D-Day Bio - Survival of the Fittest

  • Jim Himes

    Lead Vocals & Guitar

  • Tommy Ufkes

    Drums & Vocals

  • Michael Patterson

    Bass

The average lifespan of a rock band performing original music is short – surprisingly short. Granted, there are always exceptions – AC/DC, Motorhead and Metallica, for example – but the shocking truth is that most original bands last less than three years and only a handful of them get as far as the recording studio, let alone playing major shows. Motivation, money, fear, disillusion and that good old chestnut "musical differences" (read: they can’t stand each other!) are the usual reasons for short band lifespans. Happily, D- Day is a definite exception to this sad, ugly truth. Armed with an ability to write catchy songs that successfully marry the driving blues/rock of yesteryear with a modern, heavy vibe, D-Day is living proof that the fittest can and will survive...

D-Day started in 1982 when vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, Jim Himes, joined forces with drummer, Tommy Ufkes. "As soon as I jammed with Tommy, I immediately knew we had something special – the chemistry was instant." Jim recalls. "He was the preferred drummer around our area as even back then he was super good. Tommy is from a musically inclined family." The pair quickly recruited teenage bassist, Brian Stempien, and D-Day was born.

Nick Bowcott, Producer & Guest Guitarist

The band immediately focused on crafting Himes’ original songs.

"I never played covers," the frontman confesses. "I just didn’t have a knack for that." Even though the local Michigan music scene at the time was dominated by cover bands, the quality of D-Day’s material and their dogged approach soon started to pay off. "It was tough to get gigs, especially in small towns, but a few local bars really took to us, and we quickly started packing those places," Jim states.

JIM HIMES, D-DAY'S LEAD VOCALS & GUITARIST

As a result, a lot more gig opportunities arose, and the band grew a large and loyal local following. Then, in the late ‘80s, the band entered a large radio station "Battle of the Bands" and made the final, which was held in an arena in Battle Creek, MI. Eleven other bands were in the final, but D-Day emerged victorious. The prize? A recording session in a professional studio and regular radio airplay on the station.  A song entitled "Put on Your Leather" proved to be a huge local hit.

"People really took to it, and we started getting even bigger gigs," Himes states with justifiable pride. We started opening for national acts and successfully broke into the Detroit music scene too."  

Due to their impressive rise, before long D-Day had deservedly landed a major sponsorship deal which financed the recording of an album and even flew the band to the Grand Canyon for the cover photo shoot. "When the record came out things really started to take off and a follow- up album and tour was planned," Jim reveals. Then, unfortunately, as is often the case, the leadership of the sponsoring company changed and so did their direction.

"It was going really well and then it all just fizzled out," Jim recalled with a sigh.

TOMMY UFKES, D-DAY'S DRUMS & VOCALS

Such a blow would have destroyed a lesser band, but D-Day merely licked their wounds and soldiered on, even though they were back to square one.

"We couldn’t quit – our fans just wouldn’t let us!" Himes grins. "Every time one of us was out, people kept asking ‘when’s the next show? When are you putting out some new songs?’ So, we got back on the horse and kept riding!"

D-Day kept plugging away and recorded a five-track EP in 2016 entitled "Hell Hill." This not only delighted their fanbase but got the attention of some major venues in California. As a result, some opening slots at the prestigious "Whisky a Go Go" in LA. Inspired, the band hit the studio with producer Nick Bowcott (of Grim Reaper and Guitar World magazine notoriety) and recorded an album entitled "Dry Slide."

When asked why he decided to take on production duties for the band, Bowcott explained:

"I have turned down a lot of production projects, but I had to do this one," said Bowcott. "D-Day writes great, four-minute rock songs that successfully combine infectious drum grooves with fist- pumping guitar riffs and great hooks. It was a total no-brainer!"

The resulting 11-song album has already earned the band main support slots for national acts such as Geoff Tate’s Queensryche, Tantric and Great White.

Due to the hard hitting, hook laden nature of "Dry Slide" promoters in other states took notice too and D-Day were offered slots on major festivals in Texas featuring the likes of Cheap Trick. More high-profile LA gigs were on the table too, and then Covid hit and the whole live music world stopped turning...

Undaunted, D-Day did what they do best and kept moving by not only writing their next album – "Heavy Down Low." The band recently completed a follow-up album—"Shaken & Stirred," with Bowcott again in the producer’s chair and also serving as guest guitarist. The new album also serves as an introduction to D-Day’s newest member Michael Patterson, who joined the band as bassist in June of 2023, replacing Stempien, who now fronts his own band in the LA area. With some major act direct support shows already booked in both the Midwest and beyond on the horizon, D-Day’s already long running career shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, 2024 will see D-Day celebrating its 42 nd  Anniversary – and that’s not only longer than most bands, it’s also longer than the vast majority of marriages!