- Obituary (band)
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Obituary Also known as Executioner, Xecutioner Origin Tampa, Florida Genres Death metal Years active 1988–1997, 2003–present Labels Roadrunner, Candlelight Associated acts Six Feet Under, Death, Deicide Website www.obituary.cc Members John Tardy
Trevor Peres
Donald Tardy
Ralph Santolla
Terry ButlerPast members Jerome Grable
James Murphy
Daniel Tucker
Allen West
Frank WatkinsObituary is an American death metal band formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida under the name Executioner, then changed the name's spelling to Xecutioner, and later changed their name to Obituary in 1988. The band comprises vocalist John Tardy, drummer Donald Tardy, guitarists Trevor Peres and Ralph Santolla and bassist Terry Butler. The band is a fundamental act in the development of death metal music[1] and one of the most successful bands in its genre.[2]
Contents
History
Obituary is one of the pioneering bands of the death metal genre. Founded as Executioner in Seffner, Florida during 1984. They soon dropped the "E" from their name because of another band of the same name, becoming Xecutioner. At the time the band was composed of John Tardy (vocals), Allen West (lead guitar), Trevor Peres (guitar), Jerome Grable (bass) & Donald Tardy (drums). The band released demos in 1985, 1986, and 1987, the 1985 demo as Executioner and the 1986 and 1987 demos as Xecutioner. They made their vinyl debut in 1987 with two tracks ("Find The Arise" & "Like The Dead") on the Raging Death compilation. Not long after its release Grable was replaced with bassist Daniel Tucker. Shortly before the release of its first album the following year, Slowly We Rot, they changed their name to Obituary. The band still remains an influential piece of the Florida death metal movement that arose in the late 1980s. Obituary is listed by Nielsen Soundscan as the fifth best-selling death metal band of all time and its albums have sold 368,185 copies;[2] their 1992 release The End Complete has sold more than 103,378 copies in the United States alone.[2]
After 1997's Back from the Dead album, the band had grown tired of touring, which led to the band disbanding. During the hiatus, Donald Tardy played in Andrew W.K.'s touring band (during W.K.'s appearance on Saturday Night Live Tardy wore an Obituary shirt). Allen West focused on his two projects, Lowbrow and Six Feet Under while not playing in Obituary. Trevor Peres formed Catastrophic in 2001, which released one album, The Cleansing, in that same year. Obituary reformed in 2003 and Catastrophic continued to exist alongside the reformed Obituary. A reunion album, Frozen in Time, was released in 2005. The band's first live DVD, Frozen Alive, was released in January 2007.
Obituary is currently signed with Candlelight Records for its next two albums, Xecutioner's Return (2007) and Darkest Day (2009), as well as the EP Left to Die (2008). A concert DVD release was also announced for January 2010.[3] As of April 2010, according to frontman John Tardy, Obituary has begun work on new material for their next album.[4] This will be the first Obituary album not to be recorded with longtime bassist Frank Watkins since their 1989 debut Slowly We Rot.
Members
- Current members
- John Tardy – vocals (1984–present)
- Donald Tardy – drums (1984–present)
- Trevor Peres – rhythm guitar (1984–present)
- Ralph Santolla – lead guitar (2007–present)
- Terry Butler - bass guitar (2010–present)
- Live members
- Kenny Andrews - bass guitar (2010)
- Steve DiGiorgio - bass guitar (2010)
- Former members
- Allen West – lead guitar (1984–1989, 1992–2006)
- James Murphy – lead guitar (1990)
- Jerome Grable – bass (1984–1988)
- Daniel Tucker – bass guitar (1988–1989)
- Frank Watkins – bass guitar (1989–2010)
Discography
- Studio albums
- Slowly We Rot (1989)
- Cause of Death (1990)
- The End Complete (1992)
- World Demise (1994)
- Back from the Dead (1997)
- Frozen in Time (2005)
- Xecutioner's Return (2007)
- Darkest Day (2009)
- Untitled ninth studio album (2012)[4]
- Live albums
- Dead (1998)
- DVDs
- Frozen Alive (2006)
- Live Xecution Party San 2008 (2010)[3]
- Extended plays
- Don't Care (1994)
- Left to Die (2008)
- Compilation albums
- Anthology (2001)
- The Best of Obituary (2008)
References
- Footnotes
- ^ Obituary at Allmusic
- ^ a b c "Blabbermouth.net - It's official: Cannibal Corpse are the top-selling death metal band of the SoundScan era". http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=16769. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ a b "OBITUARY: 'Live Xecution' DVD Trailer Available - Dec. 4, 2009". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=131427. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
- ^ a b "OBITUARY Begins Work On New Material - Apr. 20, 2010". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=138853. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
- Further reading
External links
- Obituary.cc
- Obituary - biography, discography, lyrics, photos, videos
- John Tardy Interview at Diabolical Conquest Webzine
- Donald Tardy interview (2009) at Metalpaths.com
- Obituary at Roadrunner Records
- 2009 SplatterTribe.tv interview with Vocalist John Tardy
Studio albums Slowly We Rot · Cause of Death · The End Complete · World Demise · Back from the Dead · Frozen in Time · Xecutioner's Return · Darkest DayLive albums Compilation albums EPs Singles Video albums Frozen Alive · Live Xecution in Bad Berka 2008Related articles Categories:- American death metal musical groups
- Musical groups from Tampa, Florida
- Musical groups established in 1985
- Musical groups disestablished in 1997
- Musical groups reestablished in 2003
- Heavy metal musical groups from Florida
- Musical quintets
- Roadrunner Records artists
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