JD From the moment I started playing guitar it was something I wanted to do for a living, but I honestly didn’t think it would happen. There are so many guitarists who all have the same dream so I didn’t think it was realistic to think I could do music as a profession. I had a bit of luck and got a big break very early on in my playing career, but I have always tried to make luck happen for myself rather than waiting for it to come to me.

MFY How did you get into music?

JD At the age of 15 I decided that I wanted to play an instrument. At first it was going to be the saxophone (I have no idea why!), but then decided on the guitar. When I asked my music teacher for guitar lessons, she said "no, try the cello" so I waited until I went to sixth form and got lessons at another local school. I used to practise all the time at school - I’d run home at lunch time to get half an hour in!

MFY What do you most enjoy about playing?

JD Being creative! I don’t gig much at all these days - I gigged solidly for over 10 years and played in 28 countries during that time so I feel like I’ve got that out of my system now. When I was touring, I loved playing in front of crowds that knew our music - it’s such an incredible buzz, no matter what the size of the venue is.

MFY What was your big breakthrough?

JD I was aged 20 and still at university. The Prodigy were playing at my uni and I was working setting up the PA so I gave Liam Howlett from Prodigy a demo tape. Two weeks later he called me up and asked me if I wanted to tour with them… I said yes! I went on to play live with them for a year or so before joining Pitchshifter who I also approached by giving them a demo tape and they then invited me to play on their new album. Following that, they asked if I’d join full time… I said yes! I then went back to playing with Prodigy in 2002 for just over a year.

MFY What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?

JD Stick to your guns. Don’t change your style just because that’s what’s in fashion at the moment.

MFY Is there anything that you have had to sacrifice for your music?

JD A normal life! As a professional musician you have good years and bad years and you have to be prepared to take the good with the bad. I spent all of my 20's on tour so I never settled down anywhere... If you want a normal, run of the mill existence, then being a musician isn’t for you! That aside, I don’t feel I’ve sacrificed anything as it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

MFY What elements do you think go towards making a great performance?

JD A great audience, a great on-stage sound, a great front-of-house sound, and a band that’s tight and on form. I’ve been in many bands – it’s nice to play in a band when everyone gets on great. It’s a nice feeling when you’re playing a big gig and you look across the stage to your band mates and you know you are both thinking "this is awesome".

MFY Who is your favourite musician or performing group right now and why?

JD I love Depeche Mode, they are real innovators. My favourite band is NIN - they aren’t playing live any more but Trent Reznor continues to produce amazing music. He is a true genius, I respect him musically more than any other musician.

MFY What’s the last recording you bought or downloaded?

JD ‘How to destroy angels’, Reznor’s new project… amazing.

MFY If you could collaborate with any other musician(s) dead or alive who would it/they be?

JD Trent Reznor and Martin Gore and Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode).

MFY What would you be doing if you weren’t a musician?

JD I’d be a writer or a historian. I’d probably combine the both actually. I’m fascinated by history, in particular ancient Rome and WW2. I could probably write a book on those subjects… maybe I will.

MFY Do you have any advice you could give to Music for Youth performers about how they can improve their performances and continue to develop as musicians?

JD Just stay open minded. Listen to music you think you like as well as music you think you don’t like and work with musicians who play different styles to you. You can learn so much from watching other people. I used to hate dance music when I was at school - it just so happens I made a name for myself playing dance music over 5 years later!

MFY What advice could you give to young musicians wanting to explore music away from the mainstream?

JD Check out your local music scene, get in there. Go to gigs. Be cheeky… offer your services to everyone! Make your own luck.

MFY What are your memories of learning music in or out of school, college or university?

JD I loved music class at sixth from. I used to stay behind and practise for hours after school. At uni, even though I wasn’t studying music, I got into the local scene and joined about 5 bands! Playing everything from rock to jazz and even though I couldn’t play jazz, I just hung out and watched the jazzers and tried to pick it up.

MFY Who are your musical heroes?

JD Hendrix, Trent Reznor

MFY What are your plans for the future?

JD I have my second guitar instrumental album coming out later this year called ‘Outside the box’. My studio band, ‘Victory Pill’, have a second album out this year as well. Plus I’m writing a lot of music for film and TV – I’ve done 4 albums worth of stuff already this year!

MFY What is your favourite music venue and why?

JD The Astoria, when it existed. Great place to play, not too big, not too small. And a nice guest balcony to put all your mates and family on! The best gigs I ever played were at the Astoria.

MFY If you could recommend one recording to a young musician, what would it be?

JD Any Hendrix album.

MFY Any final tips/anecdotes/thoughts

JD Just stick with it and try to do something different, try and break the mould. Millions of people are chasing the same dream, what are you going to do to make yourself stand out? Listen to all styles of music, get inspired. Be cheeky and talk to people. Be nice, people remember that.