Heathen (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Heathen is a North American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area California, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco. They have released two critically acclaimed albums, Breaking the Silence (1987) and Victims of Deception (1991).
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] The Beginning and Split Up
Heathen was formed in 1984 by two friends, Lee Altus (guitar) of Russian descent and Carl Sacco (drums). The initial line-up consisted of Lee Altus, Carl Sacco, the guitarist Jim Sanguinetti and the vocalist Sam Kress.
Then Sam Kress was replaced by David White and Jim Sanguinetti (moved to form Mordred band) was replaced by Doug Piercy. This line-up played only one gig in April 1985, without a bass player. Soon after, Eric Wong was recruited as Heathen's first bassist but not for long, been replaced by Mike "Yaz" Jastremski (former of the heavy metal band Griffin).
With this line up (David White, Lee Altus, Doug Piercy, Mike Jastremski and Carl Sacco), in 1987, they got a deal with Combat Records, after releasing the Pray For Death demo, recorded at Doug Piercy 's studio. Their debut Breaking the Silence was released in 1987 and it was critically very well received and sold over 100.000 copies worldwide, with some MTV Headbanger's Ball airplay for the song "Set Me Free", Sweet cover. In 1988, Carl Sacco left the band and was replaced Darren Minter.
In 1989, problems in the band, made the vocalist David White leave the band, and for few months the ex-Exodus vocalist Paul Baloff took the job, but not for long.
David White came back to the band, and still with a problem in found the ideal bassist, they released in 1991 their second album Victims of Deception with Marc Biedermann on bass (former of Blind Illusion band), through Roadrunner Records. Like its predecessor, Victims of Deception was also critically acclaimed. Then came some various line-up changes, (Doug Piecy left the band and they just couldn't find an established bass player) attempts of recording, until the band came to a status of a hiatus in 1992.
[edit] The Return
In 2001, Heathen regrouped with the almost 1992 line up, but with Mike "Yaz" Jastremski on bass minus Doug Piercy, to play in the Thrash of the Titans concert to help Chuck Billy and Chuck Schuldiner raise funds for Billy's throat cancer treatment and Schuldiner's brain cancer treatment. The concert was a huge success and in 2004, but Mike "Yaz" Jastremski left the band again, been replaced by the Ulysses Syrens former bassist John Torres releasing a full-length album, the title of which is Recovered, which consists of re-recorded old material and cover songs. A new demo was released in August 2005, which contains three new songs. A new album is currently being planned.
In 2005, the band recruited Terry Lauderdale to be the second guitarist and played to packed houses and festivals across England, Scotland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
[edit] Classic line up
- David White (Vocals)
- Lee Altus (Guitar)
- Doug Piercy (Guitar)
- Mike "Yaz" Jastremski (Bass)
- Carl Sacco (Drums)
[edit] Current line-up
- David White (vocals)
- Lee Altus (guitar, former Exodus and Die Krupps)
- Terry Lauderdale (guitars)
- John Torres (bass guitar - former of Ulysses Sirens and Laaz Rockit)
- Darren Minter (drums)
[edit] Discography
- Pray For Death demo (self-produced, 1986)
- Set Me Free EP (Combat Records, 1987)
- Breaking the Silence (Combat Records, 1987)
- Victims of Deception (Roadrunner Records, 1991)
- Recovered (Relentless Records, 2004)
- Demo 2005 (Demo, 2005)
