Heathen is an American thrash metal band from San Francisco, California. Formed in 1984, the group originally consisted of vocalist Sam Kress, guitarists Lee Altus and Jim Sanguinetti, and drummer Carl Sacco. After the band's first live performance, Kress and Sanguinetti were replaced by David White (then known as David Godfrey) and Doug Piercy, respectively, while Eric Wong was brought in as their first bassist. The group's current lineup features Altus alongside White (who rejoined in 1989 after leaving in 1988), guitarist Kragen Lum (since 2007) and bassist Jason Mirza (since 2019). On tour, Altus has been replaced by Kyle Edissi since summer 2022, and the band has performed with touring drummer Kyle Idris since early 2023.
History 1984–1993 Heathen was formed in the summer of 1984 by Lee Altus and Carl Sacco, who brought in Sam Kress and Jim Sanguinetti to complete the original lineup. Shortly after performing their first show in April 1985, the band broke up, before Altus and Sacco reformed the band with new second guitarist Doug Piercy in October — bassist Eric Wong joined in November and vocalist David White (then David Godfrey) completed the new lineup in December. After the release of the band's first demo Pray for Death in 1986, Wong left due to "personal reasons", with Mike "Yaz" Jastremski taking over from March 1987. With the new bassist, Heathen released its full-length debut album Breaking the Silence on Combat Records in 1987. Around January 1988, Sacco left Heathen and was replaced by Darren Minter.
After leaving Combat Records and recording a new demo, Heathen dismissed Godfrey in late 1988 and replaced him with former Exodus frontman Paul Baloff. By early 1989, Jastremski had left to form a new band, with Manny Bravo taking his place. Around the same time, Baloff left and was replaced briefly by David Wayne (formerly of Metal Church), followed by Rick Weaver, before Godfrey (now using the name David White) returned in time for the recording of the Opiate of the Masses demo in March. The demo also featured new bassist Vern McElroy, from Blind Illusion. During 1990, the band recorded Victims of Deception with session stand-in Mark Biedermann, before Randy Laird took over in early 1991. During his first tour that summer, Laire died in a car accident; he was later replaced by Jason VieBrooks.
In 1992, Piercy was replaced by Ira Black. The group began work on a planned third album, but broke up the following year. Altus and Minter later joined industrial metal band Die Krupps, White joined Defiance, and VieBrooks co-founded groove metal supergroup Grip Inc.
2001–2019 Heathen reformed in August 2001, with returning members White, Altus, Black and Minter joined by former bassist Mike Jastremski. In June 2004, after the release of Recovered, Jastremski was replaced by Jon Torres. Not long after, Black also left the band, with former Mercenary guitarist Sven Soderlund temporarily taking his place. The remaining four members recorded a demo in early 2005, before announcing the addition of Terry Lauderdale on guitar that June.
Shortly after starting work on a planned third album, Heathen announced in December 2007 that Lauderdale and Minter had left the group, replaced by Prototype guitarist Kragen Lum and former Vio-lence drummer Mark Hernandez, respectively. Less than a year later, Minter had returned to the lineup. The long-awaited third album, The Evolution of Chaos, was recorded with the new lineup and first released in December 2009. During the subsequent touring cycle, Jason VieBrooks returned starting in January 2011 to replace Torres, who temporarily left to "focus on his health". Torres later died on September 2, 2013, and VieBrooks remained a member of the band.
In the spring of 2011, Minter was temporarily replaced by Jon Dette due to "previous work commitments" which prevented him from touring. Two years later, Minter left permanently and Dette stepped in again for tour dates in the summer of 2013. After more than a year of inactivity, in January 2015 the band played with former Forbidden drummer Sasha Horn.
Since 2019 After another extended period of inactivity, Heathen announced in June 2019 that it had begun work on a new album. When the result, Empire of the Blind, was announced the following year, it was also revealed that the lineup featured new bassist Jason Mirza and drummer Jim DeMaria. Since the summer of 2022, Altus has been replaced on tour by Kyle Edissi, due to his commitments with Exodus and other issues. DeMaria left after touring until late 2022, with Ryan Idris taking his place from early the next year. During 2025, Jason Bittner contributed drums to recordings for an upcoming album release.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsLee Altusguitarsall Heathen releases, except Bleed the World Live (2025)David Whitelead vocalsall Heathen releasesKragen Lum2007–presentall Heathen releases from The Evolution of Chaos (2009) onwardsJason Mirza2019–presentbass
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsCarl SaccodrumsSam Kress1984–1985 lead vocalsrowspan="2" Jim Sanguinetti1984–1985guitarsDoug Piercy1985–1992Eric Wong1985–1986bassPray for Death (1986)Mike "Yaz" JastremskiDarren Minterall Heathen releases from the untitled 1988 demo to "Goblin's Blade" (2018)Paul Baloff1988–1989 lead vocalsrowspan="4" Manny Bravo1989bassDavid Wayne1989 lead vocalsRick Weaver1989Vern McElroy1989–1990bassOpiate of the Masses (1989)Randy Laird1991 Jason VieBrooksIra BlackguitarsRecovered (2004)Jon Torres2004–2011 Terry Lauderdale2005–2007The Evolution of Chaos (2009) Mark Hernandez2007–2008drumsJim DeMaria2019–2022Empire of the Blind (2020)
Backup ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsMark Biedermann1990–1991 bassBiedermann joined on a session basis to record Heathen's 1991 release Victims of Deception.Sven Soderlund2004 guitarsAfter Ira Black left Heathen, Soderlund temporarily stepped in as the band's touring guitarist.Jon DettedrumsDette filled in for Darren Minter in the spring of 2011, and again later when he left in 2013.Sasha Horn2015 Horn performed drums with Heathen for the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise in January 2015.Kyle Edissi2022–present guitarsEdissi has been performing in place of Lee Altus in Heathen's touring lineup since summer 2022.Kyle Idris2023–present drumsIdris replaced Jim DeMaria as Heathen's touring drummer starting in early 2023.Jason Bittner2025 drumsBittner was brought in to perform drums on Heathen's upcoming fifth studio album during 2025.
Timeline
Lineups Bold indicates a new addition to a lineup.
PeriodMembersReleasesSummer 1984–spring 1985Sam Kress — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Jim Sanguinetti — guitars Carl Sacco — drumsBand inactive spring–fall 1985December 1985–March 1987David White — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Eric Wong — bass Carl Sacco — drumsPray for Death demo (1986)March 1987–January 1988David White — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Mike Jastremski — bass Carl Sacco — drumsBreaking the Silence (1987)January–late 1988David White — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Mike Jastremski — bass Darren Minter — drumsuntitled 1988 demoLate 1988–early 1989Paul Baloff — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Manny Bravo — bass Darren Minter — drumsrowspan="3" Early 1989David Wayne — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Manny Bravo — bass Darren Minter — drumsEarly 1989Rick Weaver — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Manny Bravo — bass Darren Minter — drumsMarch 1989–1990David White — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Vern McElroy — bass Darren Minter — drumsOpiate of the Masses demo (1989)1990–1991David White — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Mark Biedermann — bass Darren Minter — drumsVictims of Deception (1991)Spring–September 1991David White — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Randy Laird — bass Darren Minter — drumsrowspan="3" Fall 1991–1992David White — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Doug Piercy — guitars Jason VieBrooks — bass Darren Minter — drums1992–1993David White — vocals Lee Altus — guitars Ira Black — guitars Jason VieBrooks — bass Darren Minter — drumsBand inactive 1993–2001August 2001–June 2004David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Ira Black — guitars Mike Jastremski — bass Darren Minter — drums, backing vocalsRecovered (2004)June–July 2004David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Ira Black — guitars Jon Torres — bass, backing vocals Darren Minter — drums, backing vocalsrowspan="2" July–December 2004David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Sven Soderlund — guitars Jon Torres — bass, backing vocals Darren Minter — drums, backing vocalsDecember 2004–June 2005David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Jon Torres — bass, backing vocals Darren Minter — drums, backing vocalsuntitled 2005 demoJune 2005–December 2007David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Terry Lauderdale — guitars, backing vocals Jon Torres — bass, backing vocals Darren Minter — drums, backing vocalsrowspan="2" December 2007–June 2008David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Kragen Lum — guitars, backing vocals Jon Torres — bass, backing vocals Mark Hernandez — drumsJune 2008–January 2011David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Kragen Lum — guitars, backing vocals Jon Torres — bass, backing vocals Darren Minter — drums, backing vocalsThe Evolution of Chaos (2009) "Goblin's Blade" (2018)January 2011– May 2013David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Kragen Lum — guitars, backing vocals Jason VieBrooks — bass Darren Minter — drums, backing vocals"Hypnotized" (2017)April–May 2011May–October 2013David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Kragen Lum — guitars, backing vocals Jason VieBrooks — bass Jon Dette — drums "Control by Chaos" (2020)Band on unofficial hiatus November 2013–December 2014January 2015David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Kragen Lum — guitars, backing vocals Jason VieBrooks — bass Sasha Horn — drums Band on unofficial hiatus February 2015–May 2019June 2019–summer 2022David White — lead vocals Lee Altus — guitars Kragen Lum — guitars, backing vocals Jason Mirza — bass Jim DeMaria — drumsEmpire of the Blind (2020)Summer–late 2022David White — lead vocals Kragen Lum — guitars, backing vocals Kyle Edissi — guitars Jason Mirza — bass Jim DeMaria — drumsEarly 2023–presentDavid White — lead vocals Kragen Lum — guitars, backing vocals Kyle Edissi — guitars Jason Mirza — bass Ryan Idris — drums Bleed the World Live (2025)
References
External links Heathen official website