Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Obituary are among the most classic of death metal bands and have been one of the most consistent both in lineup and in sound. Before there was Obituary, the band was releasing demos as Xecutioner which turned into Obituary as they released their first album. Since the beginning Obituary has consisted of brothers John Tardy on vocals and Donald Tardy on drums, with Tevor Peres on rhythm guitar. Their first album had Allen West on lead guitar and he returned again for their third album and remained through to their seventh. The four of them were consistent writers in the band with John being the lyricist. Other than their first album with Daniel Tucker on bass, no other bass players share in writing credits. Although James Murphy and Ralf Santolla had stints on lead guitar, neither had written with the band. After the departure of West, writing was exclusive to Trevor and Donald with John doing lyrics until release of Obituary in 2017 in which Ken Andrews is credited with shared writing.

Led Zeppelin are the fathers of hard rock. Donald named John Bonham as a main influence.

Black Sabbath are the fathers of metal. Trevor named them as an influence. Donald is also a fan.

Lynyrd Skynyrd are the best known southern rock band. John named them among his favorite bands, they were among the earliest bands Donald was listening to. Trevor is a big fan.

Judas Priest are the metal gods. Trevor named them as an influence.

Where Obituary has been a consistent death metal staple, AC/DC has been the same for hard rock. John named them as an influence and a band they look up to. Ken named Angus as an influence.

The Pat Travers Band was a hard blues rock band. Donald named drummer Tommy Aldridge as a main influence.

One of the most influential metal bands, Trevor named them as an influence on him. Donald is also a fan.

Following Ozzy’s departure from Black Sabbath, his first line up consisted of drummer Tommy Aldridge which Donald names as a main influence. Trevor named Ozzy as an influence and said Randy Rhoads made him want to play guitar.

Venom are the origin of traditional black metal and a huge influence on extreme metal genres. John is a fan. Trevor said they were a favorite band when he was younger.

The fathers of thrash metal, Metallica. Trevor named them as an early influence.

Exodus are a much overlooked, but hugely important thrash band. Trevor named them as an early influence.

Slayer were the most extreme of the early thrash bands so it is no wonder they were an influence on death metal to follow. John is a big fan. Donald named Dave Lombardo as a big influence. Trevor named them as an influence.

Savatage are often known as progressive metal pioneers. John and Trevor said they were a heavy influence starting out. Donald said seeing those guy jamming in their garage inspired them to start.

Dio’s drummer Vinnie Appice is one of Donald’s main influences. He sites Holy Diver as his favorite album and what he warms up to before shows. Trevor is also a fan.

The precursor to Celtic Frost and a huge influence on extreme metal, Donald is a big fan. Trevor also named them as an influence.

Possessed are often credited as the origin of death metal with their death/thrash sound. John is a fan. Trevor also named them as an influence.

Celtic Frost are a huge influence on extreme metal genres. John and Donald are both fans. Trevor named them as an influence.

Fellow Floridians, Nasty savage were a thrashy influence on Obituary in the earliest of days. Donald says they’d see them jamming in their garage and inspired them to get started. Trevor and John also mentioned their influence.

Destruction are one of the big thrash bands of Germany. Trevor named them as an influence.

Sacrifice were a Canadian thrash band, although lesser known they are often named by early death metal bands. Trevor named them as an influence

Skinny Puppy are a well known industrial band. Trevor mentioned they could be an influence as he was listening to a ton of industrial stuff during *World Demise.*

King Diamond’s first drummer Mickey Dee (formerly of motorhead) was an influence that Donald says made is playing go from good to great.

Besides John’s main influences, he also says he likes country and blues as well as southern rock.

John said early on bands like Death and Massacre helped push them to be better.

Donald said his first musical inspirations came from Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Outlaws as well as Pat Travers, Ted Nugent, Elton John, Charlie Daniels, and Blackfoot. He said he was seven when he started playing to that sort of stuff. He says he loves Alice in Chans and Sound Garden

Trevor in a 2006 interview says he mainly listens to southern rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, but still goes back to his old metal albums occasionally. He said that the southern rock doesn’t really influence is playing though, more an inspiration to play. In a later interview he added Outlaws, Allman Brothers, and Hank III to that list. He is also a big fan of anything Dio.

Allen West played lead guitar on a total of six albums and shares in writing on those albums. I am un sure of his influences.

I’m unsure of the influences of bassist Daniel Tucker who played bass and shares in writing credit on the first album.

Ken Andrews has been on two albums with shared writing credit on the latter of the two (he will be on the upcoming release of Dying of Everything). He says he’s a thrash and rock dude, his influences range from Ace Frehley and Angus Young to Dimebag.

No other members of Obituary are credited with writing.

Bands influenced by Obituary!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

Prominent new wave thrashers

Sources:
https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-q-a-with-obituarys-john-tardy/
https://allabouttherock.co.uk/interview-with-obituary-frontman-john-tardy/
https://crypticrock.com/interview-john-tardy-obituary/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/obituary-talk-three-decade-quest-for-the-perfect-meat-and-potatoes-groove-108807/
https://www.yamaha.com/artists/donaldtardy.html#:~:text=Donald%20credits%20his%20style%20from,much%20more%20impressive%20than%20speed.
https://spotlightreport.net/featured/on-the-spot-obituarys-donald-tardy-exclusive-interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QsI6jgBrkE
https://www.metal-rules.com/2006/06/29/obituary-guitarist-trevor-peres/
https://capitalchaostv.com/2017/03/01/trevor-peres-of-obituary-interviewed/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjdNgjn4azQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqKa5LLoXCs
https://www.moshville.co.uk/interview/2015/11/interview-trevor-peres-of-obituary/
https://blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-guitarist-talks-barbecue-sauce-upcoming-presidential-election
https://www.espguitars.com/articles/2007124-artist-spotlight-ken-andrews-terry-butler-obituary