Dan Avidan

Dan Avidan

Avidan performing with Skyhill at The Bitter End in 2008.
Personal information
Born Leigh Daniel Avidan
(1979-03-14) March 14, 1979
Springfield, New Jersey, United States
Nationality Jewish-American
Residence Glendale, California
Occupation
Website ninjasexparty.com
YouTube information
Pseudonym Danny Sexbang
Channel NinjaSexParty
Years active 2006–present
Genre
Subscribers 873,312 (November 2016)
Total views 102 million (November 2016)
Associated acts
Subscriber and view counts updated as of September 8, 2016.

Leigh Daniel "Dan" Avidan (born March 14, 1979), also known by his stage name Danny Sexbang, is an American musician, Internet personality, singer-songwriter, and comedian. He is one half of the musical comedy duo Ninja Sex Party with Brian Wecht, as well as the co-host of the Let's Play webseries Game Grumps with Arin Hanson.[1][2] He is also part of the video game-based comedy music group Starbomb, alongside both Wecht and Hanson.[3]

Early life

Avidan was born and raised in Springfield, New Jersey,[4] the oldest of two children of Debra Schwartz and Avigdor Avidan.[5] His father was born and raised in Israel, and served in the Yom Kippur War before immigrating to America where he met Avidan's mother.[6] His younger sister, Dana Avidan,[7] is a bench jeweler,[8] and the executive style correspondent of InStyle magazine.[9] His grandfather Bernard Schwartz helped invent the body electrode.[10][11]

After graduating from Jonathan Dayton High School in 1997,[12] Avidan pursued advertising at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.[13] After dropping out due to disinterest in the course, Avidan entered a student exchange program, attending a Tufts University satellite campus in France to study botany in the French Alps.[14]

Career

2003–2008: The Northern Hues and Skyhill

In late 2003, Avidan joined the indie rock band The Northern Hues, a Philadelphia-based group created in early 2002, composed of guitarists Aron Brand and Jeff Rains, Alex Yaker, Justin Earley, and Ian Creech.[15] Avidan acted as the group's lead singer and songwriter, and provided most of the band's lyrics while staying in northern New Jersey.[16] They released one self-titled EP and one live album recorded in early 2005, at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.[15][17] In mid-2005, the band split up; Avidan attributes the separation to spending "years in [a band] that went nowhere due to lack of planning and focus."[18]

In the winter of 2006, Avidan teamed up with Peter Lennox to form a Brooklyn-based alternative pop duo named Skyhill.[19] Again, Avidan acted as lead singer and songwriter, and the group released one full album, Run With The Hunted, on May 16, 2007.[20] They toured New York in 2008,[21] before eventually separating due to creative differences. On October 7, 2015, Avidan and Lennox returned to release the one-track album Firefly,[22] acclaimed for the band's "maturing in both lyrics and sound" over their previous album.[23]

2009–2012: Ninja Sex Party formation

Main article: Ninja Sex Party

In 2009, Avidan began studying storytelling at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York, under the guidance of Margot Leitman.[24] After joining the theatre's comedy troupe, Avidan began conceptualizing the possibility of a new musical project.[25] In need of a producer, Avidan was introduced to Brian Wecht, who was the musical director of another troupe,[26] by mutual friends at the theatre.[27] Avidan had already chosen the name "Ninja Sex Party," in addition to designing a costume for himself,[28] and worked together with Wecht to create characters to represent the band.[29] They eventually settled with "Danny Sexbang" as Avidan's character, and "Ninja Brian" as Wecht's. The duo first gained popularity by performing as a musical guest on Leitman's improvisational comedy show Stripped Stories.[24] Inspired by The Lonely Island and Flight of the Conchords, the band is about "a Jewish superhero who wears a unitard, with his best friend who's a ninja, and together they sing songs about dicks, and try to hit [unsuccessfully] on women."[27]

The group has released several studio albums and singles, many of the latter of which have charted on Billboard.[30][31] As of 2016, they have released three studio albums, one cover album, and are producing one untitled album yet to be released, as well as a second cover album.[32][33]

The band has also appeared in various film festivals, including SXSW, Dragon Con, and the LACS.[34][35][36]

2013–present: Game Grumps and Starbomb

Main articles: Game Grumps and Starbomb

In mid-2013, Jon Jafari left his position as co-host of the Let's Play webseries Game Grumps.[37] With Jafari's departure, Arin Hanson, creator of the series, brought Avidan on to replace him as co-host.[38] Avidan would also join Ross O'Donovan as co-host of the Game Grumps spin-off show Steam Train, where both play PC games.[37] Avidan has remained the co-host of the show since. In addition to this, Avidan has acted as a co-host of other shows from the Game Grumps platform, including Grumpcade and Steam Rolled, as well as providing narration for Hunting Monsters.[39]

In late 2013, Avidan, Wecht, and Hanson teamed up to create a side project band named Starbomb, with Avidan as the lead singer-songwriter.[40] The band writes parody songs about video games, bringing together the sexually provocative music stylings of Avidan's Ninja Sex Party and the video game-based humor of Hanson. As of 2016, the group has released two albums, both of which have placed on various Billboard charts.[41][42][43]

Other collaborations

In mid-2012, Avidan briefly partnered with Mondo Media to co-create and host a sketch comedy miniseries written by Lena Dunham called Dirty Shorts, in which Avidan portrayed an exaggerated version of himself, similar to that of Danny Sexbang.[44] The series was not received well, and was dropped after the first 12-episode season. Avidan has commented that the Mondo Media staff experience was welcoming, although he was not confident that the way his character was written would appeal to audiences.[45] Avidan also created, wrote, and provided voice acting for the studio's short-lived animated comedy miniseries DJs in PJs.[46] Avidan returned to Mondo in September 2013 to compose "Dick Figures: The Movie: The Song" for the Dick Figures: The Movie soundtrack with Ninja Sex Party.[47]

Avidan has also appeared on various YouTube webseries as a guest, including Did You Know Gaming?,[48] a webseries dedicated to video game trivia, Good Mythical Morning,[49] a variety show hosted by Rhett and Link, and Nacho Punch,[50] a sketch comedy webseries.

On August 3, 2015, Avidan performed with Steel Panther at their House of Blues venue, singing "Party All Day."[51] The two have collaborated on multiple occasions, with Steel Panther making a cameo in Ninja Sex Party's "Road Trip" music video, and providing vocals for "6969."[52][53]

Avidan is the co-creator and co-host of the football-centric podcast Balls In Your Ear, along with Josh Sprague.[54][55]

Avidan, alongside co-creator Kyle A. Carrozza, performed the theme song for the Cartoon Network series Mighty Magiswords.[56]

Discography

The Northern Hues

Skyhill

Ninja Sex Party

Starbomb

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
TBA The Players' Score: A Video Game Music Documentary Himself

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Dirty Shorts Himself 12 episodes
2012 DJs in PJs Slice (voice) 2 episodes
2013–present Game Grumps Himself (voice) 4,000+ episodes; co-host
2014 Nacho Punch Himself Episode: "Hipsters Love Coffee"
2014 Co-Optitude Himself Episode: "Twisted Metal"
2015 Did You Know Gaming? Himself (voice) Episode: "Guitar Hero"
2015 Red vs. Blue Fed (voice) Episode: "Temple of the Key"
2015 On the Spot Himself Episode: "RTX 2015 (ft. Game Grumps)"
2015 Good Mythical Morning Himself Episode: "What's Up My Sleeve? ft. Game Grumps"
2016 Jash Waiter Episode: "#DoYourJob"
2016 MatPat's Game Lab Himself Episode: "Can Gamers Defuse BOMBS?"

As writer

Year Title Notes
2012 DJs in PJs 2 episodes
2013 The Mythical Show 3 episodes
2013 "Breaking Bad: The Middle School Musical" Webby-winning video short
2013 "Epic Rap Battle: Nerd vs. Geek" Video short

Video games

Year Title Role
Q1 Hex Heroes Himself[57]

See also

References

  1. ↑ O'Flynn, Niall (February 28, 2014). "Under The Radar: Ninja Sex Party". Hot Press. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  2. ↑ Rowland, Tyler (April 21, 2016). "Review: The stars of YouTube". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Tom Cross. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  3. ↑ Robley, Chris (April 10, 2015). "How Starbomb Used YouTube To Drive 6000 CD Sales in One Week". Hypebot.com. Hypebot. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  4. ↑ Game Grumps. "King's Quest: Eye for an Eye – PART 7 – Game Grumps". YouTube. Game Grumps. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Leigh Daniel Avidan". MyHeritage. MyHeritage, Ltd. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  6. ↑ GrumpOut (June 2, 2015). "Granny Talk". YouTube. Game Grumps. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Dana L. Avidan". MyHeritage. MyHeritage, Ltd. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ Lee, Steffi (April 18, 2016). "Introduce Your Mom to Cool-Girl Earrings This Mother's Day". InStyle. Time Inc. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  9. ↑ "How to shop like a fashion editor on any budget". Today. NBC News. July 22, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  10. ↑ Game Grumps. "Before The Grumps - Arin Interviews Danny". YouTube. Game Grumps. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "US 3085577 A - Body electrode". Google Patents. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Jonathan Dayton High School Regionalogue". Archive.org. Internet Archive. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  13. ↑ Game Grumps. "Super Mario Sunshine: Danger Pudding – PART 27 – Game Grumps". YouTube. Game Grumps. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ Game Grumps. "Wind Waker HD: Fresh Air – PART 19 – Game Grumps". YouTube. Game Grumps. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  15. 1 2 The Northern Hues. "The Northern Hues EP". CDBaby. June Records. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  16. ↑ Moak, Denver. "Leigh "Danny" Daniel Avidan". Wolf Tales. Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  17. ↑ The Northern Hues. "World Cafe Live 2005". Myspace.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  18. ↑ Capes, Betsy (August 25, 2011). "Featured Artist in Action: Dan Avidan". Capes Coaching. WordPress. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Biography". Skyhill. Squarespace. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  20. ↑ Skyhill (May 16, 2007). "Run With The Hunted". CDBaby. Skyhill. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Skyhill – Calendar". Sonicbids. Sonicbids, LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  22. ↑ Skyhill (October 7, 2015). "Firefly". CDBaby. Skyhill. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  23. ↑ Tishma, Riley (November 18, 2015). "Skyhill "Firefly" Review". E-Torch!. WordPress. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  24. 1 2 Game Grumps (July 28, 2015). "Super Mario Galaxy: Here's Looking at Ya – PART 10 – Game Grumps". YouTube. Game Grumps. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  25. ↑ Milne, Gregory (July 11, 2013). "Ninja Sex Party: Tales of Strawberries and Cream". Living Myth Magazine. Living Myth Magazine. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  26. ↑ Augustborn, Nicolas (January 9, 2013). "Ninja Sex Party Interview". YouTube. Nicolas Augustborn.
  27. 1 2 Nelsen, Lydia (May 24, 2013). "Ninja Sex Party Interview on Lydia Wants to Know". YouTube. Third String Kicker. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  28. ↑ Zeherfoto (January 6, 2014). "Ninja Sex Party & Steam Train at MAGFest 2014". YouTube. Zeherfoto. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  29. ↑ Hill, Dave. "Ninja Sex Party interview". WordPress. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  30. ↑ Comedy Charts, Billboard. "Billboard Comedy Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Ninja Sex Party – Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  32. ↑ Ninja Sex Party. "Ninja Sex Party on iTunes". iTunes. Apple. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  33. ↑ Ninja Sex Party (March 8, 2016). "Eating Food in the Shower". Facebook. Retrieved April 11, 2016. On the set of our upcoming music video for the first song on our FIFTH ALBUM, "Eating Food in the Shower"!
  34. ↑ "SXSW Lineup: Friday, March 11". Sched.org. Sched. March 11, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Music Videos". Dragon Con. September 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  36. ↑ Garcia, Conrad (April 19, 2011). "Live Review: 3rd Annual L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival". DisarrayMagazine.com. Disarray Magazine. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  37. 1 2 Amini, Tina (June 26, 2013). "Fans Are Upset Over YouTube Duo 'Game Grumps' Break-Up". Kotaku. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Is JonTron and Egoraptor's Breakup The End of 'Game Grumps'? Fans Sound Off on Social Media – New Media Rockstars". NewMediaRockstars. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  39. ↑ Polaris (November 21, 2013). "Game Grumps Present: Hunting Monsters Ep. 1 Qurupeco". PolarisGo.com. Maker Studios. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  40. ↑ Herrera, Kayla (March 7, 2016). "You Need To Watch This Catchy And Adult-Rated Music Video About Legend of Zelda". CINEMABLEND. Gateway Media. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  41. ↑ "Starbomb – Chart History". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  42. ↑ "Starbomb – Chart History – Rap". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Comedy Albums: Year End". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Dirty Shorts – Dick Figures Interview". Mondo. Mondo Media. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  45. ↑ Game Grumps (April 22, 2016). "Zelda Ocarina of Time: Lava Nap – PART 42 – Game Grumps". YouTube. Game Grumps. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  46. ↑ "DJs in PJs – Pilot". YouTube. Mondo Media. June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  47. ↑ Nick Keller (September 24, 2013). "Dick Figures: The Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes. Apple. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  48. ↑ Napierski, Steve (July 25, 2015). "Things You Might Have Not Known About Guitar Hero". Dueling Analogs. Time Bomb Media. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  49. ↑ Rhett and Link (December 16, 2015). "What's Up My Sleeve? ft. Game Grumps (GAME) #2". YouTube. Rhett and Link. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  50. ↑ Nacho Punch (March 24, 2014). "Hipsters Love Coffee". YouTube. Nacho Punch. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  51. ↑ Elliot, Gordon (August 4, 2015). "Steel Panther: House of Blues Webcast". YouTube. Gordon Elliott. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  52. ↑ Ninja Sex Party (April 22, 2015). "Road Trip – NSP". YouTube. Ninja Sex Party. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  53. ↑ Ninja Sex Party (July 20, 2015). "Ninja Sex Party · AMA Highlights". AMA Highlights. Reddit. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  54. ↑ Dan Avidan & Josh Sprague. "Balls in Your Ear – Football Podcast". iTunes. Apple. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  55. ↑ Dan Avidan & Josh Sprague. "Balls in Your Ear Podcast". SoundCloud. SoundCloud. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  56. ↑ https://twitter.com/egoraptor/status/772853345471954944
  57. ↑ Long, Shawn (April 23, 2014). "Hex Heroes Attains Kickstarter Goal". Nintendo Enthusiast. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved June 16, 2016.

External links

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