After Dane missed a bus and met prior acquaintance Ray Ranney, Ray shared his idea for Deaf Replica (later spelled Def Repplica). Dane, Ray, and Dave Louisiana (mutual friend) got together at Dave's house where the three young men were looking for a drummer so they called another friend to fill the bill. In walks Shawn Kenning, with the lights dimmed for ambiance, they played along to a number of Def Leppard songs.

In the time that followed they added a second guitarist, Steamin' Doug Tang, and Sean Goettsche. The five of them banded together to form one hard hitting rock group. The band would soon take the name Def Repplica...and the rest, as they say, is hystory.

Since that impromptu jam, Dane has been able to develop and appreciate his tribute to Joe Elliot. Dane has drawn from his tastes in music (from 70's rock to current hits and anything in between) as sources of inspiration. He views Joe as a great vocalist and one of the hardest singers to emulate. "The changes in his vocal style from On Through the Night, all the way to the Definitive Collection is simply amazing!" Dane's guitar skills, according to Dave and Doug who often jokingly give him a bad time, still has a ways to go too.

Determined, charismatic, confident, bold, daring, and opinionated are all words to describe Dane.