• Timeline
    On this page is a short and chronological survey of Death's history, along with the band members, and releases (including the old demo's), composed by Robbie Woning and Perry Grayson.
  • Releases
    A detailled survey of all Chuck's released material, official and unoffical, with a lot of info from the tape-trading area and about the various European re-releases, in addition to the timeline.
  • Precious Memories Of Chuck Schuldiner
    Complete Death/Control Denied history by Perry M.Grayson. A short version was published in Metal Maniacs and on EmptyWords. Now the long version finds its place here as well, thanks Perry.
  • Death Biography
    The Death biography up till Spiritual Healing, as it appeared in the booklets of the different European re-releases, written by Borivoj Krgin and gathered here.
  • Death & Control Denied Biography
    Two short biographies of Death and Control Denied by Nuclear Blast, that accompanied the releases of The Sound Of Perseverance and The Fragile Art Of Existence.
Year
Story Line-Up Releases
1983
Formation of the band MANTAS, which later would become Death. Chuck is 16 years old.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar
Barney 'Kam' Lee-drums/vocals
Rick Rozz (Frederick DeLilo)-guitar

 
1984

Spring:
First unofficial Mantas recording with temporary bassist, called "Emotional" by tape traders.

Summer:

The first official recording emerges in the underground: the rehearsal tape "Death By Metal", which is recorded in the garage of Chuck's mom on Rick's Panasonic tape recorder. Chuck is 17.

Mantas splits up briefly. Chuck plans a new band, simply called DEATH. After a couple of weeks of searching, Chuck finds he must resort once again to working with Rick Rozz and Kam Lee. Death By Metal is given a new tape cover when the band name changes.

Fall/Winter:
In October the 5 track "Reign Of Terror" demo is recorded in Florida. December 30-show with Nasty Savage in Ruby's Pub/Tampa. The show is taped by John & Mark from Guillotine Magazine. Later this is sold as the only official Death live recording through Guillotine and by the band.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Kam Lee-drums/vocals
Rick Rozz-guitar

Rehearsal tape -1- (4 tracks)
Rehearsal tape -2- (3 track)
Rehearsal tape -3- (4 tracks)
Live tape -1- September 4/Florida (9 tracks)
Live tape -2- September 11/Tampa (13 tracks)
Live tape -3- November 9/Brandon (12 tracks)
Live tape -4- November 20/Brandon (13 tracks)
Live tape -5- December 30/Tampa (8 tracks)
Demo -1- Death By Metal(5 tracks)
Demo -2- Reign Of Terror(5 tracks)

1985

Spring:
March 9, the 3 track "Infernal Death" demo is recorded, Rick Rozz leaves the band. In May Chuck and Kam record the 1 track demo "Rigor Mortis". Chuck gets 18.

Summer:
Scott Carlson (bass) and Matt Olivio (guitar) from the Michigan based band Genocide join Death. Kam Lee leaves the band drummerless.

Fall/Winter:
Scott and Matt leave the band and Chuck moves to San Francisco and joins forces with Eric Brecht (drums). Rick Rozz and Kam Lee form Massacre in Florida. At the end of the year Chuck returns bandless to Florida.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Kam Lee-drums/vocals
Rick Rozz-guitar

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Kam Lee-drums/vocals

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Kam Lee-drums/vocals
Scott Carlson-bass
Matt Olivio-guitar

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Eric Brecht-drums
Erik Meade-bass

Rehearsal tape -4- (3 tracks)
Rehearsal tape -5- (90 minutes)
Rehearsal tape -6- (45 minutes only covers)
Rehearsal tape -7- (4 tracks)
Rehearsal tape -8- (1 track-Aggressor)
Rehearsal tape -9- (3 tracks-with Seizure)
Rehearsal tape -10- (5 tracks)
Rehearsal tape -11- (6 tracks)
Live tape -6- Brandon (14 tracks)
Live tape -7- October 19/Ruthie's (7 tracks)
Live tape -8- November 27/Ruthie's (8 tracks)
Demo -3- Infernal Death(3 tracks)
Demo -4- Rigor Mortis(1 track)
Demo -5- Back From The Dead(7 tracks)

1986

Spring:
In January Chuck moves to Toronto/Canada to join Slaughter. He recorded the tune "Fuck of Death", and returns to Florida after a few weeks. Soon after he returned to San Francisco to hook up with Chris Reifert. Steve DiGiorgio fills in on bass during Death practices while Sadus and Death share rehearsal space. Steve only plays on some unofficial rehearsal tapes. The Mutilation demo leads to the deal with Combat.

Summer:
The recordings of the first album are not going well. The actual recording is made in the Music Grinder in Hollywood by Randy Burns. After the recordings John Hand is welcomed as second guitarplayer. He's not able to keep up with the fast and technical parts of the newer Death material, and never so much as plays one gig with Death or a single note on an album, before he's excused from the band.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/bass/vocals
Chris Reifert-drums
Rehearsal tape -12- (2 tracks)
Demo -6- Mutilation (3 tracks)
1987
Scream Bloody Gore is released by Combat Records in March and in June in Europe by Music For Nations subsidiary label Under One Flag.

Chris stays in SF as Chuck returns to Florida to rejoin forces with three-fourths of Massacre including Rick Rozz on guitar, Terry Buttler on bass and Bill Andrews on drums. They play their first tour already performing some 'Leprosy' songs, even at the Milwaukee Metalfest.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/bass/vocals
Chris Reifert-drums

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Rick Rozz-guitar
Terry Buttler-bass
Bill Andrews-drums

Death -1- Scream Bloody Gore
1988

Leprosy gets recorded in Morrisound with Dan Johnson in April. In October the album is released by Combat.

The Ultimate Revenge video and CD are recorded in October at the Philadelphia's Trocadero Theatre. Other bands on this recordings are: Raven, Faith Or Fear, Forbidden. The band goes on tour again.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Rick Rozz-guitar
Terry Butler-bass
Bill Andrews-drums
Death -2- Leprosy
Ultimate Revenge video/CD
1989
1990
The band tours Europe with Gangreen and starts recording Spiritual Healing with Scott Burns.

Before the album is released in 1990 Rick Rozz already is replaced by James Murphy (former Agent Steel and Hallows Eve). More touring takes place. Touring guitarist Albert Gonzales (ex-Evil Dead) replaces James Murphy. Albert is replaced by Paul Masvidal (Cynic).

The other members of Death decide to tour Europe, against Chuck's wishes. The line-up for that tour is Terry Buttler / bass, Bill Andrews / drums, Walter Trachsler / guitar (ex-Rotting Corpse and Death guitar tech/soundman), Louie Carrisalez/vocals (Devestation). Obviously this causes a hug rift between Chuck and his former band members.

Chuck is determined to rise again with Death, his band, despite the fact that the press has printed many rumors and outright lies circulated by his ex-bandmates. Some said he was starting a glam band, others claimed he was in an insane asylum.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Rick Rozz-guitar
Terry Buttler-bass
Bill Andrews-drums

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
James Murphy-guitar
Terry Butler-bass
Bill Andrews-drums

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Albert Gonzales-guitar
Terry Butler-bass
Bill Andrews-drums

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Paul Masvidal-guitar
Terry Butler-bass
Bill Andrews-drums

Death -3- Spiritual Healing -1990
1991

Chuck recruits Sean Reinert(drums) and Paul Masvidal(guitar) of Cynic, and Steve DiGiorgio of Sadus to record Human in April, which is released later that year by Relativity Records.

The Lack Of Comprehension video is recorded.

The Inhuman Tour Of The World 1991 starts, with Skott Carino replacing Steve DiGiorgio on bass, taking off in the USA and Canada, followed by the Christmas tour of Europe with Napalm Death, Pestilence, Cannibal Corpse and Dismember.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Paul Masvidal-guitar
Steve DiGiorgio-bass
Sean Reinert-drums

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Paul Masvidal-guitar
Sean Reinert-drums
Skott Carino-bass

Death -4- Human
Video -1- Lack Of Comprehension
1992

In February/March the Extravaganza tour of Europe is done. The compilation album Fate is released by Relativity.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Paul Masvidal-guitar
Sean Reinert-drums
Skott Carino-bass
Compilation album -1- Fate
1993
Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert get back to their project Cynic, and release their debut "Focus". They are replaced by Andy LaRocque / guitar (King Diamond) and Gene Hoglan / drums (Dark Angel), once again Steve DiGiorgio / bass steps in to record the Individual Thought Patterns album.

Because of his commitments with King Diamond Andy can't tour. Craig Locicero (Forbidden) will do the European tour, and Ralph Santolla (Eyewitness) the US tour and the Easter festivals in Europe.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Andy LaRocquer-guitar
Steve DiGiorgio-bass
Gene Hoglan-drums

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Craig Locicero-guitar
Steve DiGiorgio-bass
Gene Hoglan-drums

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Ralph Santolla-guitar
Steve DiGiorgio-bass
Gene Hoglan-drums

Death -5- Individual Thought Patterns
Video -2- The Philosopher

1994
Nothing special happened.    
1995
Chuck replaces Relativity for Roadrunner Records. They will release Symbolic in May. Meanwhile Bobby Koelble is the new guitarplayer and Kelly Conlon the new bassplayer both from Florida, Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Bobby Koelble-guitar
Kelly Conlon-bass
Gene Hoglan-drums
Live tape -9- (Japan/Symphonic Technicalogy)
Death -6- Symbolic
1996
Death is on hold for a while, time to rethink about the band and its future. Chuck recruits drummer Chris Williams (RIP) who's followed shortly after by his friends Shannon Hamm on guitar and Scott Clendenin on bass, who formed the Floridian band Talonzfury. Williams leaves shortly after and is replaced by drummer Richard Christy.

The first Control Denied demo's emerge, with only guitar and drums, and Chuck singing.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Shannon Hamm-guitar
Scott Clendenin-bass
Chris Williams-drums

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Shannon Hamm-guitar
Scott Clendenin-bass
Richard Christy-drums

Demo -7- Control Denied (4 tracks)
1997
At the end of the year Chuck signs with Nuclear Blast Records and is allowed to do Control Denied after making a Death album first. Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Shannon Hamm-guitar
Scott Clendenin-bass
Richard Christy-drums
 
1998
The last Death album is released on September 15 by Nuclear Blast. The band tours Europe with Benediction, plays the Chili Metal Fest on November 7, and tours the USA with Hammerfall.
Chuck Schuldiner-guitar/vocals
Shannon Hamm-guitar
Scott Clendenin-bass
Richard Christy-drums
Death -7- The Sound Of Perseverance
1999

The first Control Denied album is released, and singer Tim Aymar (Psycho Scream) joins the band. Steve DiGiorgio replaces Scott Clendinin to record the album.

In May Chuck is diagnosed with a brainstem tumor.


Century Media releases the first five albums as a picture disc vinyl boxed set with a Scream Bloody Gore poster.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar
Shannon Hamm-guitar
Steve DiGiorgio-bass
Richard Christy-drums
Tim Aymar-vocals
Control Denied -1- The Fragile Art Of Existence
Rerelease -1- Scream Bloody Gore(4 bonus tracks)
Rerelease -2- Leprosy
Rerelease -3- Spiritual Healing
Rerelease -4- Human
Rerelease -5- Individual Thought Patterns
Boxset -1- First 5 albums as picture vinyl discs
2000
Chuck battles with his disease and is writing new material for the second Control Denied album 'When Man And Machine Collide'. Chuck Schuldiner-guitar
Shannon Hamm-guitar
Steve DiGiorgio-bass
Richard Christy-drums
Tim Aymar-vocals
 
2001

In May Chuck's illness is getting worse.
The Death-Live in L.A. album is released by Nuclear Blast as well as the Death live album 'Live in Eindhoven'.

On December 13 Chuck passed away after a struggle of 2,5 years. The band members are determined for the future to finish the second Control Denied album.

Chuck Schuldiner-guitar
Shannon Hamm-guitar
Steve DiGiorgio-bass
Richard Christy-drums
Tim Aymar-vocals

Live album -1- Live in LA CD/DVD
Live album -2- Live in Eindhoven CD/DVD