The parent rap

My father is my bandmate
David Lloyd, 25

To be honest, I can’t remember exactly how it happened. My band, Social Hero, needed harmonies and, because he’s my dad, our voices blended really well. He started playing with us about eight years ago.

He’s had his own band called Stories, a million-selling record in 1973, and a discography of vocal work in bands ranging from Billy Joel to Foreigner and Yes. He’s pretty serious; I’m kind of in awe of his talent.

When I was little, he was doing a lot of session work and was usually in the studio at night. So we’d hang out all day in the park playing baseball, and then when I started school, he was the one who picked me up—I never had a babysitter. And now we’re tightly involved musically and artistically, and in terms of the business of organizing the band.

I still live at home on the Upper West Side, unfortunately. It didn’t bother me for a while, but it’s starting to be a drag because of our arguments. In any relationship where you’re close with somebody, it’s easy to get upset really quickly. On top of that, my dad and I are both really loud, so the neighbors have heard us before. [Laughs] Now that I’m single, it can definitely be…you’re not going out on dates with girls and telling them that you live at home. I almost didn’t want to tell you about it. [Laughs] But it has really allowed me to develop the band.

What’s funny is that through seventh grade, I used to be a little freaked out. My dad was this crazy, long-haired rock & roll guy, and everyone else’s were doctors and lawyers, clean-cut, wearing suits and ties. But when I got older, I realized I was way off, and having a dad who’s low-key and artistic and fun to hang out with was actually a good thing.

We’re definitely able to talk about things that might not be comfortable for other parents and friends of mine. I feel like in a regular parent-child relationship there are topics that are taboo, and that doesn’t exist with us. Another difference is that I think my dad respects my outlook and opinion on things, probably with higher regard than in other people’s families. Some people have a dad who is always right, and whose word is final—and that’s the way I am with my dad, which I guess is kind of a role reversal. He’s my dad, my best friend, my brother, my business partner and my bandmate.

—As told to Billie Cohen

Listen to David and his dad rock out with Social Hero