ROCKIN' with Danny F. Criminal, artist and musician, from Dresden, Germany

(above) in Danny's latest and most accomplished hand-drawn style
(above) an homage to Ed Roth-style, here featuring a Volvo and an Isetta . . . now that's European

(above) yeah baby, go Edsel!

(above) an early illustrated poster for Danny's band, Primitive Men

(above) for awhile this was Danny's poster style

(above) Danny, guitar hero

(above) the Primitive Men all: (l-r) Scotsman, Danny, Carsten, Dieter

(above) Rockin' down the highway, apparently

(above) Dieter, in 2002, at a Billetproof-like event in Germany

(above) Danny, screenprinting at the Douze Studio, Dresden, Germany,

headed up by the fine designer and screenprinter Lars P. Krause

(above) inspired by my and Dennis King's book, ART OF MODERN ROCK;

this was a European show by these artists; poster inspired by Malleus of Italy

(above) Danny co-founded LOW Magazine a la Juxtapoz in the U.S.

cover art by Tara McPherson

(above) I think this is Low #2

(above) an ad for Danny's first magazine, Tiki Lounge

(above) Danny with his girlfriend, painter Nadja Poppe

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He is Danny Winkler, aka Danny F. Criminal, an excellent poster artist, fine art painter, illustrator, screenprinter, and rock/rockabilly musician living in Dresden, Germany. He's also the man behind the art magazine LOW, a European take on JUXTAPOZ (the American lowbrow and pop art magazine founded by Robert Williams). Earlier Danny invented and published TIKI LOUNGE, another low-brow art and pop culture magazine of much renown.

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Danny describes himself as a "longtime member of the German underground music and art scene." His art "reflects what's hot in current trends." He was inspired by classic lowbrow art, comic book illustration, and film animation of the early 1960s. His work for both professional and underground clientele incorporates both retro and newly popular themes.

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He's a car guy, as you can readily see. He's also a founding member of the Primitive Men, on vocals and guitars. His bandmates include the Primitive Scotsman on guitar and vocals; Carsten "The Beat" Stein on drums; and Dieter on bass.

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The band's first release, a 10" vinyl album on Rapid Cheetah Records, includes these songs:

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"Hot Rod Ford (Devil On the Road)"

"I Never Knew Such an Asshole as You"

"The Mustang"

"Noise from the Garage"

"The Story of Phantom Rooster & The Surf Chicks"

"Waialusa/Green Woodie"

"I'm in Love with the Devil"

"Evil Flames on Flat-Black Steel"

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My German is not the best, and many of the LP's reviews haven't yet been translated into English, but I did find this one which appears spot-on (obviously an imperfect translation itself, but thoroughly heartfelt):

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"Made of eight surf-road garage bombs, all begins with "Hot Rod Ford," an invitation to run throughout the interstate highway with your car, your radio on fire, and [going never less than] 160 mph. The second tune, "I Never Knew Such an Asshole as You," is [even more] aggressive with its [unworldly] cries, while the rest of the band beats its instruments with no mercy. The next tune is "The Mustang," and it's presented with smashing fuzz-tone--it's a great instrumental that [leaves you dry] (note: the writer uses a phrasal verb with no appropriate translation). Side "A" ends with "Noise from the Garage," which is pure Neanderthal-ism (note: the writer means it's a very savage song).

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"Side B opens with "The Story of the Phantom Rooster and the Surf Chicks," another instrumental, in which the band [rejoins] the interstate highway it was traveling down earlier. "Waialua/Green Woodie" starts with the sound of Hawaiian beaches, then combines coconuts, flowers, poison, and volcanoes all [together. "I'm in Love with the Devil" truly sounds like it really is, a song with killer rhythm [reminiscent] of a Pleistocenic beast that is about leaving his lethargy, here with loud guitar strokes and cries. This inspired record then ends with "Evil Flames on Flat Black Steel."

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Sounds like my kind of music!

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You can read more about the Primitive Men at http://www.myspace.com/primitivemen and http://www.primitivemen.com.

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You can see much more of Danny's work at http://www.eevl.de/

at http://dfcriminal.blogspot.com, at http://myspace.com/dannyfcriminal, at http://www.low-magazine.com, and at www.gigposters.com.

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Look forward to meeting you, Danny, and the rest of the Primitive Men when we film segments of ROCKIN' DOWN THE HIGHWAY television at several UK and European locations in the next year or so. Keep on rockin', friend.

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