The former drummer of the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, Daniel Williams, tragically died in a plane crash early Thursday morning in San Diego, his family confirmed to TMZ.
According to his father, Larry Williams, Daniel was one of the victims aboard the Cessna aircraft that went down around 4 a.m., sparking a fire that engulfed part of a residential area within U.S. Navy-owned housing. The crash resulted in injuries to several people on the ground and led to the destruction of at least one home.
Shortly before the crash, Daniel posted a photo of himself sitting in the co-pilot’s seat of the small plane. His father, Larry Williams, told TMZ that Daniel was just messing around and did not hold a pilot’s license.
Although Daniel was no longer the drummer for the popular Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, his family says he played a key role in the group’s rise to success during his years with them.
The Devil Wears Prada confirmed Daniel’s passing on Instagram, sharing the news alongside several photos of their former drummer. “♥️ no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.”
The Cessna aircraft, which has a capacity of up to 10 passengers, went down under unclear circumstances. It remains unknown how many people were on board at the time of the crash.
Daniel Williams (December 12, 1985 – May 22, 2025) was an American drummer best known as a founding member of the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. Born in Dayton, Ohio, he began playing drums in sixth grade and co-founded the band in 2005. Williams contributed to several of the band’s early albums, including Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord (2006), Plagues (2007), With Roots Above and Branches Below (2009), Dead Throne (2011), and 8:18 (2013). He departed from the band in 2016 and later pursued a career in software engineering.
The Devil Wears Prada is an American metalcore band formed in 2005 in Dayton, Ohio. Initially rooted in the Christian metalcore scene, the band has evolved its sound over the years, blending heavy riffs with melodic elements and introspective lyrics. The current lineup includes Mike Hranica (vocals), Jeremy DePoyster (rhythm guitar, vocals), Kyle Sipress (lead guitar), Jonathan Gering (keyboards, production), Giuseppe Capolupo (drums), and Mason Nagy (bass). Their discography features eight studio albums, including Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord (2006), Plagues (2007), With Roots Above and Branches Below (2009), Dead Throne (2011), 8:18 (2013), Transit Blues (2016), The Act (2019), and Color Decay (2022).
Known for their dynamic live performances and thematic releases like the Zombie and Space EPs, The Devil Wears Prada continues to be a significant force in the metalcore genre.
San Diego authorities confirmed that not all next of kin have been notified regarding the crash, and no timeline has been provided for when those notifications will take place.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
