Death

Death was one of the frist death metal bands. Formed in 1983 by Guitarst and Vocalist Chuck Schuldiner under the original name of Mantas in Orlando. Death was widely known. Chuck Schuldiner with Kam Lee and Rick Rozz 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 band's name. Chuck Schuldiner dissolved Mantas and quickly started a new band under called Death. It still had the same members, Rick Rozz and Kam Lee. Another demo was released, called Reign of Terror.



In 1985, after the Infernal Death tape was recorded and released, Schuldiner fired Lee and Rozz in favour of Repulsion's bassist and guitarist, Scott Carlson and Matt Olivio. However, a drummer could not be found; so the band ended again. Schuldiner moved to San Francisco and recruited drummer Eric Brecht, but he was not happy with this incarnation of Death and moved back to Florida without a band. There, in 1986, Chuck Schuldiner got an invitation from early Canadian thrash band Slaughter to play on their album, which he accepted, moving to Canada. This only lasted two weeks



Chuck returned to Florida, then moved quickly to San Francisco again, where he joined with Chris Reifert. They recorded the Mutilation demo.



Scream Bloody Gore was released in 1987. Schuldiner briefly had a second guitar player, John Hand, but Hand did not appear on the album. By this time Schuldiner moved back to Florida, leaving Chris. There, Schuldiner teamed up with former bandmate Rick Rozz and two members of Rozz's band Massacre, Terry Butler and Bill Andrews.



In 1988, Leprosy was recorded. After much touring in support of the album, including a quick and ill-planned tour of Europe, Rick Rozz was fired in 1989. After a tour of Mexico featuring guitarist Paul Masvidal, a replacement was found in James Murphy, with whom the third album Spiritual Healing was recorded in the summer of 1989.



Schuldiner hired Steve DiGiorgio and recruited Sean Reinert and Paul Masvidal from underground Florida band Cynic. In 1993, Reinert and Masvidal left the group to continue with Cynic, Schuldiner being unable to persuade them otherwise. Schuldiner replaced them with drummer Gene Hoglan of the recently dissolved thrash metal band Dark Angel, and worked with guitarist Andy LaRocque from King Diamond for Individual Thought Patterns.



As Schuldiner finished Control Denied's debut album, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, forcing the band to scrap plans for a US and Canadian tour. As he worked on the second release, Schuldiner's condition improved, but the tumor left him in a weakened, vulnerable state. He contracted pneumonia and was placed in the hospital. On December 13, 2001, Schuldiner was released and returned home where, one hour later, he died.



Members (all):

Chuck Schuldiner - vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, songwriter (1983–2001)
Shannon Hamm - guitars (1996–2001)
Scott Clendenin - bass (1996–2001)
Richard Christy - drums (1996–2001)

Rick Rozz - Guitarist (1983–1985, 1987–1989)
Matt Olivo - Guitarist (1985)
John Hand - Guitarist (never has been known to be a part of the band, neither on album or live, however he is credited on Scream Bloody Gore.) (1987)
Paul Masvidal - Guitarist (1989, 1991–1992)
Albert Gonzalez - Guitarist (1990)
James Murphy - Guitarist (1989)
Andy LaRocque - Guitarist (1993)
Ralph Santolla - Guitarist (1993)
Craig Locicero - Guitarist (1993)
Bobby Koelble - Guitarist (1995)

Scott Carlson - Bassist (1985)
Erik Meade - Bassist (1985)
Terry Butler - Bassist (1987–1990)
Steve DiGiorgio - Bassist (1986, 1991, 1993)
Skott Carino - Bassist (1991–1992)
Kelly Conlon - Bassist (1995)
Brian Benson - Bassist (Symbolic Tour)

Kam Lee - Drummer (1983–1985; also vocals)
Eric Brecht - Drummer (1985)
Chris Reifert - Drummer (1986–1987)
Bill Andrews - Drummer (1987–1990)
Sean Reinert - Drummer (1991–1992)
Gene Hoglan - Drummer (1993–1995)
Richard Christy - Drummer (1997-1999)