The Dan Reed Network was a multi-racial, rock-funk band from the Pacific Northwest that never quite achieved the level of success many people had predicted for them. The roots of the band go back to the meeting of Dan Reed and drummer Dan Pred while the pair were still high school students in Aberdeen, SD, in 1979. They formed the band Nightwing, but parted ways in 1981 when Reed relocated to Portland, joining Nimble Darts as a keyboardist and guitarist. A year later, Pred moved to Los Angeles. In 1984, Pred joined Reed in Portland and, with Nimble Darts disbanded, Dan Reed Network was formed with guitarist Brion James, bassist Melvin Brannen, and keyboardist Jeff Siri completing the early lineup. In 1985, Siri left the band and was replaced by former Quarterflash keyboardist Rick DiGiallonardo and the group released the independent EP Breathless. By 1987, the band had become a top draw in the region and a record deal was signed with Polygram. Replacing DiGiallonardo with Blake Sakamoto, they recorded their self-titled debut album with producer Bruce Fairbairn. Their initial single, "Ritual," became a Top 40 hit in the spring of 1988 and the remainder of the year was spent touring the U.S. and Europe. For their sophomore album, producer Nile Rodgers was enlisted and the resulting Slam was released in late 1989, but it failed to build upon the group's success despite their landing prime support spots on tours for Bon Jovi and the Rolling Stones. Working again with Fairbairn yielded 1991's The Heat, but despite more positive reviews, it too failed to reignite the band's career. A compilation, Mix It Up, was issued in 1993, by which point the group had lost momentum and, although they wouldn't officially break up, the individual members began to pursue other musical projects. Reed formed Adrenaline Sky, while Pred and Sakamoto became members of Generator. Dan Reed Network's Live at Last was released in 1997. ~ Tom Demalon