“Danno” – 1958-2010
Very saddened to hear of the passing of Dan Achen, guitarist for numerous Hamilton bands, Monday, from an apparent heart attack.
Danno was one of the original Hess Village mafia, as we all (the Deacons, the Trouble Boys, the Florida Razors, Guitar Mikey, John Lewis, et al) were back in the day. Originally, he was part of the one-two punch of guitarists (Colin Cripps being the other) that fronted the Go-Devils.
His big break came in 1988 or so, when Tom Wilson tabbed him to be the guitar player in his new act, Junkhouse. They worked their asses off, got a major-label deal, and made the rest of us very proud.
Danno was also a big-time guitar collector – everyone in that world knew and respected his expertise. If you were serious about getting a rare or vintage guitar, he could use his contacts to find you one; no matter what remote corner of the globe, he’d know someone.
D. J. Crossley’s Home on the Web 