Black Death (American band)

Black Death
Origin Cleveland, Ohio
Genres Heavy metal, power metal
Years active 1977–1984; 2009-present
Members
  • Greg Hicks
  • Ken Phillips
  • Dennis Fuldauer
  • Sandy Kruger
  • Mark Shea
Past members
  • Reginal Gamble ("Siki Spacek")
  • Darrel Harris
  • Phil Bullard
  • Ed Goodin
  • Clayborn Pinkins

Black Death are an American band who have been noted as the "first all-African-American heavy metal band".[1] The group were also mentioned in Ian Christe's book Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal,[2] and mentioned Rock 'n' roll and the Cleveland connection by Deanna R. Adams as "one of the only, if not the only, all-black metal bands in the country" in 1987.[3][4]

History

Black Death was a nameless band in 1977 consisting of Greg Hicks, Phil Bullard, and Clayborn Pinkins.[5] Then in 1978 they recruited Reginal Gamble ("Siki Spacek"). The name Black Death was brought to the table by Hicks and Pinkins in 1979. That year Pinkins was shot and killed. Soon after Ed Goodin took over on bass. One year later Darrel Harris replace Goodin on Bass. The first recording was of one song called "Outcast" in 1980. Appropriately titled, that song was only aired on Brian Sergents ("serge") local college radio show. The response from that song generated interest from Sergent to put the band in the studio. The second recording was in 1981 at Angel Recording Studios and to date has never been released. The third was a Demo recorded at Suma studios in 1982. Two songs were featured on "Cleveland Metal Compilation". The fourth recording to was the now classic debut LP that was released by Auburn Records[6] in Cleveland Ohio.[7] With only 2,000 LPs printed, it is a very sought-after and hard-to-find release. In 2007 Bullard and Mike Green recruited Siki and formed a new group called "Mandrake".[8] Soon after, they parted ways with Siki due to his personal/substance abuse problems and recruited Greg Hicks on bass.

In 2008, original Black Death drummer Phil Bullard died from cancer.[9][10] After Bullard's death Mandrake recruited Dennis Fuldauer on drums, and also Ken Phillips on lead guitar. One year later Mandrake disbanded.

In early 200,9 founding member of Black Death, Hicks and the remaining members of Mandrake (Fuldauer and Phillips) reformed Black Death with an all star lineup consisting of:

  • Greg Hicks (Black Death founder) on bass
  • Ken Phillips (former Angel Corpse) on lead guitar
  • Dennis Fuldauer (former Destructor, Escalation Anger, Drogheda) on drums
  • Sandy Krueger (former Sacred Few, Cerberus) on vocals
  • Mark Shea on guitar ("Metalhead")[11]

After Bullard's death, Hicks is the only remaining founding member that owns the copyright to the name, logo, songs and lyrics. "Black Death lives for you Phil", stated by Hicks proves that he continues the Black Death band and spirit in honor of his fallen brother.

Black Death's current line up performed as special guest on February 20, 2009, at the 88.7FM WJCU Radio Benefit Concert. The following April Black Death performed at the Dittigheim Indoor Open Air Festival in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 2010, the new line up of Black Death played their 25-year anniversary show in downtown Cleveland at Cleats Gateway. Just before the next appearance Black Death was on WJCU 88.7 John Carrol University Radio interviewed by Bill Peters on his "Metal on Metal" show Friday December 3.
On December 11, 2010, Black Death played the 2010 Iron Ingo Cleveland Indoor Air Festival at the Beachland Ballroom (hosted by Bill Peters and Auburn Records) to a standing room only crowd. The live response was overwhelming.
Currently, Black Death is awaiting the release of a 2 cd re-issue of their material (with a date yet to be determined by Auburn Records), and is working on new material for a new Cd release and a full live DVD video from the Cleats and Iron Ingo shows. Which will be exclusively available on their website. The band's new official web site:[5]

There is also a Black Death Fan page made by fans (not the band) [12]

In late 2010, past member guitarist/vocalist Siki Spacek formed a new project called "Siki Spacek's Resurrection" which is currently working on new material & is managed by Wayne "Woody" Mesker of Woodstock Entertainment in Cleveland, Ohio

Siki Spacek's Resurrection is: Siki Spacek Guitar/Vocals, Bobby Fusion Bass/Vocals, Titus Rosales Drums/Vocals

Discography

  • Cleveland Metal (1983 compilation)[13]
    • 1. Taken By Force
    • 2. Until We Rock
  • Black Death (1984)[1]
    • 1. Night of the Living Death
    • 2. The Hunger
    • 3. When Tears Run Red (From Love Lost Yesterday)
    • 4. Fear No Evil
    • 5. The Scream of the Iron Messiah
    • 6. Streetwalker
    • 7. Black Death

Members

Current

  • Sandy Kruger – vocals
  • Ken Phillips – guitar
  • Mark Shea – guitar
  • Greg Hicks – bass
  • Dennis Fuldauer – drums

Past

  • Siki Spacek – vocals, guitar
  • Phil Bullard – drums (died)
  • Clayborn Pinkins – bass (died)
  • Darrell Harris – bass
  • Ed Goodman – bass (died)
  • Greg Hicks - guitar

References

  • Greg Hicks – founding member and current Black Death copyright holder http://www.blackdeathband.com .
  • Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. HarperCollins. ISBN 0380811278

Notes

  1. 1 2 Rivadavia, Eduardo. "allmusic (((Black Death > Biography)))". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  2. ↑ Christe (2003), pg. 206, "In Cleveland, Ohio, a revered all-black power metal band crushed posers under the tongue-in-cheek name Black Death"
  3. ↑ Adams, Deanna R. (27 June 2018). "Rock 'n' Roll and the Cleveland Connection". Kent State University Press. Retrieved 27 June 2018 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Adams, Deanna, p 447
  5. 1 2 "mysite". mysite. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Auburn Records". www.auburnrecords.com. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "Black Death - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". www.metal-archives.com. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Mike MAndrake (mandrakeclevelandmetal) on Myspace". Myspace. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Mandrake". Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "Black Death Drummer Phil Bullard Passes Away".
  11. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/metalheadcleveland
  12. ↑ "Black Death - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Aesop (16 September 2008). "Cosmic Hearse: The New Wave Of Cleveland Heavy Metal". Retrieved 27 June 2018.
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