Death was an American death metal band from Orlando, Florida, founded in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner. Death is considered to be one of the most influential bands in heavy metal and a pioneering force in Death Metal. Its debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, has been widely regarded as one of the first death metal records along with Seven Churches and Season of the Dead, while the band’s driving force, Chuck Schuldiner, is acknowledged as the originator of extreme metal. Death had a revolving lineup, with Schuldiner being the sole consistent member. The group’s style also progressed, from the raw sound on its early albums to a more sophisticated one in its later stage. The band ceased to exist due to Chuck Schuldiner dying of a high-grade pontine glioma (a malignant type of brain cancer that invades the brainstem) on December 13th, 2001. The cause of death was that he took the drug vincristine to help combat the cancer and his condition worsened as he became ill with pneumonia. Music biographer Garry Sharpe-Young considered Death “a genre-breaking band centered upon frontman Chuck Schuldiner” and that the band “would become one of the prime instigators of the death metal movement.” However, Schuldiner dismissed such attributions by stating, in an interview with Metal-Rules.com,

I don’t think I should take the credits for this death metal stuff. I’m just a guy from a band, and I think Death is a metal band.

Members

Last known lineup

Chuck Schuldiner – guitars, vocals (1984-2001)
Shannon Hamm – guitars (1997–2001)
Scott Clendenin – bass (1997–2001)
Richard Christy – drums (1997–2001)

Past

Kam Lee – drums, vocals (1984–1985)
Rick Rozz – guitars (1984-1985, 1987–1989)
Erik Meade – bass (1985)
Scott Carlson – bass, vocals (1985)
Eric Brecht – drums (1985)
Matt Olivo – guitars (1985)
Chris Reifert – drums (1986–1987)
Terry Butler – bass (1987–1990)
Bill Andrews – drums (1987–1990)
John Hand – guitars (1987)
Mark Carter – guitars (1989)
James Murphy – guitars (1989–1990)
Sean Reinert – drums (1990-1992)
Paul Masvidal – guitars (1990–1992)
Scott Carino – bass (1991–1992)
Steve Di Giorgio – bass (1992–1994, 1997–1998)
Gene Hoglan – drums (1993–1995)
Kelly Conlon – bass (1994–1995)
Bobby Koelble – guitars (1995)