Biography
1. Slaughter are an American hard rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1988. The group was founded by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum, both of whom had previously played together in Vinnie Vincent Invasion. With the addition of guitarist Tim Kelly and drummer Blas Elias, the band quickly gained recognition for their energetic live shows, memorable hooks, and melodic guitar work. After Tim Kelly tragically passed away in a car accident in 1998, Jeff Blando joined the band as lead guitarist and has remained a core member ever since.
Rooted in the hard rock and heavy metal sound of the 1980s, Slaughter developed an aggressive yet melodic style. They have released five studio albums, two live albums, and one compilation to date. Their 1990 debut, Stick It to Ya, sold over two million copies worldwide and was certified double platinum, thanks to hit singles like “Up All Night” and “Fly to the Angels.” Its follow-up, The Wild Life, earned gold certification with over 500,000 units sold.
In addition to commercial success, the band received critical praise, including winning the 1991 American Music Award for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist, surpassing other major acts of the era.
Despite the shifts in the music landscape during the 1990s, Slaughter has remained active, continuing to tour and release new material. They’ve become a fixture on the rock and metal festival circuit, performing at events such as the Monsters of Rock Cruise, M3 Rock Festival, and Rocklahoma. With numerous headline shows both in the U.S. and internationally, their high-energy performances and strong fan connection have helped sustain their popularity for over 30 years.
2. Slaughter was an influential Canadian thrash metal band formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by Dave Hewson (vocals/guitar), Terry Sadler (bass/vocals), and Ron Sumners (drums). Emerging during the formative years of extreme metal, the group became one of Canada’s earliest bands to blend hardcore punk aggression with primitive thrash and early death metal elements, gaining a cult following through underground tape trading networks.
Originally forming under the name Slaughterhouse in August 1984, the band soon shortened its name to Slaughter. Their earliest recordings circulated heavily in the underground metal tape-trading scene, helping establish their reputation for raw, aggressive sound and extreme themes. In early 1986, future death metal pioneer Chuck Schuldiner of Death briefly joined the band on guitar during a short stay in Toronto before returning to continue developing his own group.
Slaughter recorded their debut full-length album, Strappado, in 1986, though it was officially released in 1987 through Diabolic Force and Fringe Product. The album, featuring the trio of Hewson, Sadler, and Sumners, became an underground classic noted for its primitive, aggressive thrash sound and early death metal characteristics. During this period, the band performed alongside emerging extreme metal acts such as Celtic Frost, Voivod, Kreator, and Exodus, further cementing their status in the early extreme metal underground. A follow-up album titled Paranormal was recorded between 1988 and 1990, but internal issues and frustration with the music industry led to the band’s breakup before its release.
Following Slaughter’s breakup in 1990, Hewson formed a new band called Strappado with Brian Lourie, Bobby Sadzak, and Mike Dalton. The project recorded demos, the Not Dead Yet EP and the album Fatal Judgment before disbanding in the mid-1990s. In 1994, former members briefly reunited to record a cover of “Dethroned Emperor” for a Celtic Frost tribute album, but the reunion was short-lived. Hewson and Sadzak later formed the industrial metal project Inner Thought, but this group eventually dissolved as well.
Interest in Slaughter revived in the early 2000s, leading to remastered releases of Strappado, the Surrender or Die demo, and the previously shelved Paranormal material through Nuclear Blast. A compilation titled Not Dead Yet/Paranormal followed in 2001, compiling demos, live recordings, and unreleased material. In October 2008, former drummer Brian Lourie died of a heart attack.
Although largely inactive afterward, archival releases continued, including a 2011 reissue of Not Dead Yet and Meatcleaver in 2013. Many of the bands albums, including the original mix and reissue of Strappado, Not Dead Yet, Live at the Starwood, and Surrender or Die, found their way onto streaming services in 2026. This was not the first time Slaughter's music was added to streaming platforms, but marks the first time in many years that it has been widely available. Previously, only the compilation album Nocturnal Hell, Surrender or Die was available.
3. Slaughter was a French heavy metal band, formed in April 1983. Their '86 demo 'Excalibur' was reissued as a 12" by Fils du Metal in the spring of 2010.
4. Slaughter was a Brazilian thrash metal band active in the late 80s.
5. Slaughter was a Japanese heavy metal band active in the late 80s.
6. Slaughter was a Polish death/thrash metal band active in the late 80s.
Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. Feel free to contribute!
All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
