Trey Azagthoth Biography
Trey Azagthoth entered the world of the flesh in
1965. He was born, and raised in Tampa Florida, the very city in which
now is the Mecca of Death Metal. Trey all his life has had a fascination
with the occult, and that which is demonic and evil. Trey remembers on
holiday family vacations, they'd go to his cousins house, and he was
really into the occult, he had jars all around his room full of animal
organs, and shelves of satanic books..... Trey was intrigued. He never
went with his cousin though, and only heard stories of what happened at
their satanic rituals. Later on in life Trey would find a new
fascination to go along with his adoration of the occult, guitar.
Trey got his guitar when he was around 16, it was a red B.C. Rich
Ironbird. The same guitar that can be seen on the Altars Of Madness
album. He was influenced mainly by Eddie Van Halen, which can surely be
seen in Trey's solos. The other bands which also sparked his interest
and influence would be, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, UFO,
and so on. During the 80's when fluffy haired musicians in tight tiger
skinned spandex singing about the rocket in their pocket, and saying
"ooh, baby" in just about every song, while pretending to be evil, was
quite popular, and engulfing the music scene. Trey was disgusted with
these people and wanted to create a band that would destroy those
cock-rockers, and show the world was evil really is, he wanted to
recreate the horror of the description of the Ancient Ones in the
Necronomicon, and give praise to the Ancient Ones, and honor them with
his music.
Trey got together with Sterling von Scarbourogh on bass, and Mike
browning on drums and vocals, and recorded numerous demos, the most
famous of which is now majorly released to the public since they
couldn't control the bootlegging market, that album is Abominations of
Desolation, and proved to be the foundation of an unstoppable force,
Morbid Angel. Upon going to North Carolina, Trey heard a band called
Terrorizer, which consisted of David Vincent on bass, Pete Sandoval on
drums, Oscar Garcia on vocals, and Jesse Pintado on guitars. Terrorizer
only recorded one album, World Downfall after Trey heard them, he wanted
to join up with Dave Vincent, and Pete Sandoval, so he talked to them
and formed also with Richard Brunelle as a second guitar to form the
first real Morbid Angel lineup. All they need now is a good album.
In 1986, something happened that would change the Death Metal
world forever, something that would revolutionize the face of music, and
twist, and mutate it into a hideous horned, fire-spitting demon from
hell. Altars Of Madness. The album that would set the standard for Death
Metal bands then, now, and forever. Most bands were overwhelmed by the
albums shere power, and brute force, and followed in Morbid Angels
blackend footsteps. Morbid Angel, with Deicide, and Death flying at it's
sides would pave the way for Death Metal to come, and would continue to
grow underground, and then shoot forth like lava from the earth. Upon
the release of Blessed are the Sick Morbid Angel already had a massive,
fanatic following, but continued to grow.... Blessed was an amazing
album, but didn't quite have the aggression as Altars that Morbid Angel
wanted, so they cut ties with Richard Brunelle, Dave and Trey bought
Five string basses, and Trey a seven string and detuned to Bb, and
prepared to finally step into the light of the surface, emerging from
the underground.
With the release of Covenant Morbid Angel not only struck a core
with the music world, they bashed it, and knocked it down to ground and
kicked it again, when they released videos for MTV's HeadBanger's
Ball(sigh) the song's Rapture, in which the original video was censored,
and God of Emptiness, both did very well on the show. Dave Vincent even
appeared once interviewed by Ricky Rachtman at the debut of Rapture.
Morbid Angel toured the world yet again, and still gained more fan's,
and appreciation. At this time whiler touring in Australia, Trey would
meet Angela. They would later marry, and she would head the Covenant Of
Death fanclub later on.
Morbid angel now signed to a major label, and doing quite well,
decided they wanted to add something to it. Another guitarist. They got
Erik Rutan, of Rotting Corpse to join them for their next album
Domination. Domination saw many new things happen, even more fans, and a
great world tour, but also saw a change in bassist/vocalist Dave
Vincent. Dave after marrying Gen, a German singer in an S&M band,
became more political, and started to "get off the path" as Dave himself
said. Some songs on Domination had lyrics which didn't really go with
what Morbid Angel is. Towards the end of their World Tour, they were
about to go to Mexico City, and Erik refused to go. Morbid Angel was
forced to fire him and get a hired replacement for him for the rest of
the tour. After the tour ended Dave Vincent too also left the band, but
on very good terms, with no hard feelings, or accusations of
back-stabbing. This would make Morbid Angel quite different and posed a
very large obstacle for Trey, and Pete to overcome.
Trey knew that they had to keep going, losing Dave was a big
loss, but they can find a replacement, and keep moving. Upon having
rehearsals, and tryouts Morbid Angel finally found someone to fill in
the very large place of Dave Vincent. His Name is Steve Tucker of
Ceremony. Morbid Angel are currently recording their next album with
him, called Formulas Fatal to the Flesh along with rumors of the return
of Richard Brunelle, which are not true as it is now. Morbid Angel's fan
base would also expand to a new realm, the Internet.
Steve Hoier, first started The Unofficial Morbid Angel Web Site
as a means of refreshing the World Wide Web and giving it a very good
site that shows Morbid Angel in a very complete manor. Along with Harry
Maat ( longtime friend of Trey ), and other's Steve constructed the site
which eventually would meet the eyes of Trey himself, and after many
conversations, the page would become official, and Steve would become
second in command of the Covenant Of Death. Trey, and Morbid Angel now
have power, and force in every possible media place, being on radio
stations, and Television, and the Internet, Morbid Angel still isn't
done. By the end of this year we'll see Morbid Angel spread it's wings
and fly again.
All of this, all of Death Metal, and all the influenced
guitarists of the world would not be were we are without Trey Azagthoth.
Without his visions, and mastery of music, the world would be a very
boring place....... Thanks Trey.
This Biography was written in full by Corey James Ellithorpe, along with information assistance by Steve Hoier, Joseph Tata, Andres Padilla, and Alan Paul.
