Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (May 13, 1967, Long Island, New York December 13, 2001) was an American musician. He is best known for being the founder, singer, virtuoso, rhythm/lead guitar player and main song writer of Death, which he founded in 1983 as Mantas. Much later, in 1998, he founded the band Control Denied. He was also an innovator and pioneer of death metal (even though the creation of the genre can be attributed to a few bands that preceded Death/Mantas) and was one of the most influential metal guitarists in history. His band Death was one of the first bands to implement jazz structure in death metal. Creating the benchmark for Death Metal.
Early life
Chuck Schuldiner was born on May 13, 1967 at Long Island, New York to a Jewish father of Austrian descent and a mother from the American South, a convert to Judaism. In 1968, his family moved to Florida. Schuldiner was the youngest of three children. He had an older brother named Frank and an older sister named Bethann.
Schuldiner started playing at the age of 9. His 16 year old brother had just been killed in an accident and his parents bought him a guitar, thinking it would help with his grief. He took classical lessons for less than a year, but did not like it, so he stopped. Then his parents saw an electric guitar at a yard sale and bought that for him and he absolutely loved it. After getting him amps, he never stopped playing, writing and teaching himself. Schuldiner was in the garage or his room playing his guitar just about all day on Saturday and Sunday but was limited to three hours on weekdays when school was in session. Schuldiner first played in public in his early teens.
Schuldiner was originally inspired by Iron Maiden, KISS and Billy Idol, among others. He was particularly interested in the metal movement known as NWOBHM and cited bands of that genre among his favorites. Slayer, Possessed and Metallica were later influences he would apply more to his own band, but his mother claims that he enjoyed all forms of music except country and rap. He also apparently particularly enjoyed jazz and classical music in addition to metal.
Although Schuldiner apparently did do well in school, school bored him and he eventually dropped out. He did regret this later, however.
Schuldiner was also known for being openly against hard drugs. This was reflected in various interviews and a few songs (notably "Living Monstrosity", which is about a cocaine addict born to a cocaine addicted mother). However, Schuldiner was an open advocate for recreational and medicinal cannabis use.
Musical career
Schuldiner formed Death as "Mantas" in 1983.
In January 1986, Schuldiner temporarily joined the Canadian band Slaughter on guitar. However, he quickly returned to continue the formation of Death.
There were several lineup changes, however with Chris Reifert he eventually released his first Death album, titled Scream Bloody Gore, in 1987. This album is widely considered to have laid the blueprint for death metal music. He continued with 1988's Leprosy with the line-up of former Mantas guitarist Rick Rozz and rhythm section Terry Butler on bass and Bill Andrews on drums, and 1990s Spiritual Healing, where guitarist James Murphy had replaced the fired Rozz.
After Spiritual., Schuldiner stopped working with full band members and now worked only with studio and live venue musicians after bad relationships with Death's previous rhythm section and guitarists. This earned Schuldiner something of a "perfectionist" reputation in the metal community. Schuldiner had also fired his manager Eric Greif but re-hired him before the release of his next, monumental release.
Death's breakthrough album, Human saw the band evolving to a more technical and progressive style, in which Schuldiner displayed his guitar skills more than ever. He continued in this style (and continued the success of the band) with 1993s Individual Thought Patterns, 1995s Symbolic, and finally The Sound of Perseverance in 1998.
Schuldiner played guitar in the project Voodoo Cult on the album Jesus Killing Machine in 1994.
Schuldiner folded Death after this to form a new band called Control Denied, and released The Fragile Art of Existence in 1999.
Battle with cancer
In May 1999, Schuldiner started experiencing some pain in his upper neck, which he initially thought was a pinched nerve. He consulted with a chiropractor followed by a massage therapist/acupuncturist who recommended an MRI Exam. He was correct about the pinched nerve, but unfortunately it was being caused by a tumor. On his birthday, May 13, 1999, Schuldiner was diagnosed with pontine glioma, a type of brain cancer that invades the brain stem. He immediately underwent radiation therapy. In October 1999, Schuldiners family announced that the tumor was broken up, and that he was on the way to recovery. In January 2000, Schuldiner underwent surgery to remove what remained of his tumor. The operation was a success. Even though this seemed like good news, the Schuldiner family was struggling financially. The total costs of the operations would come to $70,000, a price the Schuldiner family could not afford. Many fundraisers, auctions, and benefit concerts took place to help cover the costs. The money began to come in as the metal community, in total shock, realized that Schuldiner's life was in danger. The metal community and the Schuldiner family showed deep concern because Schuldiner could lose his life due to lack of funds. The doctors that removed his tumor called the original diagnosis of pontine glioma a misdiagnosis. Schuldiner continued to work on his music, continuing his work with Control Denied. About two years after his original diagnosis, in May 2001, Schuldiner fell ill again. His tumor had returned. He was originally denied surgery (which he needed immediately) due to lack of funds. A press release called for support from everyone, including fellow artists. Jane Schuldiner urged all who read the statements about Schuldiner and his illness to go out and get insurance. She showed her frustration in the American system. Schuldiner received an experimental drug called Vincristine to help with his therapy. The drug poisoned his system. However, Schuldiner fought on. In late October/early November, Schuldiner became ill with pneumonia. On December 13, 2001, at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Chuck Schuldiner died.
Legacy
His mother, Jane Schuldiner, handles his legacy. She frequently interacts with Schuldiner's fans and has stated many times that she enjoys his music. Schuldiner's sister Beth seems to keep track of his recordings. Beth has a son named Christopher, who also plays guitar and has all of Schuldiner's guitars except his first one, which his mother keeps.
Although Schuldiner never married or had children, he dated a woman named Kim for several years, his second long-term relationship.
Despite his passing, his legacy lives on through his fans and his recordings. However, a legal battle is in progress on the settlement of the rights to the partially completed second Control Denied album. Part of these incomplete recordings were released in the Zero Tolerance two-part compilation of Chuck's b-sides and unreleased tracks.
