# Dustin Donaldson

Dustin Thomas Donaldson (born April 11, 1969 in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is an American drummer. He is best known for his work in Thought Industry and I Am Spoonbender.

## Early life

Donaldson was born in Kalamazoo and spent a majority of his childhood in Athens, Michigan. His parents were Jehovah's Witnesses. He attended Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, Michigan where he graduated "second to last," in his class. He picked up drumming at the age of fourteen or fifteen.

## Career
### Thought Industry

In 1987, while in his senior year of high school, Donaldson formed a band called Desacrator [sic] with childhood friends Dan Roe and Brent Oberlin, along with classmate Christopher Simmonds. Roe was replaced with Steve Spaeth and the band released a demo tape titled 111MZD. Desacrator's name was changed to Thought Industry, another demo tape was released and Spaeth was replaced by Paul Enzio. The Group was signed to Metal Blade Records in 1992, where they released their debut album Songs for Insects. After the release of their second album Mods Carve the Pig: Assassins, Toads and God's Flesh, the band opened for Skinny Puppy and Type O Negative on tour. Donaldson was fired from the band in late 1994 due to creative differences and was replaced with Jared Bryant.

### Pansy Division

After moving to San Francisco from Kalamazoo, Donaldson joined Pansy Division in January 1995 after being recommended to band members Jon Ginoli and Chris Freeman by a mutual friend. While in the band, he would become somewhat controversial for things he would do on-stage during live performances, such as getting completely naked. The band recorded one album, Wish I'd Taken Pictures, and two EPs, Valentine's Day and For Those About to Suck Cock... We Salute You with him. Donaldson was fired from the band in October 1996 due to conflicts with Ginoli.

### I Am Spoonbender

In 1997, Donaldson teamed up with long-time friend Brian Jackson (whom he had moved to San Francisco with) to record I Am Spoonbender's first studio album Sender/Receiver. Halfway through this recording, Robynn Iwata would join the group under the moniker "Cup". Marc Kate was also added to the lineup sometime before the album's release. The band would release two more EPs, Teletwin in 1999 and Shown Actual Size in 2002. I Am Spoonbender would then self-release their second studio album Buy Hidden Persuaders in 2004. While not officially disbanded, the group has not released any new material since 2006's Stereo Telepathy Academy, under the name Spoonbender 1.1.1.

## Personal life

Despite his stint with queercore band Pansy Division in the mid-1990s, Donaldson has identified himself as heterosexual. He met his current partner Robynn Iwata in 1995 while Pansy Division and cub were touring together after he was pointed out to her by Neko Case.

## Other Work
### Film

Donaldson was briefly featured in the 1996 documentary Queercore: A Punk-U-Mentary alongside Pansy Division, though not interviewed or credited. He appeared as an actor in Jon Moritsugu's 2002 film Scumrock.

### Journalism

Donaldson has written articles for Chunklet Magazine, including an interview with Will Cullen Hart of The Olivia Tremor Control in 2000.

### Egypt Research

Donaldson first travelled to Siwa Oasis, Egypt in 2008 as a research project for I Am Spoonbender's third studio album. He would return with Iwata a few times before the two decided to stay there indefinitely in 2015, forming the website The Source in the Sahara to compile their research.

## Discography
### Albums

* Songs for Insects on Metal Blade Records (1992)
* Mods Carve the Pig: Assassins, Toads and God's Flesh on Metal Blade Records (1993)
* The Unholy Handjob on Alternative Tentacles (1995)
* Wish I'd Taken Pictures on Lookout! Records (1996)
* Sender/Receiver on Gold Standard Laboratories (1998)
* Buy Hidden Persuaders on Mesmer Detector Ltd (2004)

### Singles

* "Gelatin" b/w "Metal" and "Nnnon" on Metal Blade Records (1993)
* "Valentine's Day" b/w "He Could Be The One" and "Pretty Boy (What's Your Name?)" on Lookout! Records (1995)
* For Those About to Suck Cock... We Salute You on Lookout! Records (1996)
* "Plastic Lips" b/w "Mr. Right" on Contact Records (1999)
* Teletwin on Gold Standard Laboratories (2000)
* Shown Actual Size on Gold Standard Laboratories (2002)

### Compilations

* More Lovin' From Our Oven on Lookout! Records (1997)
* Recruited To Do Good Deeds For The Devil on Metal Blade Records (1998)
* The Essential Pansy Division on Alternative Tentacles (2006)