Juan Garcia (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
Juan Garcia is a Cuban-American heavy metal guitarist. He is perhaps best known as the guitarist for the thrash metal bands Agent Steel
and Evildead
and the power metal/speed metal band Abattoir. He is still involved in all those bands today.
. He recorded two albums with Agent Steel Skeptics Apocalypse
(1985) and Unstoppable Force
(1987) as well as their EP Mad Locust Rising
(also 1985). After leaving Agent Steel in 1987, Garcia reunited with Mel Sanchez to form Evildead
, with the intention to write heavy music with more hardcore and thrash metal elements; more so than their previous bands. The band's name was inspired from the Sam Raimi
horror film The Evil Dead
. Their lyrics focused exploring political and social themes mixed with horror and nuclear war topics. During their initial career, Evildead released two albums, a live recording and an EP. After several lineup changes and an attempt to make a third album, the band broke up in 1995.
After Evildead folded, Garcia, along with his former bandmates Karlos Medina, Dan Flores and John Dette (later replaced by another former Evildead member Eddie Livingston
and then Rigo Amezcua) formed a new band, Terror (not to be confused with the hardcore punk band with the same name
), with . This band would follow the same vein of Evildead, but with lyrics in Spanish. After maninging to release an album in 1997 (Hijos de los Cometas) and a self-titled EP in 1998, Terror split up and Garcia returned to Agent Steel
. He was also involved in Killing Machine and Obscene Gesture.
In 2008, Evildead announced that they would reunite in the summer of 2009 for shows. They also began rehearsals for the Thrasho De Mayo event that was held in Los Angeles in May, 2010. The band also performed at the "Way of Darkness Festival" in Germany later that year. The current line up features new vocalist, Steve Nelson (Winterthrall, Noctuary), Rob Alaniz (original drummer), Albert Gonzalez (original guitarist), Mel Sanchez (original bassist), and Juan Garcia (original guitarist). Evildead plans to release new music in the near future.
Agent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
and Evildead
Evildead
Evildead is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1987. The band was originally composed of members of two former bands, Agent Steel and Abattoir, including guitarist Juan Garcia, who is their only permanent member member...
and the power metal/speed metal band Abattoir. He is still involved in all those bands today.
Biography
In 1982, Garcia formed the band Abattoir with vocalist Chris Malaki, guitarist Mark "The Shark" Caro, bassist Mel Sanchez and drummer Ron Gonzales. He played on two of the band's demos Original Abattoir (1983) and Demo 1984 (1984) before leaving the band in October 1984 to join Agent SteelAgent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
. He recorded two albums with Agent Steel Skeptics Apocalypse
Skeptics Apocalypse
Skeptics Apocalypse is the debut album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California and mastered at Frankort Wayne Studios by Tom Coyne...
(1985) and Unstoppable Force
Unstoppable Force
Unstoppable Force is the second album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded at Morrisound Recording Studios in Tampa, Florida...
(1987) as well as their EP Mad Locust Rising
Mad Locust Rising
Mad Locust Rising is the second release from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded at Indigo Ranch Studios, Malibu, California and mastered at Frankort Wayne Studios by Tom Coyne...
(also 1985). After leaving Agent Steel in 1987, Garcia reunited with Mel Sanchez to form Evildead
Evildead
Evildead is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1987. The band was originally composed of members of two former bands, Agent Steel and Abattoir, including guitarist Juan Garcia, who is their only permanent member member...
, with the intention to write heavy music with more hardcore and thrash metal elements; more so than their previous bands. The band's name was inspired from the Sam Raimi
Sam Raimi
Samuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for directing cult horror films like the Evil Dead series, Darkman and Drag Me to Hell, as well as the blockbuster Spider-Man films and the producer of the successful TV series Hercules: The...
horror film The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead is a 1981 horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The film is a story of five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area...
. Their lyrics focused exploring political and social themes mixed with horror and nuclear war topics. During their initial career, Evildead released two albums, a live recording and an EP. After several lineup changes and an attempt to make a third album, the band broke up in 1995.
After Evildead folded, Garcia, along with his former bandmates Karlos Medina, Dan Flores and John Dette (later replaced by another former Evildead member Eddie Livingston
Eddie Livingston
Eddie Livingston:Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a rock/metal drummer primarily known for His fast and aggressive double kick playing, and syncopated southern approach to Heavy metal, or Thrash metal. Eddie is usually seen playing with the 'butt'end of his drumsticks...
and then Rigo Amezcua) formed a new band, Terror (not to be confused with the hardcore punk band with the same name
Terror (band)
Terror is a hardcore punk band from Los Angeles, California. Their second album One with the Underdogs sold over 40,000 copies. They have also been on tours throughout Europe , Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Mexico and South America...
), with . This band would follow the same vein of Evildead, but with lyrics in Spanish. After maninging to release an album in 1997 (Hijos de los Cometas) and a self-titled EP in 1998, Terror split up and Garcia returned to Agent Steel
Agent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
. He was also involved in Killing Machine and Obscene Gesture.
In 2008, Evildead announced that they would reunite in the summer of 2009 for shows. They also began rehearsals for the Thrasho De Mayo event that was held in Los Angeles in May, 2010. The band also performed at the "Way of Darkness Festival" in Germany later that year. The current line up features new vocalist, Steve Nelson (Winterthrall, Noctuary), Rob Alaniz (original drummer), Albert Gonzalez (original guitarist), Mel Sanchez (original bassist), and Juan Garcia (original guitarist). Evildead plans to release new music in the near future.