Living Death was a German

speed metal Speed metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) roots.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' (Berg Publishers, 2007), , p. 31. It ...

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band from

Velbert Velbert ( Low Rhenish: ''Vèlbed'') is a town in the district of Mettmann, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The town is renowned worldwide for the production of locks and fittings. Geography Velbert is located on the hills of 'Niede ...

, noted for being one of the pioneering bands in the thrash metal genre. The band's career spanned from the early 1980s until the early 1990s and has since acquired a cult status.

History

Living Death was formed in 1981 in

North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a States of Germany, state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more tha ...

, 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 joined. A year later, they recorded their self-titled demo, resulting in a deal with Earthshaker in 1983. Later that year, Frank Schubring left the band and was replaced by Harald Lutze. In 1984, Living Death released their 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 A warlock is a male practitioner of witchcraft. Etymology and terminology The most commonly accepted etymology derives ''warlock'' from the Old English '' wǣrloga'', which meant "breaker of oaths" or "deceiver" and was given special applicatio ...

; after which they fired drummer Harald Lutze and replaced him with Andreas Overhoff. In January 1985, they released the EP ''Watch-Out!'' with three remixed songs from the first LP and the self-titled track. In August, ''Metal Revolution'' was released. Due to its cult status, the album was re-issued in 2002 by Shark Records. A year later, the band signed a deal with Aaarrg Records and the EP ''Back to the Weapons'' was recorded; shortly before its release, they found 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 left the band (and recorded one EP as Sacred Chao, taking the name from a song on ''Worlds Neuroses''). 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 1992, having released ''Killing in Action'' a year prior.

Previous members

Last-known lineup

*Thorsten "Toto" Bergmann (singer) *Andreas Oberhoff (drummer) *Reiner Kelch (guitar) *Dieter Kelch (bass) Vocals: *Thorsten "Toto" Bergmann (1981–1989) (Sacred Chao, X-Mas Project) *Gerald Thelen (1989–1991) Guitars: *Frank 'Fred' Fricke (1980–1989) (

Mekong Delta The Mekong Delta ( vi, Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long, lit=Nine Dragon River Delta or simply vi, Đồng Bằng Sông Mê Kông, lit=Mekong River Delta, label=none), also known as the Western Region ( vi, Miền Tây, links=no) or South-weste ...

, X-Mas Project, Sacred Chao, ex-

U.D.O. U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider in 1987. History Following Udo Dirkschneider's departure from Accept in 1987, he formed his own band called U.D.O. He recruited guitarists Mathias Dieth and Peter ...

) 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, Sodom,

Holy Moses Holy Moses is a German thrash metal band active from 1980 to 1994 and again since 2000. They are well noted for being fronted by Sabina Classen, who is the only constant member of Holy Moses, and for being one of the first German thrash metal ...

, Violent Force, Sacred Chao)

Discography

Studio albums

*''Vengeance of Hell'' (1984) *''Metal Revolution'' (1985) *''Protected from Reality'' (1987) *''Worlds Neuroses'' (1989) *''Killing in Action'' (1991)

EPs

*''Watch Out!'' (1985) *''Back to the Weapons'' (1986) *''Live'' (1988)

Compilation albums

*''Living Death'' (1994)

Singles

*''Eisbein (mit Sauerkraut)'' (1987)

Demos

*''Demo 83'' (1983) *''Pre-Production Demo'' (1984)

References

External links

* * {{Authority control German thrash metal musical groups German heavy metal musical groups