DeathRiders 2011 Bio
Neil Turbin - Vocals, Mike Guerrero - Guitar, Dave Chedrick - Drums,
Melanie Sisneros - Bass
DeathRiders, the fast and furious California metallers featuring Neil
Turbin, the first powerhouse vocalist of Thrash (Thrash Metal Big Four
- Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth) original voice and lead singer
of east coast thrash pioneers Anthrax (from September 1982 to August
1984). Neil was the first permanent vocalist of Anthrax and helped
pioneer Thrash Metal on their groundbreaking debut album Fistful of
Metal and US Attack Tour ’84 with (NWOBHM band) Raven and Metallica.
Turbin a key songwriter and major contributor wrote all the lyrics and
provided the main concepts to such well known metal anthems such as:
as "Metal Thrashing Mad", "Armed and Dangerous", "Deathrider" and
"Gung Ho", which were on Anthrax's first three releases and many
subsequent live and greatest hits albums. Anthrax rose to # 8 on the
British charts with the release of Fistful of Metal. Neil Turbin
vocals and song "Metal Thrashing Mad" is featured in the "Brutal
Legend" soundtrack and "The Big 4" dvd/cd.
DeathRiders Stay Screamin' 2011 European Tour returns to Europe with a
vengeance for dates in Neu Wulmstorf, Germany at Metal Bash
Leeuwarden, Netherlands at Highway to Dokkem Open Air at Poppodium
Romein and Vienna, Austria, Osnabruck, Germany, Prague, Czech
Republic, Berlin, Germany and other cities to be announced.
DeathRiders performed 26 shows on DeathRiders California Screamin'
2010 Tour including 8 shows at the world famous Whisky a Go-Go.
DeathRiders celebrated 25 years of "Fistful Of Metal" on their
extremely successful back to back Double Vengeance 2009 European Tour
(spring & summer : Rocktower Festival - Headbanger's Open Air and
Nightmare Over St. Pauli Festival), and Japan/Southwest US (including
Rocklahoma) in 2008. DEATHRIDERS have played festivals such as Body
Art Expo 2009 Pomona Fairplex, Sweden Rock Festival 2006, Monterrey
Metal Fest 2005, Thrash Against Cancer 2005, LA Gates Of Metal 2004
and many others.
The band DEATHRIDERS are named after one of Turbin's songs and were
formed in 2003 in support of his solo album "Threatcon Delta".
DEATHRIDERS have been touring in support of their forthcoming debut
album "Back With A Vengeance" which is slated for release in late
2011/early 2012. The album is currently being recorded in Los Angeles,
Sweden and mixed in Phoenix. DEATHRIDERS is currently on it's STAY
SCREAMIN' 2011 TOUR.
“Thrash is a style of heavy metal music that does stay true to certain
fundamentals like guitar chugging and rhythmic percussive double bass
drumming. It has also been perceived as an “all out play as fast as
you can” style of metal. I believe it is more Thrash to have a singer
who can belt it out with the best of them and combine that with
driving, intense powerful music. There is no rule that says Thrash
vocals have to be one-dimensional. I for one have my own metal
thrashing mad style!!!!”
- Neil Turbin -
DEATH RIDERS singer Neil Turbin is the first powerhouse vocalist of Thrash Metal and original lead singer of Anthrax and the first vocalist on their groundbreaking
debut album "Fistful of Metal". "Fistful Of Metal" along with Metallica "Kill Em All" and Slayer "Haunting The Chapel" signaled
the birth of "Thrash Metal". One of the originators of "Thrash Metal", Turbin penned such songs as
"Metal Thrashing Mad", "Armed and Dangerous", "Deathrider" and "Gung Ho" which were on Anthrax's first 3 releases and many subsequent
live and greatest hits albums. Anthrax rose to #8 on the British charts with the release of "Fistful Of Metal" and The band "DEATHRIDERS" is named
after one of Turbin's songs and was formed in 2003 to support Turbin's solo album "Threatcon Delta". DEATHRIDERS have been touring in Japan and the US in 2008 and twice in Europe in 2009 in support of their debut album "Back With A Vengeance"
which is slated for release in 2010.
Mike Guerrero is endorsed by tokyo sound co./guyatone/DEAN Guitars/Manarick Guitars, Mike has been featured in guitar magazines around the world and a favorite in Japan,
China, Germany and other countries. Mikes live performances include the bands, Tapping Ninja and The Mike Guerrero Project,
as well as guitar clinics around the world. People call me "The Tapping Ninja" or "Ninja," I acquired the nickname from my friend and
former guitar instructor, Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck) for Mikes guitar abilities. my latest cd is produced /engineered
by M.A.B I worked with Carmine Appice , Michael Schenker , Craig Goldy ( Dio) carlos cavazo, uli roth, and , Ann Boleyn (Hellion).
Mike also took guitar lessons from Michael Schenker , michael angelo, uli roth,and Craig Goldy. Michael shenker wrote a song with me
for my CD, Carmine and Craig played on the CD, with Craig producing it.
Melanie Sisneros originally hails from Albuquerque, NM, but it wasn’t until she moved out to California for college that she spent her book money for a bass guitar. She has been playing actively in the music scene ever since. Citing Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Geezer Butler, Geddy Lee, and Bob Daisley as some of her influences, Mel is a self-taught and a fan of melodic metal bass. She has contributed to several recordings including full-length international releases, compilation CDs, and demos. She has toured in North America, Europe and Asia as well playing high profile international festivals, shows and events. When she’s not playing with Deathriders, Mel can be seen on stage with cover/tribute bands of her favorite artists. Her current bass arsenal consists of SWR amplification and Spector basses.
For more info, see http://mel.raven-mad.com/
Dave Chedrick's drumming began at a very young age. Ever since being able to hold anything that looked like a drum stick, there was always something near by which could be used for a drum. My earliest influence I must admit was a kid from accross the steet named Leeroy Knowles. Leeroy was a few years older then me and had been drumming since I can remember. At age 9 I finally talked my parents into letting me have a drum set. I can still hear my father saying "play properly, none of this hippie shit." ...right. Soon to follow this was the rather foul sound of the neighborhood kids and I attempting to begin our careers as big time rock-n-roll stars. Our rehearsal studio was my parent's basement. To this day it remains a mystery how my parents put up with it.
I was very much into AC/DC around this time. For hours I would follow along to the recordings and I had my rehearsal studio (the basement) as closely resembeling a live stage set up as I could get it. When M-tv played Saturday night concerts at midnight (when M-tv stood for music television) I saw Tommy Aldridge with Ozzy. Tommy was using 2 bass drum. 2 BASS DRUMS!!! Seeing this for the first time at age 12 I was in ecstatic. The very next day I buged my parents to no end for a second bass drum.
"Red hot" by Motley Crue was the big song to play on double bass at the time. After months of effort I was able to struggle my way form start to finish. After this nothing could ever be faster for the feet...That's what I thought untill I heard "ACCEPT" with there song "fast as a shark" Blahhhh... I'll need to work up to that one. On a college raido station I heard "creeping death" by Metallica. Being very impressed by the song I bought the album "Ride the Lightning." The first song was called "fight fire with fire." Looks like I have a long way to go. I then realized there was no end in sight for fast double bass. I was always influenced by the speed so I spent a great deal of time practicing the double bass. Later on I was and still am influenced drummers such as: Dave Lombardo, Gene Hoglan, Pete Sandoval, and the of course the insane Flo Mounier. Just to name a few. Today I am happy to be studying with (speaking of fast and insane) number 1 influence and good friend Virgil Donati. Not only is he beyond fast, but better control with his feet then most people have with there hands.
At age 13 I did my first live show. It was then I discovered I loved playing my drums live and I would continue to so for the rest of my life. It was also then I learned that the sound is much different on stage then at a rehearsal studio. I could not hear the other instruments nor the vocals like I was use to at the time. For some reason or another a proper monitor mix was out of the question. 21 years since then not much has changed, but that is another story.
At age 18 I experienced the tragic death of my guitarist and best friend Curt Kovalcin. Things would never be the same but I continued to keep going. At age 25 I was under the guidence of a drummer named Carl Canedy. Carl tought me a lot about recording. Mostly I am thankful for him teaching me to play drums following a click track. At first it was very hard and intimidating but the end results are priceless (like mastercard). My advice to any drummer (or any musician) is to learn how to use a click track, you won't regret it.
Even more intimidating then the click track, a short time after moving to California I found myself in San Francisco auditioning for SLAYER! Let me say from experience there is nothing like having Tom Araya stare a hole in you!
Today I am also fortunate to be learning from world champion snare drummer and also good friend, Rob Carson. Rob, who has also tought Virgil Donati, and Terry Bozzio has shown me things I never thought possible.
We shall see what the future brings. I am forever thankful for the experiences I have had, especially for my drumming. Life is good, never take it for granted.