After forming in 1977, this four-piece became one of the area's premier bands--not to mention its only all-black heavy metal group. Led by metal maniac/wrestling fanatic singer Siki Spacek--who never went out in public without wearing his guitar over his shoulder (even while working his day job as a safety patrol guard)--the band's black leather and chains, straight-ahead metal routine attracted a large following in the mid-'80s. After landing a deal with Auburn Records, Black Death released their self-titled debut in '85, a record that sold 1,000 copies within ten days of release. But one thing kept them down.

		"Their biggest problem was finding a replacement if a member quit the band--there just weren't that many black guys in town who could play metal," says Auburn Records president Bill Peters.