Napalm Death are a grindcore band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummerDanny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's career.
They are one of the founders of grindcore, also contributing heavily to the extreme spectrum of metal and punk. Many consider Repulsion the true founders and legends of grindcore, but this is debatable because technically Napalm Death formed before them.
Originally, on their first few demos, Napalm Death were a hardcore punk band going under different names such as Political Unrest, Civil Defence but most of the band names were relating to political/social things. However, they decided to stick with Napalm Death because it was "different" and best described how they felt. This new form of punk rock began to incorporate extreme metal influences, and eventually would evolve into grindcore.
For years the band was considered to be one of the most extreme bands ever. They were notorious during their grindcore days for selling out shows at the infamous Mermaid Club in Birmingham. They gave light to the club and created a huge metal/punk movement with their music in the UK. Such shows that were played at the Mermaid Club were with the likes of other grind and punk bands like Heresy, Extreme Noise Terror, Dirge, Ripcord and even had the chance to open for one of their main influences, Discharge.
Band Members[]
- Current members
- Mark "Barney" Greenway - Vocals (1989-1996, 1997-present)
- Mitch Harris - Guitars, Vocals (1989-present)
- Shane Embury - Bass (1987-present)
- Danny Herrera - Drums (1991-present)
- Former members
- Nicholas "Nik Napalm" Bullen - Bass (1981-1982, 1986-1987), Vocals (1981-1987)
- Miles "Rat" Ratledge - Drums (1981-1985)
- Simon "Si O" Ockenheinem - Guitars (1981)
- Finbar Quinn - Bass (1982-1985)
- Graham "Robbo" Robertson - Bass, Guitars (1982-1985)
- Daryl "Sid" Fideski - Guitars (1982)
- Pete "Peanut" Shaw - Bass (1985)
- Mick Harris - Drums (1985-1991)
- Justin Broadrick - Guitars (1985-1987)
- Jim Whitely - Bass (1987)
- Bill Steer - Guitars (1987-1989)
- Frank Healy - Guitars (1987)
- Lee Dorrian - Vocals (1987-1989)
- Jesse Pintado - Guitars (1989-2004)
- Phil Vane - Vocals (1996-1997)
- Touring members
- Rich Militia - Vocals
- Jesper Liveröd - Bass (2013)
Discography[]
- Scum (1987)
- From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988)
- Harmony Corruption (1990)
- Utopia Banished (1992)
- Fear, Emptiness, Despair (1994)
- Diatribes (1996)
- Inside the Torn Apart (1997)
- Words from the Exit Wound (1998)
- Enemy of the Music Business (2000)
- Order of the Leech (2002)
- The Code Is Red... Long Live the Code (2005)
- Smear Campaign (2006)
- Time Waits for No Slave (2009)
- Utilitarian (2012)
- Apex Predator - Easy Meat (2015)