Heathen

Heathen is a North American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area California, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco. They have released two critically acclaimed albums, Breaking the Silence (1987) and Victims of Deception (1991). Heathen was formed in 1984 by two friends, guitarist Lee Altus (who was a native of Russia) and drummer Carl Sacco (formerly of Metal Church). The pair later recruited lead vocalist Sam ... more

Heathen is a North American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area California, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco. They have released two critically acclaimed albums, Breaking the Silence (1987) and Victims of Deception (1991). Heathen was formed in 1984 by two friends, guitarist Lee Altus (who was a native of Russia) and drummer Carl Sacco (formerly of Metal Church). The pair later recruited lead vocalist Sam Kress and second guitarist Jim Sanguinetti. The band did not have a bass player in their early years, and this would carry on later when the band had notorious amounts of trouble finding a permanent bass player. This first lineup only played one gig in 1985. Shortly after this first gig Sam Kress and Jim Sanguinetti (the latter went on to form the funk-thrash combo Mordred) left the group and were replaced by new vocalist David Godfrey (formerly of Blind Illusion) and new guitarist Doug Piercy (formerly of Anvil Chorus and Control). The bands... less