Deceased

Biography

Deceased (often stylized as DECEASED...) is an American death/thrash metal band from Virginia. In 1990, they were the first band to sign with Relapse Records, and released four albums and a number of EPs before parting ways with the label in 2003. Their sound centers around themes of horror, with lyrics barked and sometimes narrated by vocalist and founder King Fowley.

History

King Fowley and guitarist Doug Souther started the band in 1985 in Arlington, Virginia with a goal to "out-thrash Slayer". They experimented with a number of band names, formations and styles before settling on the Deceased name and first real lineup in 1986 consisting of Fowley on drums and vocals, Mark Adams joining Souther on guitar, and bassist Rob Sterzel. Tragedy struck the group on March 3, 1988, when Sterzel and several friends, including the brother of guitarist Doug Souther, were killed in a hit-and-run accident. Les Snyder became the bassist later that year. Souther quit and was replaced by Mike Smith in 1991. The lineup of King Fowley, Mike Smith, Mark Adams, and Les Snyder lasted over a decade and recorded some of the group's most celebrated works. Changes began to reshape the band in 2003, when Dave "Scarface" Castillo stepped in as drummer, enabling Fowley to be frontman and vocalist. Mark Adams left in 2007 and was replaced by Shane Fuegel. Mike Smith retired from live performances in 2006, but remains a key songwriter and studio guitarist. Les Snyder relocated to Texas in 2009 and usually performs live for shows close to home.
Since leaving Relapse, Deceased have continuously released new material, including As the Weird Travel On (Thrash Corner Records) in 2005, an independent vinyl-only live album entitled Blood Orgy in College Park – Stalking the Airwaves in 2010, and the more recent LP Surreal Overdose in 2011 on their own Shrieks From the Hearse label in conjunction with PATAC Records. The November 2012 issue of Decibel contained a flexi-disc of an exclusive new track "The Luck of the Corpse". A split 12" with the band Conceived By Hate, titled "The Figure of Uneasiness", was released in the fall of 2014 on El Salvador's Morbid Skull label, featuring four live-in-the-studio recordings with the current live lineup. A new album, entitled Ghostly White, was released in 2018 through Hells Headbangers Records. Drummer David "Scarface" Castillo sadly drowned in November 2018. The band knew Dave would want them to carry on and found a drummer in friend Amos Rifkin and played live gigs all of 2019 as well as releasing a tribute live recording of one of Dave's last shows with the band called 'Death Metal from the Dave" to honor him. In June 2020 they released Rotten to the Core Part 2 [the Nightmare Continues] an all covers release of old punk/hardcore songs on Malt Soda Records. 2021 saw the band release an all thrash cover songs record called Thrash Times at Ridgemont High on Hells Headbangers Records in October. They released their most recent album, Children of the Morgue, on August 30, 2024.

Members

Current members
Kingsley "King" Fowley – vocals (1985–present), drums (1985–2003, 2008–2012)
Mike Smith – guitar (1990–present)
Shane Fuegel – guitar (2007–present)
Les Snyder – bass (1988–present)
Amos Rifkin – drums (2018–present)
Former members
Mark Adams – guitar (1985–2007)
Doug Souther – guitar (1985–1990)
Rob Sterzel – bass (1985–1988; died 1988)
David Castillo – drums (2003–2008, 2012–2018; died 2018)