Death by Stereo

by MacKenzie WilsonDeath by Stereo is an aggressive metal/hardcore hybrid from Southern California, who took its name from a line in the 1987 vampire flick The Lost Boys. The band's lineup underwent numerous changes throughout its careeer, but the guys always persevered with a "never give up, never give in" mantra held close. After getting together in 1996 and releasing a demo and 7", Efrem Shulz (vocals), Paul Miner (bass), Jim Miner (guitar), Keith Barney (guitar) (who'd replaced original guitarist Ian Fowles), and Jarrod Alexander (drums) debuted in spring 1999 on Indecision Records with If Looks Could Kill, I'd Watch You Die. That fall, after a summer spent touring behind the record, Barney left to concentrate more time with his other bands, Throwdown and Eighteen Visions, while Alexander departed to pursue music full-time at the Berklee School of Music. Drummer Tim Bender and former Eyelid guitarist Dan Palmer signed on in their places, as the band watched their fan base quickly grow. Epitaph was watching too and soon signed them up. Death by Stereo's sophomore effort, Day of the Death, appeared in the spring of 2001; Bender exited Death by Stereo following subsequent tour dates and was replaced by Todd Hennig (Heckle, Seven Years War). Into the Valley of Death followed two years later. By 2005's Death for Life, their third album for Epitaph, the Death by Stereo lineup had shifted to include Shulz, Palmer, Henning, guitarist Tito, and Pulley bassist Tyler Rebbe. The band didn't slow down, and in March 2007, the live album Death Alive was issued through Reignition Records, recorded in Anaheim during their previous Into the Valley of Death tour.