

Death
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Albums
Members
History
Albert Gonzalez
Andy LaRocque
Bill Andrews
Bobby Koelble
Chris Reifert
Chris Williams
Chuck Schuldiner
Eric Brecht
Gene Hoglan
James Murphy
Guitar
John Hand
Kam Lee
Kelly Conlon
Matt Olivo
Paul Masvidal
Richard Christy
Rick Rozz
Rick Rozz
Scott Carino
Scott Carlson
Scott Clendenin
Sean Reinert
Drums (drum set)
Shannon Hamm
Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio
Terry Butler
Story of Death
Death, the pioneering American death metal band, emerged from Altamonte Springs, Florida in 1983. Forged by guitarist Chuck Schuldiner (who would become the band`s iconic vocalist), drummer/vocalist Kam Lee, and guitarist Rick Rozz, they were instrumental in shaping the Florida death metal scene. Their seminal 1987 debut, Scream Bloody Gore, is widely considered a foundational death metal album, alongside early works from Possessed and Necrophagia.
Deaths lineup was notoriously fluid, with Schuldiner the only consistent member (excepting a European tour). Their sound evolved significantly, transitioning from the raw, visceral assault of their initial releases to a more complex and sophisticated style in later years. The band
s legacy was tragically cut short by Schuldiner`s death from glioma and pneumonia in December 2001, but their influence on heavy metal remains undeniable.
Early Days (1983-1985):
Initially formed as Mantas in either 1983 or 1984 by Schuldiner, Death quickly gained recognition as a key player in the burgeoning death metal landscape, alongside Californias Possessed. Influenced by bands like Nasty Savage, Death was among the first wave of the Florida death metal scene. Early rehearsal tapes, including the pivotal *Death by Metal* demo, circulated extensively within the underground tape-trading network, rapidly establishing the band
s reputation and solidifying their place in metal history.