Living Death
Encyclopedia
Living Death was a German
heavy metal
band from Velbert
, whose career spanned from the early 1980s until the early 1990s.
, Germany
by Reiner and Dieter Kelch, and Frank Fricke, starting out as a simple heavy metal
band. In 1981 drummer Frank Schubring and vocalist Thorsten "Toto" Bergmann join the band, completing their first line-up. A year later they recorded their self-titled demo resulting, in 1983, a deal with Earthshaker. Later that year Frank Schubring leaves the band and is replaced by Harald Lutze.
In 1984 Living Death released their rough-sounding debut album Vengeance of Hell
which, despite poor production quality, sold well in all independent charts. Living Death then went on tour in support of Warlock
. Leading into them firing drummer Harald Lutze and replacing him with Andreas Overhoff. In January of 1985 they release the EP Watch-Out! with three remixed songs from the first LP and the self-titled track. In August Metal Revolution
is released. A year later they sign a deal with Aaarrg Records and the EP Back to the Weapons is recorded and shortly before its release they find a new drummer, Atomic Steif.
In 1987, the album Protected from Reality
was released, followed by 1988's Live EP, featuring four songs off their second album. After the release of their fourth studio album Worlds Neuroses in 1989, band members Toto, Fred, and Atomic Steif leave the band. The remaining Living Death members then recruited vocalist Gerald Thelen, and drummer Frank Ullrich as replacements. With this line-up Living Death split-up in 1991 after the release of Killing In Action.
Guitars:
Drums:
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Velbert
Velbert
Velbert is a town in the district of Mettmann, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Langenberg, a district of Velbert, is well known as the location of the Sender Langenberg transmitter site.-Geography:...
, whose career spanned from the early 1980s until the early 1990s.
Biography
Living Death was formed in 1980 in VelbertVelbert
Velbert is a town in the district of Mettmann, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Langenberg, a district of Velbert, is well known as the location of the Sender Langenberg transmitter site.-Geography:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
by Reiner and Dieter Kelch, and Frank Fricke, starting out as a simple heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band. In 1981 drummer Frank Schubring and vocalist Thorsten "Toto" Bergmann join the band, completing their first line-up. A year later they recorded their self-titled demo resulting, in 1983, a deal with Earthshaker. Later that year Frank Schubring leaves the band and is replaced by Harald Lutze.
In 1984 Living Death released their rough-sounding debut album Vengeance of Hell
Vengeance of Hell
Vengeance of Hell is the first full-length album by Living Death. It was released in 1984. Despite its poor production sound, it did quite well in independent charts.-Track listing:# "You and Me" - 4:23# "Living Death" - 3:50# "Nightlight" - 5:45...
which, despite poor production quality, sold well in all independent charts. Living Death then went on tour in support of Warlock
Warlock
The term warlock in origin means "traitor, oathbreaker".In early modern Scots, the word came to be used as the male equivalent of witch ....
. Leading into them firing drummer Harald Lutze and replacing him with Andreas Overhoff. In January of 1985 they release the EP Watch-Out! with three remixed songs from the first LP and the self-titled track. In August Metal Revolution
Metal Revolution
Metal Revolution is the second full-length album by the German speeed metal band Living Death. It was released in 1985.-Track listing:# "Killing Machine" - 3:13# "Grippin' a Heart" - 4:39# "Rulers Must Come" - 4:11# "Screaming from a Chamber" - 6:12...
is released. A year later they sign a deal with Aaarrg Records and the EP Back to the Weapons is recorded and shortly before its release they find a new drummer, Atomic Steif.
In 1987, the album Protected from Reality
Protected from Reality
Protected from Reality is the third full-length album by German speed metal band Living Death. It was released in 1987.-Track listing:# "Horrible Infanticide " - 3:39 # "Manila Terror" - 3:49 # "Natures Death" - 4:39...
was released, followed by 1988's Live EP, featuring four songs off their second album. After the release of their fourth studio album Worlds Neuroses in 1989, band members Toto, Fred, and Atomic Steif leave the band. The remaining Living Death members then recruited vocalist Gerald Thelen, and drummer Frank Ullrich as replacements. With this line-up Living Death split-up in 1991 after the release of Killing In Action.
Last known line up
- Thorsten "Toto" Bergmann (singer)
- Andreas Oberhoff (drummer)
- Reiner Kelch (guitar)
- Dieter Kelch (bass)
Previous members
Vocals:- Thorsten "Toto" Bergmann (1981-1989) (Sacred Chao, X-Mas ProjectX-Mas ProjectX-Mas Project was a supergroup formed in 1985 by a load of German heavy metal musicians. They released an EP and three albums, which handle about Christmas subjects.-History:...
) - Gerald Thelen (1989-1991)
Guitars:
- Frank Fricke (1980-1988) (Mekong DeltaMekong Delta (band)Mekong Delta is a German progressive/thrash metal band, formed in 1985.-History:The band was founded by a group of German metal musicians with the goal to 'musically outshine' all then-current, independent releases. The line-up and the history of the group was to be "the best kept secret in the...
, X-Mas ProjectX-Mas ProjectX-Mas Project was a supergroup formed in 1985 by a load of German heavy metal musicians. They released an EP and three albums, which handle about Christmas subjects.-History:...
, ex-U.D.O.U.D.O.U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead singer Udo Dirkschneider in 1987.-1987–1992:After Udo Dirkschneider left Accept in 1987, a large fan community followed him to U.D.O....
) - Fred (1988-1989) (Sacred Chao)
Drums:
- Frank Schubring (1981-1983)
- Eric (session drums on Vengeance of Hell)
- Harald Lutze (1984)
- Andreas Oberhoff (1984-1986)
- Atomic Steif (1986-1989) (Stahlträger, Assassin, SodomSodom (band)Sodom is a German Thrash metal trio from Gelsenkirchen, formed in 1981.Along with the bands Kreator and Destruction, Sodom is considered one of the "big three" of Teutonic thrash metal...
, Holy MosesHoly MosesHoly Moses is a German thrash metal band. They are well noted for being fronted by Sabina Classen and for being one of the very first German thrash metal bands.-Formative years: 1980-1985:...
, Violent Force, Sacred Chao)
Studio albums
- Vengeance of HellVengeance of HellVengeance of Hell is the first full-length album by Living Death. It was released in 1984. Despite its poor production sound, it did quite well in independent charts.-Track listing:# "You and Me" - 4:23# "Living Death" - 3:50# "Nightlight" - 5:45...
(1984) - Metal RevolutionMetal RevolutionMetal Revolution is the second full-length album by the German speeed metal band Living Death. It was released in 1985.-Track listing:# "Killing Machine" - 3:13# "Grippin' a Heart" - 4:39# "Rulers Must Come" - 4:11# "Screaming from a Chamber" - 6:12...
(1985) - Protected from RealityProtected from RealityProtected from Reality is the third full-length album by German speed metal band Living Death. It was released in 1987.-Track listing:# "Horrible Infanticide " - 3:39 # "Manila Terror" - 3:49 # "Natures Death" - 4:39...
(1987) - Worlds Neuroses (1989)
- Killing In Action (1991)
External links
- Fan website
- Fan page on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....