Annihilator (band)
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Annihilator | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Heavy metal, thrash metal, speed metal, progressive metal, groove metal |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | Roadrunner, Epic, Attic, Hypnotic, CMC International, Music for Nations, Metal-Is, SPV, AFM, Marquee Records |
| Members | Jeff Waters Dave Padden |
| Past members | Former members |
| Website | www |
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band founded in 1984 by vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters and vocalist John Bates. They are the highest selling heavy metal group, from Canada, in Canadian history, having sold more than 3 million albums worldwide,[1] although most of their sales have been generated outside of the band's home country. Their first 2 studio albums, Alice in Hell and Never, Neverland, are considered to be influential Canadian heavy metal records.[by whom?]
Since its inception, Annihilator has released fourteen studio albums and has featured legendary guitarist/songwriter/engineer/producer Jeff Waters as the only consistent member. Waters had originally started the band with the intention of keeping it a "band" but found out quickly that he was finding himself playing and writing all the instrumental parts, lyrics and melody lines. After the band's debut release, he decided to hire a singer and drummer to record the records with him and then often hiring different musicians for the live touring end, confusing quite a few fans in the early years.
History
Annihilator was formed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada by Jeff Waters and singer John Bates. in 1984. He wrote and recorded the song "Annihilator" (not to be confused with the song of the same name released on the 1994 album, King of the Kill) with singer John Bates. This original version of "Annihilator" was released on the special edition of the 2005 album Schizo Deluxe.
Waters and Bates then recruited drummer Paul Malek and bassist Dave Scott. This lineup lasted a year, producing a demo titled "Welcome To Your Death" during their time together. The demo received worldwide recognition and became highly sought after. After John Bates and Dave Scott left the band before its release, citing "artistic differences" and "personality conflicts", Jeff Waters and drummer Paul Malek recorded another successful demo titled "Phantasmagoria" in 1986. This was said to be the third most-traded metal cassette tape in the 1980s, behind Metallica and Megadeth's demo tapes. Some songs written at this time, by Jeff Waters and John Bates, ended up on Annihilator's first two official studio albums (Alice In Hell and Never, Neverland).
A third demo was recorded by Waters and Malek in 1987 and was sent only to labels. It included more songs that would end up on the first two Annihilator studio albums. Waters relocated to Vancouver in 1987, where he assembled an entire line-up, including drummer Ray Hartmann and former D.O.A. bassist Randy Rampage, on vocals. Between 1987 and 1989, Waters was in and out of a recording studio recording guitar and bass tracks and producing what would become the band’s debut album. Once the album was finished, he hired bassist Wayne Darley and guitarist Dave Davis.
The band gained more recognition within the metal community after releasing their debut album Alice in Hell, in 1989. Annihilator embarked on their first world tour, playing with Onslaught in Europe and with Testament in the USA and Canada, after which singer Randy Rampage says he quit the band to retain his seniority at a job on the shipping docks in North Vancouver.
Jeff Waters found ex-Omen singer Coburn Pharr and the band released their second album, Never, Neverland, in 1990. The album’s sales surpassed Alice In Hell. After tours with Judas Priest, Pantera and headline tours around the world. The next cd would feature Aaron Randall on vocals with Waters playing most all instruments again. This cd had 3 drummers playing on it, most notably current Dream Theater drummer Mike Mangini on it. Mangini would go on to record more cds with ANNIHILATOR over time ("All For You" and "Metal"). The band was signed to Sony USA by this point.
Bassist Wayne Darley had to leave the band in August 1993 as he was unable to enter Japan, where the band was touring in support of the album. Annihilator left Roadrunner Records that year.
Jeff Waters decided to change things up again (he later cites Annihilator's large fan base and cd sales continuing as a result of changing things up) and released one off the band's biggest and most critically-acclaimed cd's King of the Kill in 1994. This album was the first to feature Waters as lead vocalist; he also played the usual all-guitars/bass, as well. Drums were done using an Alesis SR 16 drum machine with Randy Black recording cymbals on top of the tracks. Cam Dixon later joined on as touring bassist for the ensuing, highly-successful tour with Dave Scott Davis returning as touring guitarist. In 1996, the bands next cd "Refresh The Demon" was released and Lou Bujdoso joined as touring bassist along with Dave Davis again. Jeff Waters continued performing lead vocals until 1997's REMAINS.
1997-1998 gave Waters a divorce and subsequent custody battle over his then-2 year old son (he was eventually granted sole custody over the mother, a rarity in the court system), Waters resumed working on a new cd. Waters decided to reunite the Alice in Hell line-up to record another album. All members apart from Wayne Darley, who had health problems, agreed to reunite. Bassist Russ Bergquist joined the band as bassist. This lineup released Criteria for a Black Widow and toured successfully. However, Rampage was fired following the tour for his erratic behaviour. Joe Comeau replaced him on vocals, while Curran Murphy replaced Davis on guitar and Randy Black rejoined on drums.
During the early 2000s, Annihilator released the albums Carnival Diablos (2001) and Waking the Fury (2002). After considerable success, the band’s lineup once again was intentionally shuffled by Waters, still hell-bent to change things up "to continue being totally into it", said Waters. In 2003 he recruited Dave Padden as vocalist, while Waters recruited touring bassists and drummers. Annihilator's first two albums in this band format were All for You (2004) and Schizo Deluxe (2005); the latter being dubbed by Waters as the band's most-underrated offering.
In 2007, Annihilator released their 12 studio album Metal. It features 12 well-known guest performers, such as Corey Beaulieu (Trivium), Willie Adler (Lamb Of God) and Jeff Loomis (Nevermore). The band’s self-titled thirteenth album was released in 2010.
Annihilator returned to Canada for two live shows; the first time the band has played live in North America since 1993. On July 10, 2011, Annihilator headlined the Quebec City Imperial Theatre to a sold-out crowd. Annihilator played the main stage (along with KISS and Motorhead) on July 24, 2011 at Montreal's Heavy MTL Festival. The band, as always continued to tour the world with sold out shows in South America and Europe...
Annihilator released their fourteenth studio album entitled Feast on 23 August 2013.[1]
Headline tours, festivals, etc... the band was also honored to open the mighty WACKEN Festival in Germany, with at least 75,000 people watching... ANNIHILATOR, DEEP PURPLE and RAMMSTEIN were the only 3 bands invited.
In the summer of 2014, Oscar Rangel replaced Al Campuzano, their bassist since 2010. The band played most of the summer of 2014 in Europe, playing the big metal festivals like Swedenrock, Hellfest, Graspop and many more. October took ANNIHILATOR to Mexico City where they played the famed Hell and Heaven Festival with Overkill before them, then Rob Zombie, Korn, Limp Biscuit & KISS. ANNIHILATOR are currently working on their 15th studio cd and will also play the famed 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise in January 2015.
Discography
- Alice in Hell (1989)
- Never, Neverland (1990)
- Set the World on Fire (1993)
- King of the Kill (1994)
- Refresh the Demon (1996)
- Remains (1997)
- Criteria for a Black Widow (1999)
- Carnival Diablos (2001)
- Waking the Fury (2002)
- All for You (2004)
- Schizo Deluxe (2005)
- Metal (2007)
- Annihilator (2010)
- Feast (2013)
Members
Current members
- Jeff Waters – guitar, vocals, bass (1984–present)
- Dave Padden – vocals, guitar (2003–present)
- Current live members
- Oscar Rangel – bass (2014–Present)
- Mike Harshaw – drums (2012–Present)
Former
- Vocalists
- John Bates – (1984–1985)
- Dennis Dubeau – (1987–1989)
- Randy Rampage – (1989, 1998–2000)
- Coburn Pharr – (1990–1992)
- Aaron Randall – (1992–1994)
- Joe Comeau – (2000–2003)
- Guitarists
- Dave Davis – (1989–1991, 1993–2001) (bass)
- Neil Goldberg – (1992–1993)
- Curran Murphy – (2002–2005)
- Bassists
- Dave Scott – (1984–1985)
- Wayne Darley – (1989–1993)
- Cam Dixon – (1994–1995)
- Lou Bujdoso – (1995–1997)
- Russell Bergquist – (1999–2003, 2005–2007)
- Sandor de Bretan – (2004)
- Brian Daemon – (2007)
- Alberto "Al" Campuzano – bass (2010–2014)
- Drummers
- Paul Malek – (1984–1985, 1986)
- Richard Death – (1985)
- Ray Hartmann – (1987–1992, 1999–2001)
- Mike Mangini – (1993, 2004–2005, 2007)
- Randy Black – (1993–1996, 2002–2003)
- Dave Machander – (1996)
- Rob Falzano – (2004)
- Tony Chappelle – (2005)
- Alex Landenburg – (2007)
- Carlos Cantatore - (2010)
- Former touring members
- Dave Sheldon – bass (2007-2008)
- Ryan Ahoff – drums (2007-2008)
- Carlos Cantatore - (2010)
- Flo Mournier – drums (2011)
Timeline
See also
References
External links
