Birthdate

February 17 1963

Height

5ft 10 inches

Dan Reed was born in Portland, Oregon, USA on February 17 1963.

Dan is of Hawaiian origin (on his mother's side); his father was German but Dan never knew him. Dan was born to his mother at 15, and given up at birth; they finally met when Dan turned 21.

Dan was adopted and moved to a farm in South Dakota in a farming dominated landscape. Dan says that he felt he had to excel in everything he did - "I worked really hard in school and on the farm. I got up every morning at four to check the cattle. That instils a work ethic".

Dan studied martial arts for eight years - the evidence of this can be seen on stage. And then Dan Reed discovered how to play guitar. A Japanese exchange student lived with the family for a year and taught Dan guitar. He showed Dan how to open his mind to other cultures and how to play acoustic guitar.

Dan applied his work ethic to music. He studied acting and music at school, but dropped acting as a potential career. Being in the mid-west USA, Dan was exposed to music from the east and west coast - the mix included AC/DC, Van Halen, Free, Bad Company, Sly and the Family Stone, Cameo and Parliament.