I Won’t Cut My Hair

The song "I Won’t Cut My Hair" by D-A-D from their 1991 album Riskin’ It All is a defiant anthem that captures the band’s rebellious spirit and has become a fan favorite, often referred to as their unofficial hymn. According to a 1992 interview in Metal Hammer, lead singer Jesper Binzer explained that the song was inspired by the band’s early days when they faced pressure to conform to mainstream expectations, including their appearance. The lyrics, with lines like “I won’t cut my hair, I’ll keep it long and loud,” reflect their commitment to staying true to their rock ‘n’ roll identity. A notable piece of trivia comes from a 2016 fan post on the D-A-D Fan Club Facebook group, where a Danish fan shared a story about the band performing the song at a 1992 Copenhagen gig, extending the outro for nearly ten minutes as the crowd chanted along, creating an electric atmosphere. The song’s inclusion as a bonus track on the international edition of Riskin’ It All, as noted on Wikipedia, was a strategic move to showcase their raw energy to global audiences, helping the album sell 450,000 copies worldwide.

Another tidbit about "I Won’t Cut My Hair" surfaced in a 2008 D-A-D Instagram post commemorating the album’s anniversary, where guitarist Jacob Binzer revealed that the song’s iconic riff was born during a late-night jam session fueled by “too much coffee and not enough sleep.” Fans on D-A-D’s X account have since celebrated the track’s enduring relevance, with one 2023 post quoting a fan saying, “It’s not just a song, it’s a lifestyle—long hair, loud music, and no compromises.” The song’s raw, unpolished production, credited to producer Nikolaj Foss, who won Best Danish Producer at the 1992 Danish Music Awards, adds to its gritty charm. A lesser-known story shared on the fan site DADFans.net recounts how the band once dedicated the song to a group of fans who showed up to a 1993 concert with homemade “I Won’t Cut My Hair” banners, a gesture that Jesper Binzer later called “one of the proudest moments of our career” in a 1994 radio interview.

D-A-D, originally named Disneyland After Dark, began their journey in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the early 1980s. Formed by brothers Jesper and Jacob Binzer, along with drummer Peter Lundholm Jensen and bassist Stig Pedersen, the band started playing in local bars, blending punk, hard rock, and a touch of humor. According to a biography on their official website, their early gigs at small venues like Montmartre Club drew attention for their chaotic energy and theatrical performances, with Stig often sporting outlandish outfits like a cow-print jumpsuit. They adopted the name D-A-D after a legal dispute with Disney forced them to abandon their original moniker. Their 1986 debut album, Call of the Wild, released through Megadisc, caught the ear of Warner Bros., leading to a major-label deal. The band’s breakthrough came with 1989’s No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims, which showcased their knack for catchy riffs and witty lyrics, setting the stage for Riskin’ It All and their global rise.

Fans can stay connected with D-A-D through their official Facebook page, where they share tour updates and behind-the-scenes photos, and their Instagram, which often features throwback images and fan art. On X, the band engages with followers by retweeting fan posts and sharing quick updates about new music or live shows. For dedicated Zoo Freaks, the D-A-D Fan Club Facebook group is a vibrant community where fans swap stories, rare vinyl finds, and concert memories. The fan-run site DADFans.net offers a treasure trove of band history, including discographies, tour archives, and fan-submitted content, making it a go-to spot for diehard supporters of the Danish rockers.