Dave Witte

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Dave Witte

| image = Municipal Waste - 2024275202737 2024-10-01 Cannibal Corpse - Sven - 1D X MK II - 0784 - AK8I9607.jpg

| landscape = yes

| alt =

| caption = Witte performing with Municipal Waste in 2024

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|8|11}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}

| origin = New Jersey, United States

| instrument = Drums, percussion

| genre = Extreme metal, heavy metal, hardcore punk

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 1990–present

| label = Pulp, H.G. Fact, Slap-a-Ham, Relapse, Devour, Hydra Head, Earache, Ipecac, Tankcrimes, Nuclear Blast

| associated_acts = Human Remains, Discordance Axis, Black Army Jacket, East West Blast Test, Phantomsmasher, Burnt by the Sun, Melt-Banana, Municipal Waste, Birds of Prey, Brain Tentacles, Deny the Cross

| website = {{Url|http://blog.davewitte.com}}

}}

Dave Witte (born August 11, 1971) is an American drummer. He is known for his work in numerous extreme metal or hardcore punk bands including Municipal Waste, Melt-Banana, Discordance Axis, Black Army Jacket, Birds of Prey, Burnt by the Sun, and Deny the Cross among others. He has also played as a session drummer for many other acts.

Early life

Witte is a New Jersey native.{{Cite web|last=Ailes|first=Drew|date=March 4, 2006|title=Dave Witte interview|url=http://www.lambgoat.com/features/interviews/dave_witte.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704012527/http://www.lambgoat.com/features/interviews/dave_witte.aspx|archive-date=July 4, 2007|website=lambgoat.com}} He relocated to Richmond, Virginia to join Municipal Waste. He has been the drummer on numerous albums since 1990. He plays many styles of drumming while retaining heavy aspects of music in all his projects. Witte was introduced to drumming in grade school by his Uncle Victor.[http://www.paiste.com/e/endorser_det.php?page=bio&endorserid=4641 Dave Witte Biography] paiste.com, October 25, 2009 Before he graduated high school he was studying many performances, and had already formed his first band, Human Remains.

Drumming

Witte often plays with multiple bands at once. He is a drummer in the underground scene. Witte says he "loves the speed aspect of drumming". Witte plays Trick drums, Paiste cymbals, and Vic Firth drumsticks.

Bands

Witte has been in numerous bands since the early 1990s. He has never been in just one band, and he has been in up to five or six bands at once.[http://decibelmagazine.com/Content.aspx?ncid=333203 Dave Witte Interview with Decibel] decibelmagazine.com, September 24, 2009, October 24, 2009 He has recorded many studio albums with bands, toured with many other bands, or formed his own bands always keeping busy playing music.

= Current bands =

== Municipal Waste (2004–present) ==

Witte joined Municipal Waste in 2004, after previous drummer Brandon Ferrel left the band. In 2005 Municipal Waste released their first album with Witte on drums, Hazardous Mutation. Since then they have released Massive Aggressive in 2009. Their most recent album, The Fatal Feast came out in 2012. According to Witte Massive Aggressive is the best album the band has done to date.[https://archive.today/20130202163659/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116103 Municipal Waste Interview] roadrunnerrecords.com March 13, 2009, October 20, 2009[http://www.facethewaste.com/ Municipal Waste Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125030740/http://www.facethewaste.com/ |date=November 25, 2005 }} facethewaste.com, October 19, 2009

== Burnt by the Sun (1999–2009) ==

Witte formed Burnt By the Sun in 1999 along with friend John Adubato. Witte's reason for forming the band was because he was tired of buying records "that failed to deliver what they promised[http://shop.relapse.com/artist/artist.aspx?ArtistID=10018 Burnt By the Sun Relapse Records Page] relapse.com, 10/22/2009" so they formed their own style of metal using what Witte and the other members felt were missing from heavy music. The band released a demo on Ferret records. After the demo they released several albums on Relapse Records. After a hiatus Witte claimed it was time to make a third record, but stated the band "can not and will not be full-time". He also stated this will be the last release from Burnt by the Sun.[http://blog.davewitte.com/?page_id=9 Dave Witte's Blog] blog.davewitte.com, October 20, 2009

== Deny the Cross (2013–present) ==

Formed in 2013 by Witte, vocalist Carlos Ramirez, guitarist Dan Lactose, and bassist Ramon Salcido, Deny the Cross is powerviolence band that released their debut album, Alpha Ghoul, in 2016, via Tankcrimes. In addition to Witte, Deny the Cross' members have also been in such bands as Spazz, Agents of Satan, Black Army Jacket, Plutocracy, Funeral Shock, and Lakota.

== Birds of Prey (2006–present) ==

[http://www.myspace.com/birdsop Birds of Prey Myspace Page] myspace.com/birdsop October 23, 2009

== King Generator (2007–present) ==

[http://www.myspace.com/kinggenerator King Generator's Myspace Page] myspace.com/kinggenerator, October 22, 2009

== Brain Tentacles ==

= Past bands =

Witte toured with Melt-Banana for four years.

Witte's second band, Discordance Axis, that gained much critical attention after the band had broken up.

Human Remains

This was Witte's first band.

A NYC-based powerviolence band that released one studio album, and a slew of EPs and compilation tracks.

Witte has also collaborated with numerous artists to create:

Hex Machine
Candria
Redrum
Major-burns
Atomsmasher
Phantomsmasher
Anodyne
East West Blast Test
Hope Collapse

Witte also rehearsed with Pig Destroyer with the intention of joining the band following the departure of drummer Brian Harvey but was forced to back out due to a pre-existing wrist injury. Material was written for the band's upcoming album with Witte.{{Cite web |url=http://operationgrindcore.blogspot.com/2012/08/interview-pig-destroyer.html |title=Operation Grindcore: Interview: Pig Destroyer |access-date=August 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408205443/http://operationgrindcore.blogspot.com/2012/08/interview-pig-destroyer.html |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Personal life

On his off-time from recording and touring Witte works in the kitchen of a catering company. Since 2017 he runs, together with his girlfriend, a vegan foodtruck.[http://club.kingsnake.com/index.php?/archives/671-Interview-with-the-unstoppable-multi-band-playing-maniac-Dave-Witte!.html Dave Witte Interview] club.kingsnake.com, October 4, 2008, October 23, 2009 He is a self-proclaimed beer lover, with Belgian beers being his favorite. He also finished his first triathlon in 2003.