{{Short description|American musician and songwriter (born 1984)}} {{Not notable|Music|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Wayne Sermon | image = Wayne Sermon.jpg | caption = Sermon performing in 2016 | birth_name = <!-- if different from "name" --> Daniel Wayne Sermon | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|6|15}} | birth_place = American Fork, Utah, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * Alternative rock * indie rock * pop rock * indie pop * electropop }} | instrument = {{flatlist| * Electric guitar * vocals * mandolin * violin }} | occupation = {{flatlist| * Musician * songwriter * record producer }} | years_active = 2009–present | current_member_of = Imagine Dragons | label = {{flatlist| * Interscope * Kidinakorner }} | website = {{URL|imaginedragonsmusic.com}} | module = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename= Wayne Sermon on Touring (Imagine Dragons Live Q&A).ogg |title= Sermon's voice |type= speech |description= On the emotional effects of touring }} }} '''Daniel Wayne Sermon''' (born June 15, 1984) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is the lead guitarist for the pop rock band Imagine Dragons.
==Early life== Sermon was born on June 15, 1984, in American Fork, Utah, to parents Jeff and Debbie Sermon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sermon |first1=Wayne |date=8 November 2018 |title=Imagine Dragons - Live From The ORIGINS Experience |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NapLxHp09DU |access-date=8 November 2018 |website=Youtube}}</ref> He attended Berklee College of Music where he double majored in guitar performance and composition, graduating in 2008.<ref name="berklee">{{cite web |title=Berklee College of Music |url=http://www.berklee.edu/bt/233/alumnotes.html |access-date=2014-07-13 |publisher=berklee.edu}}</ref> While at Berklee he was part of a five-guitar jazz fusion ensemble called The Eclectic Electrics.<ref name="jammagazine" /><ref name="fasterlouder" />
== Career == Wayne Sermon first met Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds after hearing him perform at a club in Utah and approaching him afterwards about his musical interests.<ref name="jammagazine">{{cite web |title=Imagine Dragons Interview With Guitarist Wayne Sermon | Interview | Music News | JAM Magazine Online | David Dunn | Chris Eason |url=http://jammagazine.com/mf201302-imagine-dragons-its-time-interview-guitarist-wayne-sermon-writer-david-dunn.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715001620/http://jammagazine.com/mf201302-imagine-dragons-its-time-interview-guitarist-wayne-sermon-writer-david-dunn.aspx |archive-date=2014-07-15 |access-date=2014-07-13 |publisher=jammagazine.com}}</ref><ref name="fasterlouder">{{cite web |title=Imagine Dragons: "That arena sound excites us, we don't need to apologise for it" |url=http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/36345/Imagine-Dragons-That-arena-sound-excites-us-we-dont-need-to-apologise-for-it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216012750/http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/36345/Imagine-Dragons-That-arena-sound-excites-us-we-dont-need-to-apologise-for-it |archive-date=2014-12-16 |access-date=2014-07-13 |publisher=fasterlouder.com.au}}</ref> Reynolds invited him to join his band and move to Las Vegas. Sermon then invited Ben McKee to join the band on bass, and drummer Daniel Platzman, also a friend of Wayne from Berklee College of Music, became the last member to join the group. In Las Vegas, the band performed and honed their craft nearly nightly as a lounge act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vegasmagazine.com/personalities/articles/imagine-dragons-talk-new-album-smoke-and-mirrors-release-and-las-vegas-beginnings|title=Imagine Dragons Talk New Album and Growing Up in Las Vegas|work=vegasmagazine.com|access-date=2015-02-05|archive-date=2015-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503194457/http://vegasmagazine.com/personalities/articles/imagine-dragons-talk-new-album-smoke-and-mirrors-release-and-las-vegas-beginnings|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/ae/music/2013/oct/24/chat-killers-keuning-imagine-dragons-sermon/|title=The Weekly chat: The Killers' Dave Keuning and Imagine Dragons' Wayne Sermon--together|author=Corlene Byrd|date=24 October 2013|work=LasVegasWeekly.com|access-date=5 February 2015|archive-date=10 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110201016/http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/ae/music/2013/oct/24/chat-killers-keuning-imagine-dragons-sermon/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/holy-roller-dan-reynolds-interview-8928525.html|title=Hotonite!26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127092444/http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2009/07/06/music/fear_and_lounging/iq_29705856.txt |archive-date=2013-01-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Vegas Music Summit Headliner 2010,<ref>[http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/events/2011/nov/05/20860/]{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref> and more sent the band on a positive trajectory. In November 2011 they signed with Interscope Records and began working with producer Alex da Kid.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://blogs.lasvegascitylife.com/cityblog/2011/11/17/vegas-band-imagine-dragons-score-major-label-deal/ |title=Imagine Dragons scores major-label deal |last=Plenke |first=Max |date=November 17, 2011 |work=Las Vegas CityLife |access-date=July 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425232339/http://blogs.lasvegascitylife.com/cityblog/2011/11/17/vegas-band-imagine-dragons-score-major-label-deal/ |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2012 their debut album ''Night Visions'' brought the band mainstream success. It reached 2 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart and won the Billboard Music Award for Best Rock Album (2014). Single "It's Time" became the band's first single reaching #15 Billboard Hot 100 and certified multi-platinum by the RIAA. Second single "Radioactive" reached #3 Billboard Hot 100 and was certified diamond by the RIAA, becoming the best selling rock song in the history of Nielsen SoundScan. Third single "Demons" reached #6 Billboard Hot 100 and was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA. Their album made the highest debut for a new rock band in six years (since 2006) and single Radioactive set a record for longest time atop the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart with 23 consecutive weeks.<ref name="mtv">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1693686/imagine-dragons-billboard-charts.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104050551/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1693686/imagine-dragons-billboard-charts.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 4, 2013|title=Imagine Dragons Blaze Into #2 Spot On Billboard Chart - MTV|publisher=mtv.com|access-date=2014-07-13}}</ref> Tracks from the album topped the Billboard Rock Songs, Billboard Alternative Songs, and Billboard Pop Songs charts. Radioactive was also nominated for two Grammy Awards, winning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.<ref name="lasvegasweekly">{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/ae/music/2013/dec/06/imagine-dragons-pick-pair-grammy-nominations/|title=Imagine Dragons pick up a pair of Grammy nominations - Las Vegas Weekly|date=6 December 2013|publisher=lasvegasweekly.com|access-date=2014-07-13|archive-date=2018-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165429/https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/music/2013/dec/06/imagine-dragons-pick-pair-grammy-nominations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Singles include "I Bet My Life" and "Shots".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/10/imagine-dragons-new-album-announcement-i-bet-my-life/|title=Imagine Dragons Release Bombastic New Song From Upcoming Album|work=Spin|date=2014-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/10/27/imagine-dragons-i-bet-my-life-listen-up-song-of-the-week/17998245/|title=Song of the Week: Imagine Dragons' 'I Bet My Life'|author=Brian Mansfield, USA TODAY|date=27 October 2014|work=USA TODAY}}</ref>
==Personal life== Sermon is one of five children of his parents and grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but has since left the church.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 October 2019 |title=1181-1185: Wayne and Alex Sermon - Our Journey with Imagine Dragons and Mormonism |url=https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/wayne-and-alex-sermon-our-journey-with-imagine-dragons-and-mormonism/ |access-date=2019-10-12 |website=Mormon Stories |language=en-US}}</ref>
Wayne has chronic insomnia and will often record songs during the middle of the night, sleeping only a couple of hours a day.<ref name="redbullusa">{{cite web |title=Imagine Dragons - Night Sessions, Insomnia and Nightmares |url=http://www.redbullusa.com/cs/Satellite/en_US/Article/Imagine-Dragons-Night-Sessions,-Insomnia-and-Nightmares-021243253926065 |access-date=2014-07-13 |publisher=redbullusa.com}}</ref>
== Playing style and musicianship == Sermon has described his playing style as textural.<ref name="youtube" />
As a youth, Sermon learned to play both cello and guitar. He was determined to be a guitarist even as a child. His father had an audio-phile quality amplifier, a record player, and all of The Beatles albums on vinyl, which Sermon enjoyed listening to.<ref name="www2.gibson.com">{{cite web |title=Imagine Dragons Guitarist Wayne Sermon on New Album, Influences and His Favorite Gibsons |url=http://www2.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/imagine-dragons-guitarist-wayne-sermon.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828062832/http://www.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/imagine-dragons-guitarist-wayne-sermon.aspx |archive-date=2017-08-28 |access-date=2015-02-07 |work=gibson.com}}</ref> He also loved the sounds of Tom Scholz (of Boston) and his approach to solos.<ref name="www2.gibson.com" />
==Equipment==
===Electric guitars=== *BilT Electric Guitar with built-in effects<ref name="mixonline">{{cite web|url=http://mixonline.com/live_sound/tours/imagine_dragons_taming_big_thunderous_percussion_and_dynamic_vocals/|title=FOH mixer Scott Eisenberg and monitor engineer Jared Swetnam discuss the details regarding Imagine Dragons' live setup | Mix talks to FOH mixer Scott Eisenberg and monitor engineer Jared Swetnam about the details behind Imagine Dragons' live setup, in the May 2013 issue of Mix|publisher=mixonline.com|access-date=2014-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714154835/http://mixonline.com/live_sound/tours/imagine_dragons_taming_big_thunderous_percussion_and_dynamic_vocals/|archive-date=2014-07-14|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/22872-rig-rundown-imagine-dragons|title=Rig Rundown: Imagine Dragons|work=premierguitar.com|date=22 July 2015}}</ref> *Gibson Jeff Tweedy Signature SG<ref name="www2.gibson.com"/> *Elixir Strings<ref name="youtube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwHB0JvXgUk|title=ELIXIR Strings Catches Up with Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons - YouTube|date=3 February 2014 |publisher=youtube.com|access-date=2014-07-13}}</ref>
===Acoustic guitars=== *Gibson J-45<ref name="www2.gibson.com"/> *Gibson Honky Tonk Deuce<ref name="www2.gibson.com"/>
===Sound equipment=== *Line 6 M9 Stompbox Modeler<ref name="mixonline"/> *Vintage Vox AC30 Amps with Top Boost Kit from Plexi Palace{{CN|date=January 2019}} *Friedman Smallbox 50 with 65 Amp 2x12 Whiskey cabinet{{CN|date=January 2019}}
==Discography== {{Main|Imagine Dragons discography}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{official website|http://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/}} * {{facebook|ImagineDragons}} {{Imagine Dragons}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sermon, Wayne}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:American alternative rock musicians Category:American indie rock musicians Category:American male singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Musicians from Las Vegas Category:Imagine Dragons members Category:Berklee College of Music alumni Category:21st-century American singers Category:People from American Fork, Utah Category:Former Latter Day Saints