Full Biography
Danny Mattin is a Hammond organ driven rock keyboard player whose sound blends classic analogue power with modern stage instruments including the Nord Stage IV, Korg and Kurzweil keyboards. Known for expressive live performances, he also adds backing vocals and occasional harmonica to the mix.
Originally trained as an actor with a degree in drama, he first intended to pursue a career on the stage. Music however had always been close at hand. Growing up in a household where his father played keyboards meant the sound of Hammond organ and electric piano was part of everyday life.
Danny discovered keyboards seriously in his early twenties and immersed himself in the music that had shaped his childhood — the great rock and progressive recordings of the 1970s and 1980s.
The best way to master an instrument is to start playing live, and Danny began performing with pub and club bands across the UK. During this period he also spent several months studying and working in the studio of Robert John Godfrey, founder of the progressive rock group The Enid. Under Godfrey's guidance he received an intensive grounding in progressive rock while exploring composition, arrangement and the technical possibilities of the keyboard.
A turning point came when he heard Jon Lord of Deep Purple. Until then he had been studying jazz, yet the power and theatricality of Lord's playing changed his direction completely. Rock offered something more driving, more dramatic and, in Danny's words, "a little louder."
In 2007 a chance meeting with Jon Lord at the Roundhouse in Camden led to further encounters and eventually a series of private masterclasses. These sessions focused on the craft of Hammond organ playing and proved a formative influence on Danny's approach to the instrument.
Keen to deepen his knowledge he also sought guidance from several leading rock keyboard players. He studied with Rod Argent of The Zombies, Phil Lanzon of Uriah Heep and Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey. Each brought a different perspective on musicianship and performance that continues to shape his style.
With this foundation Danny went on to perform widely across the UK and Europe. He toured with blues and tribute acts while building a reputation on the London session scene. Along the way he has played, jammed and worked with musicians including Glenn Hughes, Doug Aldrich, Gary Moore, Bernie Marsden, Doogie White, Richie Faulkner, Malcolm Bruce, Jimmy DeGrasso, Russ Gilbrook, Davey Rimmer and Russ Ballard.
He has also appeared with numerous touring productions and tribute shows including 24 Carat Purple, Rainbow Rising, A Foreigners Journey, Parallel Blondie, Ozzy Ozzspawn, Blizzard of Oz, Van Halen UK and an Alice Cooper tribute production.
Musical Style
Danny's playing blends the raw power and character of the classic Hammond organ with the flexibility of modern keyboards. While the Hammond remains central to his sound, he also performs on a range of stage instruments including the Nord Stage IV alongside keyboards from Korg and Kurzweil. His sound moves easily between vintage organ tones, piano parts and layered synthesiser textures.
At the heart of his setup is the traditional Leslie speaker, the rotating cabinet that gives the Hammond its distinctive swirling character. For Danny the Leslie is not simply equipment, but an extension of the instrument itself, adding movement, warmth and power to the sound.
Influences
Danny's Hammond style owes a clear debt to the giants of Deep Purple. The playing of Jon Lord and Don Airey helped shape his approach to keyboard musicianship and their encouragement and mentoring also played an important role in his development. Lord's legendary Hammond sound pushed the keyboard to the front of a rock band with power and attitude, while Airey's precision and versatility showed how the instrument could evolve across generations of rock.
Philosophy
Danny's playing sits well within the Hammond tradition. It is expressive, rhythmic and rooted in classic rock. The organ becomes both rhythm engine and lead instrument, driving the groove while lifting the sound above the guitars.
Like many musicians shaped by the great players of the seventies, he believes that feel matters as much as technique. Preparation and professionalism are central to his approach. One of the sayings he often returns to is simple and direct: Proper preparation prevents poor performance.
"You need to relax to access imagination. If you are not relaxed you only have access to your intelligence."
— Dennis Hopper
