Artist description Heavy Rock from the early Eighties. Vocals, Guitars, Bass and Drums. Nothing more need be said.

Music Style Heavy Alterno-Goth

Musical Influences Black Sabbath, Dio, KISS, Scorpions, Judas Priest, Electric Light Orchestra, Accept, Iron Maiden, Metal Church, Queensryche, Alice Cooper, King Diamond, Metallica, Rainbow (w/ Dio), Twisted Sister, Ozzy Osbourne, The Platters, The Move, The Tubes, Styx, Rage, Armored Saint, Virgin Steele, Crimson Glory, Heir Apparent, Pink Floyd, & (very importantly) Al Jolson.

Similar Artists Queensryche, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Iron Maiden, Accept, Rush, Motley Crue, Savatage, Alice Cooper, King Diamond, Scorpions, Fates Warning, Metallica, Metal Church, Virgin Steele, Viper, & Gamma Ray

Artist History Originally formed in 1982, SLASHER was the brainchild of lyricist/vocalist Tom Williams and drummer Charlie Rotenberry. Guitarist Darren Hohaus and bassist Lee Cobb joined the band in 1983, and SLASHER was born at the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Tom applied a full-face makeup, the "image of Death", to pay homage to his pseudo-namesake, and Damon Savich was reborn. The Destin Seafood Rodeo felt the rumble of SLASHER shortly thereafter, witnessing Damon Savich tearing Barbie limb from limb during "Not For the Weak of Heart". Several local "Battle of the Bands" type competitions were dominated by the sideshow atmosphere of SLASHER performances. While touring the Gulf Coast, Damon became close friends with drummer Brett Valory (brother of JOURNEY's bassist, Ross Valory) and his band MOMENT OF TRUTH. When Brett found a degree of success by relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, he suggested to his backer and executive producer, Sally Procter, that he knew of several great players from Florida who might be interested in putting together a project with her. Damon and Darren Hohaus responded with a resounding "YES!", while business obligations kept Charlie and Lee in Florida. SLASHER set to rehearsal with Damon Savich on vocals, Darren Hohaus & Milan Trafficante on guitars, Sally Procter on bass, and an excellent drummer/percussionist named Moses Kraig. Milan soon departed for unknown reasons, and the rest of the band went into the old Bear West and Automatt Studios to record "Not For the Weak of Heart", a seven song demo. Shortly after the recording of the project, personal differences led Damon, Darren and Moses to relocate to Destin, Florida, where they reunited temporarily with bassist Lee Cobb and set about the business of marketing their tape. One song from the demo became the themesong for a local radio show called "The Metal Meltdown Hour" ("Metal Meltdown" is available exclusively on MP3.com). The band co-hosted the show several times spinning vinyl on TK101 Rock Radio, Pensacola, Florida. Guitarist Dietrick Hardwick, of "Anyone's Daughter" who had faced off with SLASHER in competitions, joined the band in August of 1983. That Halloween, as the band experimented further with theatrics and monster make-up, a member of "Silver", one of the opening acts, cornered Damon in the restroom (at a very awkward moment), and said that it was the wildest thing he'd ever seen. His name was Brian Howell, and two days later he was the new bassist for SLASHER. His precision and musical savvy, and Dietrick's classical lead work gave SLASHER a "new" progressive feel, and they set out to conquer the world. They did effectively conquer the Gulf Coast Area, from Florida to Atlanta, and won the Greater Gulf Coast Rock War in 1985. Craig Nudo, of competition act "Hero", joined the band when Moses Craig developed a hernia and returned to California. The ensuing tour saw the band reaching a crossroads, and Damon decided to retire the theatrical makeup. The band changed their name to ISCARIOT and took on a much more Progressive Metal feel. The history and music of ISCARIOT are available on their site at MP3.com. Damon Savich returned to California and reunited with Sally Procter in 1986 to complete a second SLASHER album. Damon and ISCARIOT completed a project at "T-Ride Studios", San Jose, Ca., while he helped Sally Procter start up her "Hyde Street Studios" and the two rehearsed with guitarist Bill Decker and drummer Ken Stavropoulus (Jefferson Starship). When Bill and Ken took the high road, Dietrick Hardwick and Craig Nudo from ISCARIOT joined in, and SLASHER's "The Balance" sessions began. Unfortunately, neither SLASHER project ever saw much light in the music industry, though the band rehearsed with the likes of Metallica, Night Ranger, Carlos Santana, Journey, etc. at HUN Sound, San Rafael, Ca. Sally Procter passed away on Christmas Day in 1996. This site is meant to be a tribute to her, and some of the tracks here are not available anywhere else. This site is presented for historical purposes only, and please find much more current music by Damon Savich at MP3.com under SEIZURE 69, ISCARIOT, and DAMON SAVICH.

Group Members Original SLASHER : Damon Savich - lyrics, vocals, arr.; Darren Hohaus - Guitars; Sally Procter - bass; Moses Kraig - drums & percussion;... SLASHER "The Balance" - Damon Savich - lyrics, vocals, arr.; Dietrick Hardwick - guitars, arr.; Sally Proctor - bass; & Craig Nudo - drums & percussion

Instruments Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drums, Samples, Keys

Albums SLASHER = "Not for the Weak of Heart" (1983) & "The Balance" (1989) ; ISCARIOT = "The Sharpest Sword" (1987) & "Metamorphosis Odyssey (1990); FOREVER'S END = 16 track demo and live recordings (circa 1993-94); MINDCAGE = "Gray Matter: MINDCAGE- Act I (1996)"; ENDLESS DREAM = "Tales of the Sleeper" (1996); & SEIZURE 69 are currently set to release "Forgotten Son" in early 2000.

Location Destin, Florida - USA

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