Gary Dacus started playing drums in 1988 at age of 15. With the first three albums Gary owned being Kiss “Destroyer” and Black Sabbath  “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” and “We Sold Our Soul for Rock & Roll”, you can see where his love for hard hitting drumming was formed. By age  16, Gary was playing with a local cover band, doing late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s rock. Gary traveled around playing; at various venues in states  like Louisiana and Oklahoma; with several different cover bands. Although his love for Hard Core drumming was a driving force in his life,  the loss of a dear friend prompted him to step away from the music scene for a short time. He decided that the best thing he could do was to  join the military and serve his country.  

Gary joined the United States Army in 1993, and completed his basic and AIT (advanced individual training) as an 11C (Infantry, Mortars,  Indirect Fire Specialist) at Ft. Benning, GA. Once initial training was completed, he was stationed with the 2^NdBattalion 14^th Infantry  Regiment of the 10^th MTN Div. at FT Drum, NY. With the 2/14^th INF REG, Gary performed Real World Operations in Haiti and Somalia. He also bought himself a new drum kit and began playing with local bands, every chance he got. During his time in the Army, Gary played with  several bands, like TWIST OF FATE and PAGAN HOLIDAY (both from ’94–‘96), CASTDOWN (’97–‘99), CARNIVAL OF PAIN (2000–2001 —  which became CLONUS and BACKLASH (2001–2003). In 1996, Gary spent the next 8 years with the 1^st Battalion 32^Nd Infantry Regiment, also  of the 10^th MTN Div. During his time with 1^st of the 32^nd INF REG, he would spend 13 months in Iraq fighting with his fellow soldiers to  defend the Iraqi people. Even though Gary did not have his beloved drum set, he never stopped drumming. He spent many hours beating his drumsticks on anything and everything, trying to ‘keep his chops up’ All the time hoping to get another chance to make a name for himself  doing what he loves, playing drums.  

Upon his return from Iraq; In October 2004; Gary joined original band SPUN. With a few friends. At the first practice, Gary knew that THIS  was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, and so with SPUN, he was reborn as Gary "The Beast" Dacus. They played in several places in NY State to include NYC and recorded the demo “My Dying Breath”. Gary left New York in November 2005 and moved back home to AR, for personal family reasons. Gary brought a New York style groove to Memphis, TN band MASSACRE MACHINE Southern Metal. In 2006  MASSACRE MACHINE recorded a 2 song demo, ‘Death is Never Dull’.  

Moving back to Watertown NY in 2007 he started playing with Christian Metal act DOXOLOGY. In April 2008, he joined 27STITCHES. And in  late 2007; with Mike Rudd, SPUN.’S former Guitarist; he played in cover band SEVENTH SON. Gary started the Metal band ‘TWELVE GAUGE  APOCALYPSE’ in February of 2009. TWELVE GAUGE APOCALYPSE came from a strong desire to put together something that rocked hard &  still had groove. A 'train wreck' of sound -- with a little Metal, a little Southern Rock and a WHOLE lot of hard-hitting drum lines. In March 2010 Gary once again returned home to his southern roots when he moved to the Greater Memphis area. Gary got TWELVE GAUGE  APOCALYPSE back up and running in the Memphis area with a NEW lineup. Additionally, Gary jumped back in to playing with MASSACRE MACHINE, off and on from April 2010 to December 2013 and a few times in 2014. He recorded another album with MASSACRE MACHINE in October 2013 called “:Blood of Souls “at The Noise Factory with producer Dave Cowell. Gary created ‘HOME SPUN SONS’ in 2012, which was later changed their name to DEATH REMAINS SILENT’. DEATH REMAINS SILENT recorded a 4 song EP in Mid-October 2011 called ‘De Oppresso Liber’, and performed on PROJECT INDEPENDENT SHOWCASE 2011 ~ MEMPHIS.  

Gary played with BROTHER CHUCK, a Southern Rock/Metal-Billy act. Gary started SO WE PERSIST in April 2012; a mostly originals act with a few select covers, they recorded a 5 song EP in July 2012. They shared the stage with national acts like SUPERBOB and ARTIFAS. They recorded a 2^Nd 3 song EP called ‘Speed Kills’ at The Noise Factory with producer Dave Cowell. Gary joined BRUTAL HONESTY in November 2012, playing NU-Metal; in the vein of Corn; also in the Memphis area; who also recorded a 2 song Demo at The Noise Factory in early 2013. While Brutal didn’t have a lot of shows, they did perform on PROJECT INDEPENDENT SHOWCASE 2013 ~ MEMPHIS along with MASSACRE MACHINE – Gary pulled ‘double duty’ that night!  

In October 2013, Gary joined vocalist Jerroll Christopher in his project HARVEST MILL. The band recorded an album in January 2014 with DJ  BAY @ Select-O-Hits. HARVEST MILL gained moderate local success and was named in Sonicbids Top 25 emerging bands of 2014. They shared the stage with multiple national acts like Saliva, Wayland, Wayne Static, Boboflex, SuperBob, Prospect Hill and many others. Due to personal issues, singer Jerroll Christopher folded the project in early 2015. After a short-lived project with HARVEST MILL lead guitarist; Chris Payne; called ARISE FROM SILENCE – Gary moved to Dallas, Texas.  

Gary has played with multiple bands in Texas, to include HAZELAND and WAKE THE FEAR, and OTHER ODDITIES while getting is feet wet in  the DFW music scene. Former HARVEST MILL rhythm guitarist; Shawn returned to TX and restarted his persistent act COLLIDE OVER ME, joined by Gary and recorded a few songs and started playing around DFW. In 2018, he joined with the members of PROJECT ROGUE and recorded a single and a 7 song album. Gary; with 3 other local metal musicians; started southern country act Flatline Road in 2018 and recorded a 4 song EP. And, has recently added Red Dirt Country to his repertoire by beginning to play with local female artist ERIN JOHNSTON; giving him 4 acts he is currently working with.  

Since Gary arrived in DFW, he has been on stage with National acts like Buckcherry, Motograter, HED PE, Boboflex, Pissing Razors, Skinlab and a few others like Mushroomhead and Tom Keifer/Cinderella. Gary’s drumming style has been compared to the late great Vinnie Paul, as well as Lars Ulrich and Justin Foley.  

Gary has also, somehow, found the time have students over the years. His students have included:  

1. Tristen Tremaine, a now 22-year-old Drummer and Guitarist (2008-2010) 
2. Mike Duffy, of NEVER ENOUGH (2004 – 2005, 2008) 
3. Jason Wilde of SANGUINE (2006) 
4. Matt of MOLTEN SPHINX (2010)