The Best Death Live Performances
Featured image credit: DeathinHD
We’re how many months into the pandemic. Is anyone else missing live shows like crazy? I know I am! That’s why I’ve been watching live streams shows and watching band performances on YouTube. I’ve been watching Death performances for years — not just because they’re my favorite band but because I’ve never seen them live before (and never did).
With so many Death performances online, I decided to break down my favorite Death live performances. All of these performances are on YouTube and I’ll include the videos.
4. Combat Tour II
Combat Tour II was a tour of bands signed to Combat Records. The whole tour featured Faith or Fear, Forbidden, Death, Dark Angel, and Raven. This show was recorded at the Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia on October 23, 1988.
Before we start talking about Death’s performance, let’s first talk about how 80s this video is. Many members in the crowd had typical poofy 80s hair, the graphics and editing were cheesy, and just the overall style was very 80s.
While all bands kicked ass, Death killed it! This was during the Leprosy era, so the lineup is Chuck Schuldiner, Rick Rozz, Terry Butler, and Bill Andrews.
This performance had the craziest crowd. Everyone was moshing, crowd surfing, and the crowd lost their shit the minute the performance started.
3. Live in Montreal
This was during the Symbolic tour. The show was at Le Spectrum on June 22, 1995. Since this is the Symbolic era, the lineup was Chuck, Gene Hoglan, Bobby Koelble, and Brian Benson was filling in on bass. I also have the live album of this performance and I listen to it frequently!
As we all know, this album features some of the best musicians in Death’s history. Bobby’s guitarwork is ridiculous and I have no idea how he can perform that material live. But Gene steals the show. He’s an innovative drummer and his drumming during this performance in particular is powerful.
My boyfriend was at this show and met Chuck and Gene. Chuck signed his ticket. My boyfriend said Chuck was really cool!
The only thing about this video isn’t the best quality. The camera is shaking and the picture isn’t clear. I think a member of the crowd shot this on a consumer-grade camera for the time. But the sound quality is actually decent so it’s still worth a watch!
2. Dynamo Open Air
This performance takes place at Dynamo Open Air in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The performance takes place in 1998, sadly only a few years before Chuck died. It was during the Sound of Perseverance era so you had Chuck, Richard Christy, Shannon Hamm, and Scott Clendenin (RIP, as well).
It’s probably one of the most famous Death live performances and just about everyone has seen it, but it still deserves a mention. I’ve personally seen it many times and it never gets old. I love how there’s a good mix of all material from Death’s discography. I really hate it when a band only plays new material when they have an extensive discography. If I watched Death live during that time, I would probably have been satisfied in that regard. I also like how Chuck used high-pitched growls on the older material rather than the mid-range graveling vocals he used on the albums. It definitely gave a new spin on that material.
Production is also phenomenal and the sound quality is amazing. Definitely one of the performances where you really feel like you’re at the show.
1. Live in LA
Okay, this performance may or may not be number one because Chuck is shirtless (it totally is).
Seriously, some background on this performance. This is also the Sound of Perseverance era and has the same lineup as Dynamo Festival. It’s also the same year as the Dynamo Festival. The footage was taken at the Whiskey A Go Go. The footage is also high-quality, with excellent clarity and the sound quality is superb.
Like every Death performance, every song is performed perfectly. But Richard Christy stole the show. His drums sound powerful in both performances. And overall Christy is one of the more underrated Death drummers. He really took Sound of Perseverance to the next level.
I especially like Chuck’s mannerisms in this performance. Chuck always have great stage presence, but something about this performance stands out (it could just be the shirtless thing). But as always, he played perfectly. His vocals and solos sounded amazing. Makes me wish I was in the crowd.
Want to read some more of my Death blogs? Check out the most underrated Death songs!
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great selection of live footage, love to see that chuck with a couple of his best musicians during different periods that a treasure!
Franck