Douglas R. Docker

Douglas R. Docker
Douglas R. Docker performing live (May 2012)
Background information
Birth name Douglas Ralph Docker
Born (1967-06-16) 16 June 1967
Auxerre, France
Genres Rock and others
Occupation(s) Musician, singer, songwriter, composer, producer
Instruments Piano, keyboards, bass, vocals
Years active 1977–present
Labels Lion Music, Massacre Records
Associated acts Tony Mills, Shining Line
Website Docker's Guild Official Website

Douglas R. Docker (born 16 June 1967) is an American-French musician, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his work with Docker's Guild, a progressive-metal space opera, and as a member of Cheap Prick, an Italian Cheap Trick tribute act. He has also worked with artists including Shining Line and Tony Mills. Docker is also the founder and owner of the Black Swan Rock School of Music, a music and ESL teaching facility located in Italy.[1][2][3][4]

Biography

Classical Music (1977-1999)

From 1977 to 1981 Docker performed as a second violinist in the orchestra of the Istituto Musicale Corelli of Pinerolo.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] From 1978 to 1988 he competed as a pianist in about a dozen international classical piano competitions (Senigallia, Stresa, Bardolino, Torre Pellice, Capri), receiving two first prizes.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] He also performed in recitals as a classical pianist throughout the 1980s.[23][24]

In September of the same year he obtained a BA in Classical Piano at the Conservatory of Cuneo.[25] He was then hired to play piano and organ on the album Ave Maria by Italian tenor Antonio Caffaro.[26]

In June 1996, Docker briefly returned to classical music with a recital called "Paesaggi Esotici", performed at the Turin Museum of Natural History. Featuring Mio Nakamura on vocals, the program included operatic arias and traditional songs linked by the common theme of "the exotic" (particularly Asia).[27]

In November 1999, he performed Allegro de Concierto by Enrique Granados at the SFI-Västertorp in Stockholm for its yearly Kulturdagen (Culture Day).[28]

Docker's Guild (2008–present)

Docker returned to Italy in January 2008. In 2011 he published an article cataloging the Waldensian musical heritage.[29][30]

In 2008, Docker began a project named "Docker's Guild". Its album The Mystic Technocracy – Season 1: The Age of Ignorance was released in 2012 on Lion Music, described by the artist's record label as a progressive rock space opera.[31] Performers on the album included Tony Franklin, Guthrie Govan, Jeff Watson, Greg Bissonette, Goran Edman, John Payne, Tony Mills, and Amanda Somerville. In 2016 Docker released a crowdfunded sequel entitled The Heisenberg Diaries – Book A: Sounds of Future Past. Aside from Docker, all special guests appearing on the album were younger women from the rock and metal world.

A Season 2 --- "The Age of Entropy" --- is planned but has no firm release date. Docker stated that: "Season 2 is in the works, but the format will change. The age of rock operas has passed and it's time to focus on the music rather than on the names." Despite this, he has confirmed that Anna Portalupi (Hardline) will be playing bass on the album and that drumming duties will be handled by Elisa “Helly” Montin (The Anunnaki, Cattivator Of Death, Übermensch), continuing the relatively older Docker's preference of using younger, female musicians in the studio. [32][33][34][35][36][37][38]

In 2014, Docker joined the Vivaldi Metal Project as a lyricist and arranger. [39]

Noted bro-country superstar Chase Rice's latest album Lambs & Lions (2017), which debuted at No. 42 on the Billboard 200, and No. 6 on the Top Country Albums was said to be heavily influenced by Docker's Guild.[40]

Cheap Prick

In the 2010s, Docker formed Cheap Prick, a Cheap Trick tribute act that has performed live shows in Italy and appears to be preparing to play live again in the future.[41]

Influences

Docker has listed as his main musical influences ELP, David Bowie, the Rockets, Journey, Asia, Duran Duran, and Cheap Trick; he additionally lists Star Wars and Shazam as major influences on his music. [42][43]

Discography

Spleen

  • GentiEmergenti 2 – compilation cassette (1986), keyboards on "Autolesionismo"

Anatema

  • Suonomodo – compilation LP (1988), keyboards on "Love You Sometime"

Antonio Caffaro

  • Ave Maria (1989), classical piano and pipe organ[44]

Biloxi

  • Let the Games Begin (1993), did not play on album, but was featured in all album credits and photos, and supplied keyboards on US promotional tour
  • Mississippi Queen b/w Marcus Garvey (Burning Spear Cover) (1994), limited edition 7" single featuring Docker playing melodica on both tracks.[45]

Area 51

  • In the Desert (1996), keyboards and programming, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer

Rustfield

  • Demo 2009 (2009) guest keyboard solos on "Compromising", "Waxhopes" and "High Waters"[46]
  • Kingdom of Rust (2013), guest keyboard solos on "Compromising", "Waxhopes" and "High Waters", piano on "Love Moan"[47][46]

Docker's Guild

  • The Mystic Technocracy Demo (2009), keyboards and programming, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer
  • The Mystic Technocracy – Season 1: The Age of Ignorance (2012), keyboards, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer
  • The Heisenberg Diaries - Book A: Sounds of Future Past (2016), keyboards, lead and backing vocals, arranger, engineer and producer

Shining Line

  • Shining Line (2010), guest keyboards on "Strong Enough"

Tony Mills

  • Over My Dead Body (2015), songwriter, arranger and lead vocals on "Bitter Suite", songwriter, arranger and keyboards on "Free Spirits", arranger and keyboards on "My Death" and "We Should Be on Right Now"[48][49]

Frantic Amber

  • Burning Insight (2015), guest keyboards on "Entwined" and "Soar"

References

  1. ↑ "Tony Mills Page". Battlegod Productions (Official Website). Battlegod Productions. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Tony Mills". Tony Mills (Official Website). Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Finalmente il rock protagonista nel pinerolese. Entropyfest 201. Roletto" (in Italian). Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  4. ↑ "BLACK SWAN - ROCK SCHOOL OF MUSIC - News & Eventi". www.blackswan-musicschool.com. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  5. ↑ "Buon Natale dal "Corelli"". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 15 December 1977.
  6. ↑ "Successo del "Corelli"". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 22 December 1977.
  7. ↑ Bocchino, Osvaldo (24 December 1977). "Il concerto degli allievi del "Corelli"". La Lanterna (newspaper) (in Italian).
  8. ↑ Santero, Giovanni (7 June 1979). "Da Pinerolo: orchestra - coro - pianoforte". L'Unione Monregalese (newspaper) (in Italian).
  9. ↑ Prone, Giorgia (8 June 1979). "L'attività dell'Istituto musicale "Corelli"". La Lanterna (newspaper) (in Italian).
  10. ↑ Bo, C. (8 June 1979). "Bravura e modestia dei giovani (110) del "Musicale" di Pinerolo". Provincia Granda (newspaper) (in Italian).
  11. ↑ Maiolini, Vivetta (14 June 1979). "Concerto dei giovani allievi dell'Istituto musicale "A. Corelli"". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian).
  12. ↑ "300 giovani concorrenti al festival "Città di Bardolino"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 33 (7). July 1980. pp. 66–67.
  13. ↑ "Oltre mille concorrenti al "Città di Stresa"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 34 (6). June 1981. p. 98.
  14. ↑ "Successo del Festival "Città di Bardolino"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 34 (7). July 1981. p. 34.
  15. ↑ "Grande successo a Torre del concorso 'Karl Czerny'". Il Pellice (newspaper) (in Italian). LXXI (18). 7 May 1982.
  16. ↑ "Torre Pellice: i risultati del Concorso "Czerny"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian) (6). June 1982.
  17. ↑ "Festival "Città di Bardolino" - Premio "Montani"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 35 (7). July 1982. p. 54.
  18. ↑ Baudissone, Bruno (19 May 1983). "Più di cento pianisti al concorso di Torre P.". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian).
  19. ↑ "Torre Pellice: i risultati dei concorsi". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 36 (6). June 1983.
  20. ↑ "Torre Pellice". Musica e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 1 (2). July 1983.
  21. ↑ "Festival "Città di Bardolino": ancora una netta affermazione". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 36 (7/8). July 1983. pp. 42–43.
  22. ↑ "Vivo successo del 7° Festival "Città di Bardolino"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 38 (7/8). July 1985. p. 120.
  23. ↑ "Conclusa a Palazzo Italia la Mostra "Porte e portali"". La Pagina (newspaper) (in Italian). 3 November 1982.
  24. ↑ "Concerti di primavera del "Corelli" a Pinerolo". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 19 May 1983.
  25. ↑ "Cuneo - Conservatorio di Musica "G. Verdi"". Il Mondo della Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). XXVIII (33/34). Maria Elisa Tozzi. January 1990.
  26. ↑ Pellice, Gianfranco (21 December 1989). "Serata d'onore per il tenore Caffaro a Bricherasio". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 84 (49).
  27. ↑ Osella, Leonardo (6 May 1996). "Musica all'insegna del naturale". La Stampa (newspaper) (in Italian). 130 (123).
  28. ↑ "Kulturdagen". På väg (newspaper) (in Swedish) (2). December 1999. pp. 4–5.
  29. ↑ "La catalogazione dei beni musicali del patrimonio veldese" (PDF). La Beidana n. 70. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  30. ↑ Docker, Ralph (February 2011). "La catalogazione dei beni musicali del patrimonio valdese". Beidana (La) : Cultura e storia nelle Valli valdesi. 27 (70).
  31. ↑ "Docker's Guild – The Mystic Technocracy". Lion Music. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  32. ↑ "Interview with Douglas R Docker (DOCKER'S GUILD) | Ytsejam.com". Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  33. ↑ "Lion Music Official Page". Lion Music. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  34. ↑ "Docker's Guild: "The Heisenberg Diaries - Book A" Album". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  35. ↑ http://www.dockersguild.com/home/blog/the-mystic-technocracy-season-2-the-age-of-entropy
  36. ↑ https://dockersguild.com/forum/boards/4631/topics/144686?p=1
  37. ↑ "Docker's Guild - The Mystic Technocracy - Season 2: The Age of Entropy". www.dockersguild.com. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  38. ↑ "Elisa Montin (18+) | Hit Like A Girl". Hit Like A Girl. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  39. ↑ http://www.vivaldimetalproject.com/tag/dockers-guild/
  40. ↑ "rock | timotheories". timotheories.com. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  41. ↑ http://www.settimanalemonviso.it/settimanalemonviso/cheap-prick-live-a-fenile/
  42. ↑ https://www.heavymetalwebzine.it/2015/12/18/dockers-guild-douglas-docker/
  43. ↑ http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/tnt-ex-yngwie-malmsteen-members-to-guest-on-docker-s-guild-album/
  44. ↑ Pellice, Gianfranco (21 December 1989). "Serata d'onore per il tenore Caffaro a Bricherasio". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 84 (49).
  45. ↑ "Biloxi - Mississippi Queen". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  46. 1 2 "Rustfield Official Website - Discography Page". Rustfield Official Website - Discography Page. Rustfield. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  47. ↑ "Massacre Records - Rustfield Page". Massacre Records - Rustfield Page (in German). Massacre Records. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  48. ↑ "Battlegod Productions". Battlegod Productions Official Page. Battlegod Productions. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  49. ↑ "Tony Mills Official Website". Tony Mills Official Website. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
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