Dillon Dunnagan Frontman of The Winks – Highland Illinois’s Rock and Roll Son

LoveofMusicMagazine.com

St. Louis, MO: 08-25-2019. Front man Dillon Dunnagan of the Winks rock band from Highland IL singer, songwriter and manager. A well-respected young man and a St. Louis area Punk Rocker whose daytime job is meeting Ms. Bovine in her Parlor, pulling on her big fat udder and getting that fresh milk, we all love. Known as a passionate young musical leader in the St. Louis music scene here is what Dillon and his team had to say in an eight (8) minute interview, right after their last gig at FLOOR FEST Aug. 10th in Affton where The Winks had the entire crowd clapping like a Freddie Mercury ho’ down – front to back!

Dillon Dunnagan The Winks Frontman – St. Louis Punk – Rock and Roll 2019. Photo Credit Dunnagan.

The Winks – a DIY band yet to be affiliated with a label whose namesake comes from longtime St. Louis friend, Steven Winkler. A musical friend and mentor in his 60’s who passed away several years ago. Winkler helped the band get started while on a trip to Nashville, TN. Winkler helped by donating equipment to the band and helping motivate Dillon to get into music.

Dunnagan has graced the stage with world famous Green Day at the St. Louis Pageant, to regular rocking the bass with Dan Vapid and the Cheats of Chicago, including guest appearances with Punk Rock Comedy Artists Bass Amp and Dano one of St. Louis’s highest profile punk bands along with several lessor known bands of the past. Dillion understands and becomes one with the guitar when the bright lights come on and the entertainment begins.

Marc Lyle drummer at The Winks – lead style fills – amazing  beats – adaptability at age 19. Photo Credit Dunnagan.

Marc Lyle the drummer for the last two plus years and most recently in a couple of cover bands in Rolla, MO. His peers have referred to his as a young Travis Barker or a Paul Cook as Marc is solid, can create lead style fills, flows with amazing beats and if needed can create a loud ear shattering rock sound with his cymbals. At age 19 Marc has a good sense of balance and adaptability that is mostly seen in older drummers of their 30’s. Late fall early winter the Winks debut a new 12 track album currently being recorded at Encapsulated Studios located in Maplewood, MO a St. Louis area suburb.  The Winks are reaching out to play music and enjoy people that love rock and roll.

What about the Winks logo, a smiley face with a bleeding bullet hole? Dillon, “We take ourselves seriously, but not too seriously, we live in a time and place where things are different. I don’t know about anybody else but we/our generation we are set up with a lot of things we do not agree with, we live through it, put a smile on our face, on the chin with a grin, (also a lyric from a new Winks record) and we keep moving.

The Winks Punk Rock band logo – St. Louis, MO Photo Credit Dunnagan.

What advice do you have for young musicians Dillion just starting out? “Keep doing it. Never quit. I would say that to anybody that wants to learn music at any age. Some of the best times, best jams we have ever had was in a basement or garage somewhere. Just outside in a yard. Earlier on in our prospective bands we would keep practicing, keep going and ended up playing shows in small venues going to bigger venues like POPS in East St. Louis and all the typical venues, you know, the circuit. A lot of things can happen from playing in the garage. Like I say never quit and anyone can learn to play music. If someone does not support a person wanting to learn music, *&*% them, get away from them move on”.

What is up in the near future? “We are working with some marketing people from Chicago that are helping with PR, press kits, helping to push us forward, when the time comes, the new album hits, we have some people behind us, positive influences that are planning to help us. We need something final to give first, get recordings done, that is all in the works.

Socially speaking with music often comes, excess alcohol and drugs, even the opioid crisis. What do you have to say to people that are easily influenced with drugs? People that are in, about or around drugs? Dillion, “Uhm, I mean everyone is kind of different, you know like, Tom Petty and Prince died because they used opioids to mask pain, that they did not get surgery for pain. And &%$*#*& get help, if you feel like you are on the way down or the way out, get %&%$#!& help, get help. Ya’ know, do something. Do something, ya’ know. You know. Don’t know, that is the best way I can say it, do something! Ya’ know the Tom Petty loss was real.

What do you have to say to your brothers and sisters, musicians working around the city playing hard? “Your kicking ass, your taking names, sometimes you may feel like people don’t know or people don’t care, BUT there are people that do care. You may not know it, but people do care, just keep doing what you do and keep at it. Never give in, never give up no matter the age, for sure.

Photo credit Dunnagan.

Last comments: “Thank God for Rock and Roll and thanks for media because people like you can help.” Dillion.