Death from the Individual Thought Patterns CD-sleeve
Death was an influential death metal band from America.
Statistics
Biography
The early History 1983 - 1987
Founded in 1983 by Chuck Schuldiner under the original name of Mantas in Orlando, they pioneered the Death Metal sound along with Morbid Angel, Possessed. They were a part of and helped define the famous Florida death metal scene.
Together with Barney "Kam" Lee, and Rick Rozz, Chuck started to compose songs that were released on several rehearsal tapes in 1984. These tapes along with the "Death by Metal" demo circulated through the tape trader world, quickly establishing the bands name. In 1984, Chuck, however, dissolved Mantas and quickly started a new band under the name of Death. New members were found by the same Rick Rozz and Kam Lee. Another demo was released in called "Reign of Terror"
In 1985, the Infernal Death tape was recorded and released. Then, Chuck fired Kam and Rick in favour of Repulsion's bassist and guitarist, Scott Carlson and Matt Olivio. However, a drummer could not be found; the band dissolved again. Chuck moved to San Fransisco and recruted DRI's drummer Eric Bregt. But he was not happy with this incarnation of Death and moved back to Florida, without a band.
There, in 1986, he got an invitation from Slaughter to play on their album, which he accepted and so he moved to Canada. This only lasted two weeks, as he found out it was not his thing. He returned to Florida, but then moved quickly to San Francisco, where he joined with Chris Reifert. They recorded the "Mutilation" demo, which led to a deal with Combat Records. This enabled them to record the first LP.
The Scream Bloody Gore album was released in 1987. He teamed up with a second guitar player named John Hand, who however never played anything for Death, but showed up on the album cover. The album was a great success, but nevertheless, Chuck decided to move back to Florida, leaving Chris Reifert behind. There he teamed up with former bandmate Rick Rozz, and two members of Rick's band Massacre viz. Terry Butler, and Bill Andrews.
The mid-era 1988 - 1992
In 1988, that lineup recorded the Leprosy album. But soon thereafter, Rick Rozz was fired in 1989 after lots of gigging around. A replacement was found in James Murphy. With whom in 1990 the third album was recorded: Spiritual Healing. Chuck abandoned the "gore" lyrical theme for more social critique and the musical style progressed from simple brutal death metal to complex, technical death metal. More and more melody was added to the band. Soon, in 1990 the entire band dissolved once again. However as part of the disagreement, Bill and Terry continued Death to tour Europe and recruited Walter Trachsler (guitar) and Louie Carrisalez (vocals) to replace Chuck, much to Chuck's disgust.
Chuck then abandoned the idea of a band altogether and continued working with session musicians only. Chuck hired Steve DiGiorgio and recruited Sean Reinert and Paul Masvidal from the underground Florida band Cynic. 1991's Human was their best selling album yet, receiving many accolades and some MTV play.
The final years 1993 - 2001
In 1993, Reinert and Masvidal left the group to continue with Cynic, Chuck being unable to persuade them otherwise. Chuck replaced them with Gene Hoglan of the recently dissolved thrash metal band Dark Angel, and for Individual Thought Patterns, worked with guitarist Andy LaRocque from King Diamond, LaRocque being obligated to his band, Chuck hired Ralph Santolla as touring guitarist. Afterwards, for 1995's Symbolic, Santolla and DiGiorgio were cashiered for Kelly Conlon and Bobby Koelbe, underground Florida musicians. After Symbolic, Chuck dissolved the band and all ties with Roadrunner Records and began writing songs for Control Denied. Somehow this did not pan out, and he reformed the band with Florida musicians Richard Christy, Shannon Hamm, and Scott Clendenin, to record 1998's The Sound of Perseverance with his new label Nuclear Blast.
After the album and a supporting tour, Chuck dissolved Death to pursue Control Denied with Christy and Hamm from his last album. Clendenin was cashiered in favor of Steve DiGiorgio, who was once again available, and an underground power metal singer named Tim Aymar. As Chuck finished their debut album, he was stricken with brain cancer, forcing them to scrap plans for a tour. And as he worked on the second release, the disease overcame him, and he passed from this earth. The second Control Denied release is yet to be completed and is mired in a variety of odd legal problems involving their label, Chuck's mother, and the musicians who have publicly stated their desire to complete the album. In 2004, Hammerheart Records released a CD made up of both old, pre Scream Bloody Gore demos, and partial demos of the unfinished album, under the name Chuck Schuldiner, not Death. But their markedly unfinished state and lack of vocals led few to pay attention to what was obviously an unlistenable product.
The members of Death have dispersed all throughout the landscape of extreme metal. Some, such as Gene Hoglan from Dark Angel and Andy LaRocque from King Diamond, already had made a name for themselves. Others went on to do so, such as Sean Reinert, who formed the legendary Cynic with fellow Death member Paul Masvidal. Ironically, both of these pioneering death metal musicians have ended up in a sensitive pop band laced with delicate guitars and Masvidal's soft croon, named Aeon Spoke . Richard Christy went on to gigs with Acheron and Iced Earth before joining the Howard Stern Show. Ralph Santolla also ended up with Iced Earth, as did Steve DiGiorgio momentarily. DiGiorgio is now a permanent member of both Sadus and Testament. James Murphy has formed numerous projects such as Disincarnate and has made a name for himself. Murphy also has been stricken with cancer, and is organizing a Death tribute album to be released this year.
Band members
- Chuck Schuldiner - rhythm and lead guitars, vocals, main songwriter (1983-1999)
- Kam Lee (Barney Lee)- drums, vocals (1983-1985)
- Rick Rozz (Frederick DeLillo) - guitars(1983-1985, 1987-1989)
- Scott Carlson - Bass (1985)
- Matt Olivio - guitars (1985)
- Eric Bregt - drums (1985)
- Eric (last name unknown) - bass (1985)
- John Hand - guitars (Never played anything live or on any album) (1987)
- Albert Gonzalez - guitars (1990)
- Chris Reifert - drums (1986-1987)
- Terry Butler - bass (1987-1990)
- Bill Andrews - guitars(1987-1990)
- James Murphy - guitars (1990)
- Steve DiGiorgio - bass (1986, 1991, 1993)
- Walter Trachsler - guitar (1990)
- Louie Carrisalez - vocals (1990)
- Sean Reinert - drums (1991-1992)
- Skott Carino - Bass (1991-1992)
- Paul Masdival - guitars (1990-1991)
- Gene Hoglan - drums (1993-1995)
- Andy LaRocque (Anders Allhage) - guitars (1993)
- Ralph Santolla - guitars (1993)
- Craig Locicero - guitar (1993)
- Kelly Conlon - bass (1995)
- Chris Williams - drums (1996)
- Bobby Koelble - guitars (1995)
- Richard Christy - drums (1996-1999)
- Scott Clendenin - bass (1996-1999)
- Shannon Hamm - guitars (1996-1999)
Discography
- Death By Metal (demo as Mantas, 1984)
- Reign Of Terror (demo, 1984)
- Live At Ruby's Pub (live-demo, 1984)
- Infernal Death (demo, 1985)
- Rigor Mortis (demo, 1985)
- Back From The Dead (demo, 1985)
- Mutilation (demo, 1986)
- Scream Bloody Gore (1987)
- Leprosy (1988)
- Spiritual Healing (1990)
- Human (1991)
- Fate: The Best Of Death (1992)
- Individual Thought Patterns (1993)
- Symbolic (1995)
- Sound Of Perseverance (1998)
- Live In L.A.: Death & Raw (2001)
- Live In Eindhoven '98 (2001)
External links