Exclusive: DMC on performing at "WrestleMania V," favorite wrestlers & more
Darryl McDaniels -- or "DMC" as most of the world knows him-- first made his start in the music business as one-third of the groundbreaking rap group Run-DMC, and quickly became one of the most popular artists in music. DMC has been in the public eye for the past 30-something years, selling over 30 million singles and albums worldwide.
The members of Run-DMC were the first rappers to do a lot of things within the hip-hop genre, including earning a gold album, earning a platinum album, going multi-platinum, having a rap video played on MTV, appearing on American Bandstand and Saturday Night Live, and appearing on the covers of Rolling Stone and Spin. DMC's innovation continues into the 21st century as he not only continues to tour and record new music but also serves as publisher of the Darryl Makes Comics comic book company.
Also notable about DMC, who recently collaborated with Matt Zane of Society 1 (a.k.a. Lord Zane) on the new song "The Man," is that he and his Run-DMC performed at Wrestlemania V. I had the pleasure of speaking with DMC about that 1989 performance, his WWE fandom, his work with Lord Zane and more within our October 3, 2019 phone chat.
While the full conversation is embedded below, I have exclusively transcribed my chat with DMC -- who couldn't have been nicer within our interview -- about his pro-wrestling history below for Sportskeeda.
On performing at WrestleMania V:
DMC: That wasn't a Run-DMC plan. At the time, my road manager knew I was a huge, huge Hulk Hogan fan. So when WrestleMania V came to Atlantic City, he came to my house early one morning -- I got home at 3 in the morning, he was at my house at 5 in the morning. "I've got a surprise for you, hop in." He drove me to Atlantic City, Wrestlemania V. So that happened as a birthday gift to DMC.
Jay and Run knew nothing about what was going on. They came and just performed with me because my manager told the WWF that DMC was a big Hulk Hogan fan and he wanted to come. They were saying, "Run DMC, they're gonna come? Can they do us a favor? Can they record something to perform at Wrestlemania V?" So that's how that whole performance came about. A lot of the off the grid things that happened with Run-DMC happened because I'm a comic book geek and nerd and I like wrestling. (laughs)
On whether or not he is a fan of wrestling:
DMC: To this day. It started before Hulk Hogan... Remember when they used to sell the wrestling magazines? I started with Bruno Sammartino and Ivan Koloff and "Superstar" Billy Graham. I moved into "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Randy Orton -- all of that.
I'm just a big kid that was affected by '70s rock radio and comic books. I'm just a product of pop culture. As you speak to me, I am the Addams Family, The Munsters, Fred Flintstone and The Brady Bunch.