'Death To All Tour 2012' Kicks Off In San Francisco; Video Available

The "Death To All Tour 2012" kicked off last night (Friday, June 22) at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California. The trek, which features a majority of DEATH's amazing musicians, celebrates the life and music of Chuck Schuldiner, as well as raises awareness of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund — a charity that provides financial assistance to career musicians faced with illness, disability or age-related problems.

The drums on the "Death To All Tour 2012" are being handled by Gene Hoglan ("Individual Thought Patterns", "Symbolic"),Danny Walker (INTRONAUT, BEREFT) and Sean Reinert ("Human"). On bass is Steve DiGiorgio ("Human", "Individual Thought Patterns") and Scott Clendenin ("The Sound Of Perseverance"). Guitar duties are being shared by Paul Masvidal ("Human"),Shannon Hamm ("The Sound of Perseverance") and Bobby Koelble ("Symbolic"). The vocals are being taken care of by EXHUMED's Matt Harvey (filling in for Steffen Kummerer of OBSCURA) and Charles Elliott of ABYSMAL DAWN and BEREFT.

According to the organizers, "There will be guest appearances in each city and some cities may have more than one surprise in store. You never know when or where these guests will be showing up, but you can expect to be seeing the following musicians somewhere on the tour."

* Richard Christy (CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, DEATH, ICED EARTH)
* Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT)
* Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT)
* Paul Ryan (ORIGIN)
* Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN)
* Travis Ryan (CATTLE DECAPITATION)
* Trevor Strnad (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER)
* Ryan Knight (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER)
* Emil Werstler (DAATH, CHIMAIRA)

Locicero, who made an appearance on stage at last night's concert, checked in with the following recap of the event:

"Just woke up here and I'm trying to explain how amazing last night's 'Death To All' show was to my son. It's just not possible to put the experience into words. It's like Steve DiGiorgio said to me last night, You turn around and 19 years are gone just like that.' What happened?

"Seems like yesterday that we spent rehearsing at Jackson Street studious in Oakland getting ready for my little stint with DEATH in Europe. I'd never felt more anxiety about doing a gig then I did before those ones. I didn't have a chance to learn ANY songs before I arrived at the first practice because FORBIDDEN was finishing a demo up to the day before Chuck and Gene flew to the Bay to meet up with Steve and I. Chuck put me at ease and said, 'We'll just get baked and jam, I'll show you the riffs...' So in TWO days I learned all the songs. TWO DAYS??!?!?!

"I was watching the guys play those songs last night thinking there is no way I could do that now. What a collection of talent and coolness! The vibe at the rehearsals was really relaxed and focused. A genuine love and respect for Chuck's vision and craft was at every turn at the S.I.R. complex. Guys listening on headphones, making notes, working out riffs, teaching each other, discussing sets etc...

"Well, that work paid off! Alice [Craig's wife] and I watched the show from the crowed perspective as fans and from note one it was the best sound I've EVER heard at the Grand Ballroom. I asked around and it was agreed. Crystal mountain clear!!! Nice job, Freeway! These guys all killed the material. Charles Elliott and Matt Harvey were amazing at their respective jobs...channeling Chuck Schuldiner. A very difficult job and impossible shoes to fill. But somehow they did it with class and respect.

"Big Daddy Gene, Sean Reinert and Danny Walker were spot-on gods of drums! Sean has a blown achilles and still delivered punishing double bass! What a DUDE! Gene was unconscious and awesome as the Atomic Clock always is. But there was a little more passion with what was at stake. Stevie D had never looked happier on stage!

"All of the guys...Scott Clendenin, Shannonn Hamm, Bobby Koeble and Paul Masvidal were all spot-on and class acts! I feel that I have some new metal bothers just because we shared the experience. It was the time of my midlife!

"I can barely recall my five minutes playing 'Living Monstrosity' on the stage because if felt so surreal. But I vividly remember turning around and looking at the 'Spiritual Healing' banner and thinking of Chuck and how he's be proud. I screamed, 'It's so heavy!' And it was...

"I must throw a HUGE heap of thanks out to Anton Hefele, Ian MacDonald and Eric Greif for jumping through the hoops of fire to make this happen. No small task with many doubters, and who could blame them. This was supposed to be impossible. But it happened, it was real and now the first show of many is Deathstory!"

The setlist for last night's concert was as follows:

01. Zombie Ritual
02. Leprosy
03. Within The Mind
04. Torn To Pieces
05. Left To Die
06. Suicide Machine
07. Lack Of Comprehension
08. Flattening Of Emotions
09. Secret Face
10. The Philosopher
11. Trapped In A Corner
12. Overactive Imagination
13. Bite The Pain
14. Zero Tolerance
15. 1,000 Eyes
16. Crystal Mountain
17. Flesh And The Power It Holds
18. Symbolic
19. A Moment Of Clarity
20. Voice Of The Soul
21. Living Monstrosity
22. Pull The Plug

For more information, go to this location.

Chuck died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.