Charred Walls of the Damned
American heavy metal supergroup formed by drummer Richard Christy.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Charred Walls of the Damned is an American heavy metal supergroup that came together in 2009. The lineup features drummer Richard Christy, bassist Steve Di Giorgio, vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens, and guitarist Jason Suecof. Christy started the band after stepping away from music for five years, following his move to The Howard Stern Show in 2004. The group has put out three studio albums.
Christy left Iced Earth during their 2004 tour for the *Glorious Burden* album, which pushed back some shows in Japan. He then entered a listener contest on *The Howard Stern Show* to replace "Stuttering John" Melendez, who had left to work for *The Tonight Show with Jay Leno*. Christy won the contest on July 1, 2004, with 30% of the vote, and later said that not trying would have made him regret it every day. Despite his busy schedule in New York City, he kept up with music, building confidence in his guitar playing and songwriting, and eventually put together a full demo album. He announced Charred Walls of the Damned after a five-and-a-half-year absence from music. The band's name came from a series of prank calls he and Sal Governale made to a Tradio show on a Christian radio station. The host responded by saying he prayed for them, hoping to save their souls "not in the devil's hell where you'd be putting your nails in the charred walls of the damned."
The first single, "Ghost Town," came out on December 1, 2009. The self-titled debut album followed on February 2, 2010, on CD and iTunes. In its first week, it sold around 2,200 copies in the U.S., according to Blabbermouth.net. The Japanese edition included a cover of "Nice Dreams" by the Minneapolis band Powermad. The album charted on Billboard's Heatseekers, Independent Albums, and Hard Music Albums lists at No. 6, 37, and 46, respectively, and reached No. 85 on the Canadian Independent Chart. By January 5, 2011, Christy reported worldwide sales of 20,000 copies. Critics generally liked it. Rocksnail gave it 3.5 out of 5, noting the band's potential if they could deliver live. Dom Lawson of Bravewords gave it 8.5 out of 10, calling it a "platinum-plated triumph" that lived up to expectations, especially praising the pairing of Christy and Di Giorgio on "Blood on Wood." Chris Akin from Pitriff gave it 8 out of 10, citing a "distinct chemistry" and "terrific, old school sounding metal." Andy Lye from Jukebox:Metal, howe
- formed
- 2009
- origin
- United States
- genre
- Heavy metal
- members
- Richard Christy, Steve Di Giorgio, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Jason Suecof
- albums
- 3 studio albums
- notable_single
- "Ghost Town" (2009)
Lore & Background
Richard Christy left Iced Earth during their 2004 Glorious Burden tour to become a finalist in a listener contest on The Howard Stern Show, winning the position on July 1, 2004. After a five-and-a-half-year absence from music, he announced his new band, Charred Walls of the Damned. The name originated from a series of prank calls Christy and Sal Governale made to a Tradio show on a Christian radio station, where the host described saving souls from "the charred walls of the damned."
The band's debut album, Charred Walls of the Damned, was released on February 2, 2010, selling around 2,200 copies in its first week in the US and charting on Billboard's Heatseekers, Independent Albums, and Hard Music Albums charts. The band performed their first US and Canadian tour in July 2010 with replacement musicians. Their second album, Cold Winds on Timeless Days, was released on October 11, 2011, and their third, Creatures Watching Over the Dead, on September 23, 2016.
Reader's Guide
Charred Walls of the Damned represents a notable reunion of experienced metal musicians after a period of inactivity for its founder, Richard Christy. The band's formation highlights the intersection of Christy's radio career with his musical roots, and their debut album received generally positive critical reception, with reviewers praising the chemistry between members and the old-school metal sound, though some noted the album's short length and disjointed feel. The band's three albums, released over six years, demonstrate a consistent output within the heavy metal genre, with the second album showing a deliberate effort to cater to each member's playing style. Their significance lies in bringing together established figures from bands like Iced Earth, Death, and Testament, and in demonstrating that a supergroup formed from a radio personality's side project could achieve commercial and critical attention.
Did You Know?
- The band's name came from a prank call to a Christian radio station's Tradio show.
- Richard Christy won a listener contest on The Howard Stern Show to replace 'Stuttering John' Melendez.
- The debut album sold 20,000 copies worldwide as of January 2011.
- The Japanese version of the debut album includes a cover of 'Nice Dreams' by Powermad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charred Walls of the Damned?
Charred Walls of the Damned is an American heavy metal supergroup formed in 2009 by drummer Richard Christy. The project brought together four well-known metal musicians to create a new band outside their respective long-term projects.
Who are the members of Charred Walls of the Damned?
The lineup consists of Richard Christy on drums, Steve Di Giorgio on bass, Tim 'Ripper' Owens on vocals, and Jason Suecof on guitar. Each member was already established in the metal scene before joining this supergroup.
How did Charred Walls of the Damned get started?
Christy had stepped away from performing for roughly five years after leaving Iced Earth in 2004 and taking a role on The Howard Stern Show. He re-entered the music world by assembling this new band, which officially came together in 2009.
What albums has Charred Walls of the Damned released?
The group has put out three studio albums since their formation. Their 2009 debut single 'Ghost Town' helped introduce the project to fans early on.
Why is Charred Walls of the Damned notable in the metal scene?
The band stands out because it unites four highly recognized players—Christy, Di Giorgio, Owens, and Suecof—into a single supergroup. It also marked Christy's return to active music after a long hiatus tied to his radio career.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
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