Dethtoll was an early American death/thrash metal band based in Toledo, Ohio. The band was formed in 1986 on New Year’s Day by Todd Evans and Joe D. Evans got his first guitar as a high school graduation present. According to Evans, Joe D had been screaming, yelling, and singing his entire life. Their first song, according to Evans, was written in Joe D’s bedroom with Evans on guitar and Joe D singing through a vacuum cleaner tube. In 1986 Dethtoll created their first recordings, an untitled five song demo tape. At this time the band consisted of Todd Evans (guitar), Joe D (vocals), John Gingrich (drums), and Howard Kolb (bass). The Dethtoll sound, according to Evans, was influenced by various bands including Slayer, Exodus, D.R.I, Voivod, Black Flag, Die Kruezen, Dark Angel, Dr. Know, The Mentors, and GWAR.
Continue reading “Dethtoll (Band)”Category: Musicians
Local Musician: Scott Shriner (Weezer)
A conversation with Weezer bassist (and Toledo native), Scott Shriner
“Recently, while holed up in a Phoenix hotel room, the Toledo native discussed the basics of rock stardom with the Toledo City Paper…”
Art Tatum Boyhood Home, 1123 City Park Avenue.
Art Tatum Boyhood Home, 1123 City Park Avenue along the Dorr Street Corridor in the Junction Neighborhood. Built in 1905. In 2021 grant money will be used to “start revitalizing the home into the Art Tatum Zone, a museum for children and families that will provide a multi-sensory learning experience about the musician and the neighborhood.”
“Born in Toledo in 1920, Art Tatum was, and is, the giant of jazz piano. Count Basie called him the eighth wonder of the world. Charlie Parker once said, “I wish I could play like Tatum’s right hand!” Dave Brubeck once said, “I don’t think there’s any more chance of another Tatum turning up than another Mozart.”
Local Musician: Tom Scholz (Boston)
Born in Toledo, Scholz grew up on Edgehill Road in Ottawa Hills and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School. Before his musical career, Scholz received both a bachelor’s degree (1969) and a master’s degree (1970) in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked for Polaroid Corporation as a senior product design engineer. Scholz had a keen interest in music and began recording demos in his home studio while working at Polaroid. He spent six years unsuccessfully submitting demos to record companies. Eventually the demos attracted the interest of Epic Records, who signed Scholz and singer Brad Delp to a recording contract. Most of the guitar, bass, and keyboards on Boston’s debut album were performed by Scholz in his home studio. Boston’s first album is filled with hits, including, More Than A Feeling. The track took almost five years to complete. Scholz noted the song was about a “fantasy event. But it’s one that almost everybody can identify with, of somebody losing somebody that was important to them, and music taking them back there.” Crafted in Scholz’s basement, the song was the bands first single and immediately went gold after it’s release. Scholz also started his own line of guitar effects under the name “Rockman.” Among the many Rockman effects available, one could reproduce the unique “Boston” guitar sound.
Shyster (Band)
Release Date 1984. Focus Records. Info from the late Wilbur Strutt on YouTube regarding the song Bernadeane: “I was the leader and co-founder of Shyster in the 80s. Also the lead singer/co-songwriter of this song. Bob Brug: Bass Player, Jimi Goare: Guitarist, Kevin Nevious: Keyboards, Denny Gorsuch: Drums. Recorded at Beachwood Studios near Cleveland, Ohio. Hope you like it. Thanks to Bruce Huffman Guitars-Vocals, Ken Savage, Keyboards, Technician and a few other players as well. Carl Meduri, Producer.”
