{{short description|American drummer, percussionist, and drum instructor}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Dan Prestup | image = Danprestup.jpg | caption = Dan Prestup in May 2011. | birth_name = Daniel Benjamin Prestup | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|13}} | birth_place = Pequannock Township, New Jersey | instrument = drums, percussion | genre = Hard rock, heavy metal | occupation = Musician (Drums) | years_active = 2006–present | associated_acts = Everdawn, Spider Rockets, Midnight Eternal, DeadRisen, Aetheria }}
'''Daniel Benjamin Prestup''' (born November 13, 1984), better known as '''Dan Prestup''', is an American drummer, percussionist, and drum instructor. He is the drummer for symphonic metal band Everdawn (formerly known as Midnight Eternal), hard rock band Spider Rockets, and several other projects.
Dan Prestup is recognized as one of the fastest drummers in the world. In 2005, Prestup won the World's Fastest Drummer competition at the NAMM Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, earning top honors in the Fastest Feet category by achieving 858 drumometer hits in one minute.<ref name=wfdfeet>{{Cite web|url=https://www.extremesportdrumming.com/wfdrank.php?event=2&offset=30&dispnum=10|title=WFD Worlds Fastest Drummer Rankings|website=www.extremesportdrumming.com}}</ref><ref name=app2>{{cite news | first=Patti | last=Pardini | title=Wall graduate wins World's Fastest Drummer competition | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/437751493 | location = Asbury Park, NJ | newspaper=Asbury Park Press | page = 7 | date=September 8, 2005 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307085442/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/doc/437751493.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep%208,%202005&author=PATTI%20PARDINI&pub=Asbury%20Park%20Press&edition=&startpage=7&desc=Wall%20graduate%20wins%20World%27s%20Fastest%20Drummer%20competition | archive-date=2016-03-07 | id={{ProQuest|437751493}} }}</ref> In addition, Prestup's 2004 achievement of 1,031 single strokes in 1 minute is still recognized among the thirty highest marks in the world as of March 2020.<ref name=wfdhands>{{Cite web|url=https://www.extremesportdrumming.com/wfdrank.php?event=1&offset=20&dispnum=10|title=WFD Worlds Fastest Drummer Rankings|website=www.extremesportdrumming.com}}</ref><ref name=app1>{{cite news | first=Justin | last=Velucci | title=Wall drummer snares world award | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/offers.html?url=%2Fapp%2Faccess%2F1798357951.html%3FFMT%3DFT%26FMTS%3DABS%3AFT%26date%3DNov%2B11%252C%2B2004%26author%3DJUSTIN%2BVELLUCCI%26pub%3DAsbury%2BPark%2BPress%26edition%3D%26startpage%3Dn%252Fa%26desc%3DWall%2Bdrummer%2Bsnares%2Bworld%2Baward | location=Asbury Park, NJ | newspaper=Asbury Park Press | date=November 11, 2004 }}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Prestup has performed on multiple national tours, including the Vans Warped Tour in 2010.<ref name=warped>{{Cite web|url=http://vanswarpedtour.com/blog/id/1743838|title=Vans Warped Tour Blog - Meet the Spider Rockets}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=warpedyoutube>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxFxZO6Tj2Q|title=- YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> He has endorsements with Sabian,<ref name=sabian>{{Cite web|url=https://sabian.com/artist/dan-prestup/|title=Dan Prestup}}</ref> Spaun Drums,<ref name=spaun>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/spaundrumcompany/posts/3568145006561273|title=🤘🏻🔥🥁 AFM Records Signed Metal Band... - Spaun Drum Company}}</ref><ref name=spaun2>{{Cite web|url=https://spaundrums.com/products/dan-prestup_independent|title=Dan Prestup_Independent|website=Spaun Drum Company}}</ref> and Duallist Drum Pedals.
==Early life== Prestup was born in Pequannock Township, New Jersey. He started playing drums at the age of 10, shortly before his family relocated to Wall Township, New Jersey. He started playing in local bands as a teenager, and featured in the Wall Township High School Marching Band as a percussionist.
While in high school, Prestup studied drums under Shadow Gallery drummer Joe Nevolo.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bigbeatstudio.com/aboutus.html |title=About Big Beat Studios |access-date=2012-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115152116/http://www.bigbeatstudio.com/aboutus.html |archive-date=2011-11-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bigbeatmusicstudios.blogspot.com/|title=Big Beat Studio|website=bigbeatmusicstudios.blogspot.com}}</ref> After high school, Dan attended [http://thecollective.edu/ The Collective School of Music] in New York City, graduating in 2008.<ref name=app1/><ref name=sabian/>
==Career==
=== World's Fastest Drummer (2004-2005) === Dan Prestup first emerged on the national drumming scene at the 2004 NAMM Show in Nashville, Tennessee, when he entered the World's Fastest Drummer competition. Dan finished 4th in the Fastest Hands category.<ref name=app1/> His drumometer reading of 1,031 strokes is recognized as the 21st fastest performance in the world to date.<ref name=wfdhands/> While Prestup's performance was impressive, it was the following summer where he would make his breakthrough.
At the 2005 NAMM Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, Prestup entered the World's Fastest Drummer competition. This time, he won the competition in the Fastest Feet category, with a drumometer reading of 858 strokes in 1 minute.
=== Spider Rockets (2006-present) === In late 2006, Prestup auditioned for Spider Rockets, and joined the band shortly thereafter. In 2007, Spider Rockets released its second album, ''Ever After,'' which the band supported with a national tour alongside Lillian Axe.<ref name=roadrunner>{{Cite web |url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=78466 |title=Blabbermouth.net - Spider Rockets To Support Lillian Axe (Roadrunner Records Archive) |access-date=2012-03-10 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711100152/http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=78466 |archive-date=2012-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/|title=News|date=April 5, 2025}}</ref> Dan entered the studio with Spider Rockets for the first time in 2008 to record the band's third album. The self-titled album was released the following year, in May 2009.<ref name=spider2009>{{Cite web|url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=120355|title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - SPIDER ROCKETS Debut Unleashed Digitally|date=February 1, 2013|website=archive.ph|access-date=August 20, 2020|archive-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201091121/http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=120355|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In February 2010, Prestup and Spider Rockets toured briefly with Pop Evil before joining the Vans Warped Tour in July. Later that year, in November, Spider Rockets toured with Framing Hanley.
In 2011, Spider Rockets announced via their website that they were recording a new album scheduled for release in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.spiderrockets.com/web/news/latest-news.html?start=5 |title=Spider Rockets Recording New Album |access-date=2012-03-10 |archive-date=2020-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204010606/http://spiderrockets.com/web/news/latest-news.html?start=5 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Spider Rockets' newest CD entitled ''Bitten'' was released on June 5, 2012.<ref name="auto"/> Dan performed on the 2018 release ''Along Came A Spider'' before eventually being replaced on live shows by drummer Dale Whitaker.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2018/02/09/new-jersey-notes-spider-rockets-at-the-brighton-bar/ | title=New Jersey Notes: Spider Rockets at the Brighton Bar }}</ref> In 2022, Prestup performed on the single ''Casual Violence''.
===Everdawn, previously known as Midnight Eternal (2014-present)=== In March 2014, Dan Prestup joined Midnight Eternal alongside Symphony X bass player Mike LePond. <ref name=bravewords2015>{{Cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/midnight-eternal-signs-to-intromental-worldwide|title=MIDNIGHT ETERNAL SIGNS TO INTROMENTAL WORLDWIDE|date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> In 2016, Midnight Eternal announced their signing with Inner Wound Recordings and Marquee/Avalon for the release of their self-titled debut album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.innerwound.com/?p=index2|title = Inner Wound Recordings}}</ref> In 2019, the band changed their name to Everdawn after a conflict with former band members. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metalshockfinland.com/2019/11/09/midnight-eternal-change-name-to-everdawn-due-to-un-intended-and-quite-dramatic-turn-of-event/|title=MIDNIGHT ETERNAL Change Name To EVERDAWN|date=9 November 2019 }}</ref>
In 2019, Everdawn released their second studio album, ''Cleopatra'' on Sensory Records.<ref name=bravewords>{{cite web | url=https://bravewords.com/news/everdawn-release-date-for-new-album-confirmed-video-update-posted | title=EVERDAWN - Release Date for New Album Confirmed; Video Update Posted }}</ref> In 2022, Everdawn toured on the European leg of Michael Schenker's 50th anniversary tour.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://metalbite.com/news/13100/live-review-michael-schenker-group-everdawn-zeche-bochum-05042022 | title=Live Review - Michael Schenker Group & Everdawn - Zeche, Bochum | date=2022-04-05}}</ref>
===Other Projects (2012-present)=== In 2013, Prestup joined progressive metal band DeadRisen, featuring alongside Symphony X bass player Mike LePond. In 2019, DeadRisen announced their signing with AFM Records,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afm-records.com/pages/deadrisen|title=DeadRisen - Details And News|website=AFM Records}}</ref> with their debut album releasing in the following year.<ref>[https://www.afm-records.de/en/news/394-deadrisen/1304-deadrisen-announce-their-first-album.html DEADRISEN announce their first album]</ref>
In 2014, Dan became the drummer the New Jersey production of Rock Of Ages, featuring Lead Producer of the Broadway production of Rock of Ages, Barry Habib, and American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Welcome rockofagesbandnj.com - BlueHost.com | url=http://www.rockofagesbandnj.com/?page_id=2 | access-date=2025-04-05 | website=www.rockofagesbandnj.com}}</ref>
In 2022, Prestup formed rock band Aetheria with Everdawn keyboardist Boris Zaks.<ref>[https://wrat.com/episodes/jersey-rock-weekly-podcast-episode-235/ WRAT Jersey Rock Weekly Podcast Episode 235]</ref>
==Discography==
=== Full albums === Spider Rockets<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/3403683-Spider-Rockets | title=Spider Rockets | website=Discogs }}</ref> * ''Spider Rockets'' (2009) * ''Bitten'' (2012) * ''Along Came A Spider'' (2018) Everdawn (formerly known as Midnight Eternal) * ''Midnight Eternal'' (2016) * ''Cleopatra'' (2021) DeadRisen * ''DeadRisen'' (2020)
=== Singles/side projects === Semi Quaver *"Kill It" (also feat. Dave Linsk & Joe Comeau) (2011)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hurleypond.com/|title=The House on Hurley Pond - Darren M. Fitzgerald|website=hurleypond.com}}</ref> Dawn of Dreams *"Angel Eyes" (also feat. Dan Swanö) (2012)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unisound.se/|title=Unisound|website=www.unisound.se}}</ref> Aetheria *"Finders Keepers" (2022) Spider Rockets * ''Casual Violence'' (2022)
==Awards and endorsements==
=== Awards === *WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming **'''4th place''', Fastest Hands, 2004<ref name=app1/> **'''Winner''', Fastest Feet, 2005<ref name=wfdfeet/><ref name=app2/>
=== Endorsements === *Sabian cymbals<ref name=sabian /> *Spaun Drums<ref name=spaun /><ref name=spaun2 /> *Duallist Drum Pedals
==Further reading== *Spider Rockets *World's Fastest Drummer
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prestup, Dan}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:American rock drummers Category:People from Pequannock Township, New Jersey Category:People from Wall Township, New Jersey Category:Wall High School (New Jersey) alumni Category:21st-century American drummers Category:American male drummers Category:Drummers from New Jersey Category:Musicians from Morris County, New Jersey Category:Musicians from Monmouth County, New Jersey