Epidemic (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in Palo Alto, California, United States |
| Founder | Mark Bodine, Guy Higbey, Erik Moggridge, Ted Kamp |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco Bay Area , United States |
| Products | Music albums, demos |
Epidemic was a band from the American Bay Area thrash movement, known for their blend of death metal and thrash metal styles.
History
Originating in 1986 in Palo Alto, Epidemic was founded by bassist Mark Bodine, guitarists Guy Higbey and Erik Moggridge, along with drummer Ted Kamp, initially to participate in their high school talent show. The band’s name was inspired by a track from Slayer. After recruiting drummer Geoff Bruce and vocalist Carl Fulli, they triumphed in a 1987 Battle of the Bands competition, which earned them an opening performance for Death Angel.
Their debut demo, Immortal Minority (1987), attracted attention within the Bay Area metal community, leading to numerous live performances alongside groups such as Slayer, Exodus, and Testament. In pursuit of more proficient drumming, Bruce was replaced by Bobby Cochran in 1988. With Cochran on board, they produced Demo '89, independently distributing thousands of copies and securing management under Marco Barbieri, who would later head Century Media Records. This demo was released in Europe as The Truth of What Will Be through Metalcore Records.
The 1991 demo Extremities '91 resulted in a deal with Metal Blade Records. Their first full-length album for the U.S. market, Decameron, was recorded and launched in mid-1992. The band supported the release with tours along the East Coast featuring Malevolent Creation and Suffocation, followed by a nationwide tour in early 1993 alongside Cannibal Corpse and Unleashed, broadening their audience.
Following the departure of Higbey, Epidemic recorded Exit Paradise at Razor's Edge studios during the fall of 1993; it was released in October 1994. The group dissolved soon after due to internal conflicts and insufficient backing from their label.
In 2012, Divebomb Records issued a compilation titled Pandemic the Demo Anthology, gathering the band's early recordings. Two years later, Massachusetts-based The Crypt secured licensing rights to reissue Decameron as a gatefold vinyl edition slated for release in early 2015.
Final lineup
- Carl Fulli – vocals (1987–1994)
- Erik Moggridge – guitar (1987–1994)
- Mark Bodine – bass (1987–1994)
- Bobby Cochran – drums (1988–1994)
Previous members
- Guy Higbey – guitar (1987–1993)
- Ted Kamp – drums (1987)
- Geoff Bruce – drums (1987–1988)
Studio albums
- The Truth of What Will Be (1990) Metalcore Records
- Decameron (1992) Metal Blade Records
- Lament (1994) (7-inch) Metal Blade Records
- Exit Paradise (1994) Metal Blade Records
- Pandemic: The Demo Anthology (2012) Divebomb Records
Demos
- Immortal Minority (1988)
- Demo '89 (1989)
- Extremities '91 (1991)