Andy DeMize
Encyclopedia
Andrew Martinez better known as Andy DeMize, was a Mexican-American musician. Martinez was the drummer
for the bands Nekromantix
, Up Syndrome, and The Rocketz.
group, the Moonlight Cruisers. Other influential drummers: Wade Youman (Unwritten Law
) and John Bonham
(Led Zeppelin
).
Martinez joined the pop punk group Up Syndrome
in October 2001; the band signed with Nitro Records
in December 2002, but were dropped by the label before releasing anything. The group broke up while still in pre-production for their debut album, in July 2003.
Martinez and Tony "Slash" Red-Horse formed The Rocketz in December 2003.
In May 2006, Martinez replaced James Meza as the drummer for the Nekromantix. Martinez made his album debut with the group on Life Is a Grave & I Dig It!
.
, Martinez and three other people were in a 1972 Chevrolet Nova
travelling south on Route 57
outside of Fullerton, California
at roughly 85 mi/h when the driver lost control, swerved across all lanes of the freeway, went over an embankment, and hit a tree. The car caught fire, igniting a eucalyptus
grove. According to police reports, Martinez and another passenger were killed while the driver and a third passenger escaped the vehicle and fled the scene, later calling 9-1-1
from a nearby strawberry field asking for medical help. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence
of alcohol, vehicular manslaughter
while intoxicated, and felony
hit-and-run
. He and the third passenger were taken to the University of California, Irvine Medical Center
where they were listed in critical condition.
Martinez's bandmates were quick to respond to news of his death. Nekromantix
frontman Kim Nekroman
remarked: "My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and everybody that knew Andrew. There [are] no words to describe the shock... Andrew was probably the most loveable guy I ever met and truely the only person I've met in my life that was loved and liked by everybody [he] met." Tony Slash of The Rocketz remarked that "Andy touched many people, his heart was golden, his reputation as a truly nice guy was understated…he was always quick to offer a hand or a beer. He was more than just the backbone of The Rocketz...he was the bond that kept everyone together, he was like a son to me." Chris Piliero of Up Syndrome reflected on his relationship with Martinez: "I didn't stay in touch with Andrew all that much. The last I spoke to him was a year and half ago. I remember him telling me about his new bands (he was in a couple) and touring in other countries and I told him about my video production company and shared what I was up to and for that brief moment, we reconciled our differences and genuinely were happy for each other and wished each other good luck with what we were working on. That was it... Our friendship got tainted by the way we ended things with the band and it's really unfortunate. We shared so many good times together..."
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the bands Nekromantix
Nekromantix
The Nekromantix are a Danish-American psychobilly band formed in 1989 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their music is generally structured around monster and horror themes. A central icon of the band's image is founder and frontman Kim Nekroman's "coffinbass", a custom-built double bass with a body in the...
, Up Syndrome, and The Rocketz.
Bio
Martinez started playing drums at the age of 9, influenced by his older brothers, Aaron (a drummer) and Alex (a guitarist)—both members of a rockabilly/cumbiaCumbia
Cumbia is a music genre popular across Latin America. The cumbia originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where it is associated with an eponymous dance and has since spread as far as Mexico and Argentina...
group, the Moonlight Cruisers. Other influential drummers: Wade Youman (Unwritten Law
Unwritten Law
Unwritten Law is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Poway, California and currently recording for Suburban Noize Records. They have released seven full-length studio albums and have toured internationally, including performances on the Warped Tour...
) and John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
(Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
).
Martinez joined the pop punk group Up Syndrome
Up Syndrome
Up Syndrome is a critically acclaimed, multi-award winning documentary directed by Duane Graves. It was picked up for distribution by CineClix shortly after its world premiere at the 2001 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, UT, and made available in the USA via Netflix...
in October 2001; the band signed with Nitro Records
Nitro Records
Nitro Records is an independent record label created and owned by Dexter Holland and Greg Kriesel . They started the label in 1994. The label is famous for being an incubator for punk rock artists who have subsequently become successful, most notably AFI...
in December 2002, but were dropped by the label before releasing anything. The group broke up while still in pre-production for their debut album, in July 2003.
Martinez and Tony "Slash" Red-Horse formed The Rocketz in December 2003.
In May 2006, Martinez replaced James Meza as the drummer for the Nekromantix. Martinez made his album debut with the group on Life Is a Grave & I Dig It!
Life Is a Grave & I Dig It!
Life Is a Grave & I Dig It! is the seventh studio album by the psychobilly band the Nekromantix, released in 2007 by Hellcat Records. It is the group's only album to include guitarist Tröy Deströy and drummer Andy DeMize, replacing brothers Peter and Kristian Sandorff who had left the band in 2005...
.
Death
In the early morning of January 11, 2009 Martinez died in an automobile accident. According to reports by The Orange County RegisterThe Orange County Register
The Orange County Register is a daily newspaper published in Santa Ana, California. The Register is the flagship publication of Freedom Communications, Inc., which publishes 28 daily newspapers, 23 weekly newspapers, Coast magazine, and several related Internet sites.The Register is notable for its...
, Martinez and three other people were in a 1972 Chevrolet Nova
Chevrolet Nova
The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a compact automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced in four generations for the 1962 through 1979 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped, Nova becoming the...
travelling south on Route 57
California State Route 57
State Route 57 , also known as the Orange Freeway, is a north–south state highway in the Greater Los Angeles Area of the U.S. state of California. It connects the interchange of Interstate 5 and State Route 22 near downtown Orange, locally known as the Orange Crush, with the Glendora Curve...
outside of Fullerton, California
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
at roughly 85 mi/h when the driver lost control, swerved across all lanes of the freeway, went over an embankment, and hit a tree. The car caught fire, igniting a eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
grove. According to police reports, Martinez and another passenger were killed while the driver and a third passenger escaped the vehicle and fled the scene, later calling 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
from a nearby strawberry field asking for medical help. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
of alcohol, vehicular manslaughter
Vehicular homicide
Vehicular homicide in most states in the United States, is a crime. In general, it involves death that results from the negligent operation of a vehicle, or more so a result from driving while committing an unlawful act that does not amount to a felony...
while intoxicated, and felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
hit-and-run
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
. He and the third passenger were taken to the University of California, Irvine Medical Center
University of California, Irvine Medical Center
The University of California, Irvine Medical Center is a major research hospital located in the City of Orange. It is Orange County's central public hospital and the teaching center for the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.- Organizational history :Plans had been in place since...
where they were listed in critical condition.
Martinez's bandmates were quick to respond to news of his death. Nekromantix
Nekromantix
The Nekromantix are a Danish-American psychobilly band formed in 1989 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their music is generally structured around monster and horror themes. A central icon of the band's image is founder and frontman Kim Nekroman's "coffinbass", a custom-built double bass with a body in the...
frontman Kim Nekroman
Kim Nekroman
Kim Nekroman is the bassist and lead singer for the psychobilly band Nekromantix and the lead guitarist of HorrorPops. He is married to Patricia Day, lead singer and bassist for HorrorPops.-On tour:...
remarked: "My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and everybody that knew Andrew. There [are] no words to describe the shock... Andrew was probably the most loveable guy I ever met and truely the only person I've met in my life that was loved and liked by everybody [he] met." Tony Slash of The Rocketz remarked that "Andy touched many people, his heart was golden, his reputation as a truly nice guy was understated…he was always quick to offer a hand or a beer. He was more than just the backbone of The Rocketz...he was the bond that kept everyone together, he was like a son to me." Chris Piliero of Up Syndrome reflected on his relationship with Martinez: "I didn't stay in touch with Andrew all that much. The last I spoke to him was a year and half ago. I remember him telling me about his new bands (he was in a couple) and touring in other countries and I told him about my video production company and shared what I was up to and for that brief moment, we reconciled our differences and genuinely were happy for each other and wished each other good luck with what we were working on. That was it... Our friendship got tainted by the way we ended things with the band and it's really unfortunate. We shared so many good times together..."
Albums
| Year | Title | Band |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Erase the Past | Up Syndrome |
| 2005 | Rise of the Undead | The Rocketz |
| 2007 | Life Is a Grave & I Dig It! Life Is a Grave & I Dig It! Life Is a Grave & I Dig It! is the seventh studio album by the psychobilly band the Nekromantix, released in 2007 by Hellcat Records. It is the group's only album to include guitarist Tröy Deströy and drummer Andy DeMize, replacing brothers Peter and Kristian Sandorff who had left the band in 2005... |
Nekromantix Nekromantix The Nekromantix are a Danish-American psychobilly band formed in 1989 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their music is generally structured around monster and horror themes. A central icon of the band's image is founder and frontman Kim Nekroman's "coffinbass", a custom-built double bass with a body in the... |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Band |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Killing" | The Rocketz |
| 2007 | "Horny in a Hearse" | Nekromantix Nekromantix The Nekromantix are a Danish-American psychobilly band formed in 1989 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their music is generally structured around monster and horror themes. A central icon of the band's image is founder and frontman Kim Nekroman's "coffinbass", a custom-built double bass with a body in the... |