REVOLUTIONARIES MONTH: Chuck Schuldiner, a life defined by Death

by Tyler Munro

October 28, 2011

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This month’s programming theme on AUX TV (the channel) is musical revolutionaries, a month-long salute to the legendary artists who changed the art form or the industry for the better. Some are well known, others less so, but all are equally important in the ebb and flow of the forever changing musical landscape. Today we look at the life (and death) of legendary Death frontman Chuck Schuldiner.

The argument can be made that Possessed’s Seven Churches is the origin of death metal’s true beginnings, but there’s a reason the genre isn’t named after them. Instead it takes its name from Death, and while every genre has its innovators—revolutionaries, if you will—few have a name as uniformly recognized as Chuck Schuldiner’s. Not only did he help pioneer the genre, but set about revolutionizing it repeatedly throughout the band’s twenty-plus year reign.

What made Death such a success was the sense that they were a band playing for the future. Their sound was largely predicated on refinements. While Scream Bloody Gore introduced the world to what later became known as death metal, Leprosy perfected the visceral, low-end aggression that defined Death’s early years. With only one truly transitory album under their belt—1991′s Spiritual Healing—Death not only defined a genre: they redefined it. A bunch of times. They may never have had the crossover appeal of Cannibal Corpse because, hey, not every band can cameo in Ace Ventura, but they nonetheless carry the distinction of being the best selling death metal band worldwide.

For the sake of argument, Death was Chuck Schuldiner. Unfortunately, that became all to true in his final days. Schuldiner was an integral figure in the extreme metal scene, known as much rewriting the rules of the genre as much as for his seemingly effortless ability and creativity as a guitarist. Though he will always be known as both the godfather and leader of death metal, the tragic circumstances surrounding his untimely death in 2001 play a larger part than we’d like in his mythologising. Of course it makes sense: his first guitar was a gift given to him in the hopes of soothing his sorrows after his brother died when Chuck was just 9.

To some the story of Schuldiner’s death (as opposed to Schuldiner’s Death) is well known, but to all it’s a damning indictment the United States hospital system. In 1999, on his 32nd birthday, Schuldiner was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, one which was at first treated with radiation therapy but later required expensive, experimental surgery. That’s where the tragedy really kicks in: Schuldiner couldn’t afford it. While Death has sold over 2 million records worldwide, spread those sales throughout a nearly 30 year career and across the band’s revolving door line-up (of legendary musicians like Cynic’s Paul Masvidal, Dark Angel’s Gene Hoglan and Autopsy’s Steve DiGiorgio among them) and it’s there’s not nearly as much money there as you’d think. Chuck needed cash, badly. While his team of specialists were willing to waive their fees, the hospital was still asking for nearly a hundred grand to perform the surgery. Their demands of an initial deposit seemed to lower as the media picked up on the situation, but not before Schuldiner’s family was allegedly coaxed into agreeing on a contract that would give the hospital a portion of Death’s royalties for the remainder of Chuck’s life. That part was never confirmed, but here’s what was: Chuck had the surgery. Eventually. Unfortunately, two years later he needed another one. This time he was denied outright: he had insurance, but that was nullified when it was discovered he had a tumour when it was granted. Common sense would say, “hey, insurers, maybe check that beforehand,” but hey, who am I to say, right?

Long story short, Chuck didn’t make it this time. Musicians rallied in support when they realized what was happening, and everyone from fellow death metal vets and heavy metal outsiders (Dave Grohl was particularly supportive) tried to help. Unfortunately Chuck was severely weakened by both his illness and the medication required to keep him going, an irony not unlike what befalls the man who was, by all accounts one of the most radiantly likeable guys in a genre repudiated by its supposed endorsements of violence and hatred. But, then, that’s what made Chuck special; that and his insurmountable talent. At a time when death metal was largely defined by violent imagery, satanic lyrics and other things that make Tipper Gore sad, Death (and, in fairness, many of their peers in the remarkable Florida scene) is remembered for their philosophical bend. Certainly their early works fell victim to some of death metal’s pitfalls, but when other bands were releasing albums whose selling points were gruesome cover art and silly Satanic gimmicks, Death’s themes were becoming increasingly more thought provoking. While many of his contemporaries made appearances as hair-whipping meatheads, Chuck caused a stir for being that guy who wore cat shirts and smiled profusely. Not that it affected their music: while the full-on progressive tendencies of Death’s last album (1998′s The Sound of Perseverance) irked some fans, their sound remained wholly and unequivocally challenging and, in spite of what elitist brutalists will tell you, remarkably heavy.

On October 22nd Death’s Human celebrated its 20th anniversary and, just over two months later, we’ll mourn Schuldiner on the tenth anniversary of his death.

Listen to the evolution of Death, through the years, below.

“Zombie Ritual” off Scream Bloody Gore 1987

“Pull the Plug” off Leprosy, 1988

“Suicide Machine”” off Human, 1991

“Spiritual Healing” off Spiritual Healing, 1990

“The Philosopher” off Individual Thought Patterns, 1993

“Crystal Mountain” off Symbolic, 1995

“Scavenger of Human Sorrow” off The Sound Of Perseverance, 1998

Tags: Music, News, Chuck Schuldiner, Death Metal

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