de Annique

Daniel "Danny" Cavanagh (born 6 October 1972) is an English guitarist and singer who formed the British band Anathema in 1990 with his brother Vincent Cavanagh. He is the band's principal songwriter, a role he had previously shared with bassist Duncan Patterson until Patterson's departure in 1998.

Cavanagh has been involved in other projects including Leafblade, an acoustic & Celtic rock band, (guitars and vocals), and Antimatter, the former band of ex-Anathema member Duncan Patterson. He also played guitar on the album In the Mushroom with Lid. Cavanagh also provided vocals on an album by French post rockers Spherical Minds and was a guest on the album Pure Air by Agua de Annique, providing vocals and guitar on "The Blowers Daughter".

Cavanagh was raised in Anfield, Liverpool, in a working-class family. He has mentioned that Dire Straits and in particular Mark Knopfler were his first musical influences, and along with Queen were responsible for leading the young Cavanagh towards learning guitar. The seed was cemented in 1985 with the Live Aid concert and this is an event that Cavanagh still mentions as being what he regards one of the finest moments in the history of music and of mankind. During his teenage years, Cavanagh discovered Iron Maiden who alongside bands like Metallica, Celtic Frost, Slayer, Bolt Thrower and later Paradise Lost, was a major influence in his interest in extreme metal.

Cavanagh has been praised for his ability to combine these left field influences gracefully into his own sound without alienating his core fanbase.