Daniel Cavanagh

2015 saw Cavanagh run a very successful PledgeMusic campaign for his album 'Memory And Meaning'. The album sees him record intimate and stripped-down versions of songs that have shaped his musical self through the years and contains versions of songs from artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush, Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden.

At this stage with Patterson gone, Cavanagh was in the spotlight as the driving musical force in the band and was rapidly being seen as a more influential figure in band's musical direction among the Anathema fans – affectionately known as Anathemaniacs.

Finally in May 2010, almost seven years after their last full album release, Anathema released their self-produced "We're Here Because We're Here" mixed by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. The album has received massive response from all corners of the press and fan reactions have been positive. It was awarded the Prog Album of the Year award from media titan "Classic Rock".

In late 2008 Anathema's new label K-Scope released a collection of old songs re-recorded in semi acoustic fashion with one new track "Tales of the Unexpected" included. Despite notable changes, there was generally favourable reaction to the re-worked old songs. This was an important step towards Anathema deciding on K-Scope as their new label.

In 2005 Cavanagh decided to quit alcohol and drugs, and pursue a more spiritual approach in his day-to-day life. He has touched upon the subject in interviews, stating that he is far happier now. This change has also happened to be in line with his most successful period as a musician and has seen Cavanagh live in London, Oslo and Liverpool during this time.

In 2004 Cavanagh released 'A Place To Be' on Strangelight Records (run by ex-Anathema bassist Duncan Patterson) which featured him covering a collection of Nick Drake songs. 2009 saw him team up with frequent live collaborator Anneke van Giersbergen for the release of 'In Parallel' which saw them add their own unique touch to a number of their own songs as well as songs from other artists. In 2013 he collaborated with Joseph Geraci, whose discussions of his own near-death experience had been sampled for the Anathema track "Internal Landscapes" from the Weather Systems album in 2012. In getting permission for the sample Cavanagh had been put in touch with Geraci and discovered that he had since amassed a large amount of writing based on the event, an event that Cavanagh had become quite touched by since learning of it. The album 'Passage' was assembled and released in 2013 through Burning Shed.

Early 2002 saw Daniel announce his departure from the band to reunite full-time with former bandmate Duncan Patterson on his Antimatter project. This caused a negative response from Anathema fans worldwide as many felt Daniel was impossible to replace. The split was short lived thankfully as he was back to the band in time for the festival season that summer.

Around 2002 Daniel began to play solo shows throughout Europe, with himself on guitar and piano. These shows proved to be very popular amongst fans of the band as well as others curious to hear Danny's work. He successfully partnered for these shows with former The Gathering vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. A short Norwegian tour in 2006 led to Cavanagh meeting Haavard from Aftermath Music in Trondheim, resulting in Haavard becoming Daniel's main booking agent for his solo jaunts for some time after. This trip was also of considerable importance as it began Cavanagh's interest in Norway, something that has had a massive impact on his life ever since. It led, indirectly, to Cavanagh meeting Christer-André Cederberg who produced Anathema's last two studio albums and guided the band into previously unheralded realms of mainstream success, not least with the song "Anathema" (from 'Distant Satellites') winning Anthem Of The Year at the 2014 Prog Awards, as voted for by the readers of Classic Rock's Prog Magazine.

2001 saw "A Fine Day To Exit" and a shift in sound by the band. With a music video and lead single in "Pressure", the album was met with mixed response. Yet the song "Temporary Peace" became an Anathema classic to be mentioned in the same breath as songs like "Deep" or "Empty". This album was notable in that it was the debut of Les Smith on keyboards. It was also the album where John Douglas became noticed as a songwriter of considerable importance for the band, as he remains to the present day.

"Rise Pantheon Dreams" was the original title of Anathema's follow up album to their debut "Serenades". During the sessions it became clear to the band that vocalist Darren White was not performing the vocals as the rest of the band had hoped and was asked to leave. Despite having no singing experience, Daniel's brother and co-guitarist Vincent stepped into the spot, which he has maintained to this day. He is now regarded as one of the finest singers to have emerged from the genre. Eventually being released as "The Silent Enigma" in October 1995, the album cemented Anathema's status further and it was followed up just a year later with their third album, "Eternity". Eternity displayed a move from White's original death growl towards more "clean" vocals.

Cavanagh was raised in Anfield, Liverpool, in a working-class family. He has mentioned that Dire Straits and in particular Mark Knopfler were his first musical influences, and along with Queen were responsible for leading the young Cavanagh towards learning guitar. The seed was cemented in 1985 with the Live Aid concert and this is an event that Cavanagh still mentions as being what he regards one of the finest moments in the history of music and of mankind. During his teenage years, Cavanagh discovered Iron Maiden who alongside bands like Metallica, Celtic Frost, Slayer, Bolt Thrower and later Paradise Lost, was a major influence in his interest in extreme metal.

Daniel "Danny" Cavanagh (born 6 October 1972) is an English guitarist and singer who formed the British band Anathema in 1990 with his brother Vincent Cavanagh. He is the band's principal songwriter, a role he had previously shared with bassist Duncan Patterson until Patterson's departure in 1998.