Danko Jones

Rishi James Ganjoo, known professionally as Danko Jones, was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. His musical journey began at an early age, first with an acoustic guitar at six, and later an electric Squier Stratocaster after developing an interest in rock music. During his high school years, he was the bassist for his first band, 3 Reasons to Puke (3RP). Jones later attended film school, but ultimately chose to pursue a career in music, forming the garage rock duo The Violent Brothers before establishing the hard rock band Danko Jones in 1996 with John Calabrese and Michael Caricari.

The band Danko Jones gained recognition through extensive touring across North America and Europe. Their debut album, “Born a Lion,” was released in 2002. Over the years, Jones has released eleven studio albums with his band, with the latest, “Leo Rising,” scheduled for release on November 21, 2025. Beyond his work as a musician, Jones has also ventured into other artistic pursuits. In 2004, he released a spoken word album titled “The Magical World of Rock.” He has also contributed as a music journalist and columnist for publications such as The Huffington Post, the Toronto Star, and the Toronto Sun, and hosts his own podcast series.

Jones has also collaborated with a range of artists and bands, performing with Motörhead at Hellfest in 2006 and joining Guns N’ Roses on their Chinese Democracy Tour in 2010. His career achievements include the release of the book “Too Much Trouble: A Very Oral History of Danko Jones” in 2012, authored by Stuart Berman, and his own essay collection, “I’ve Got Something to Say,” in 2018, which explores his experiences in the music industry. In 2020, he launched the vocal noise project Throat Funeral, releasing the album “OU812112.”