We recently had the honor of chatting with Chris Reifert, legendary drummer and vocalist from iconic death metal bands like Autopsy and Abscess. Chris shared insights about his early days in the Bay Area death metal scene, his time with Death, and how Autopsy came to be a cornerstone of extreme metal.
Todd Owens:
We’re honored tonight to have Mr. Chris Reifert from Autopsy and many other legendary metal bands. How are you doing tonight, Chris?
Chris Reifert:
Real good, man. Good to be here, nice to see you again, and to be at the good old Metro again. We’re here for day two of a three-day California Death Fest put on by, I guess, the guys behind Maryland Death Fest. Maybe briefly tell us how you got involved with this and how it all came about?
Chris Reifert:
Well, we’ve worked with those guys several times before — both with Abscess, Autopsy, and playing over in Maryland. Yeah, Maryland, two times with each band actually. They’re real cool guys, know what they’re doing, and have a good thing going. So Ryan reached out to us and said, “Hey, we’re doing a West Coast version. Are you guys interested?” It was pretty easy to make that decision. Those guys do it right, and we’re 25 minutes from home right now, so sweet.
Todd Owens:
Yeah, it’s great. Sometimes we get jealous that the East Coast gets all these great shows and stuff, so it’s awesome to have something here on the West Coast. I think we need this. There have been some good West Coast fests, and hopefully this continues.
Chris Reifert:
Yeah, this is a really good one. We’ve got Gorgon playing behind us right now, Impaled coming up later, and of course Autopsy.
Todd Owens:
Alright, great to finally have you here to talk a little. It’s been too long. Let’s do a little career retrospective. Start out back in the early days — obviously you were involved with the first Death album. Maybe talk a little about the early Bay Area scene, how you guys were influenced, and how you got involved with Death and Chuck?
Chris Reifert:
That’s a pretty vast subject. What do you want to know specifically?
Todd Owens:
Well, I guess your involvement with Death and Chuck and how you got into that scene.
Chris Reifert:
I had a friend who was DJing at a local radio station and they were going to run an ad saying musicians were needed for the new lineup of Death. I got the word early, maybe before the ad aired. I thought, “No way it’s the same Death,” because I’d already been collecting demos and loved the band. I got the phone number, called it, Chuck answered, and it was really them. We hit it off, I told him what songs I liked, and jammed a little. I don’t think I had much competition. It wasn’t like today, where people would be fighting for that kind of opportunity. I lucked out — right place, right time.
Todd Owens:
So your involvement with Death was kind of short-lived?
Chris Reifert:
Yeah, Chuck moved back to Florida, and I stayed here. Then, after Death split, it was great because we formed Autopsy shortly after.
Todd Owens:
Was there a gap between Death and Autopsy?
Chris Reifert:
Yeah, there was a lull. I wasn’t sure what was happening with Death, and I actually filled in with Van Kelt Desecration for a few shows. I was friends with Bob, the singer, and I was a fan of their music. After that, I met Eric through Steve, a mutual friend, and we decided to start a band — Autopsy. We had a bassist for the first demo, then Danny joined shortly after in 1988.
Todd Owens:
Was it planned from the beginning that you’d be the drummer and vocalist? That’s unusual.
Chris Reifert:
We tried a friend or two as vocalists but it didn’t work. I said, “Alright, I can do it.” Eric and I both did vocals for a while, but he got tired of it, so I ended up doing most of the vocals. Sometimes Eric still sings a bit when he’s in the mood.
Todd Owens:
Drumming and singing at the same time, especially with such intense music, must be a huge workout.
Chris Reifert:
It’s not about concentration as much as just seeing it through. You can’t stop halfway — you’ve got 30 minutes or six or seven songs, and you just push through until it’s done.
Todd Owens:
You had a great early run with Autopsy and those classic albums. Then, you and Danny formed Abscess. Was Abscess a side project?
Chris Reifert:
No, there was some overlap. Autopsy split in ’93, but we still had songs we wanted to record as a farewell. We did a final album, played a few local shows, and that was it. Abscess started around the same time and was serious. Abscess kept going for a while until Autopsy was kick-started again around 2009-2010.
Todd Owens:
What led to Autopsy reforming?
Chris Reifert:
Abscess broke up — Clint quit — and that opened the door for Autopsy to get going again. We started writing and recording new songs and kept it going. It’s like Autopsy 2.0.
Todd Owens:
For fans like me who missed those early days, it’s great to hear new brutal material that stays true to the old sound.
Chris Reifert:
Thanks! We play what we like to hear and hope others enjoy it too.
Todd Owens:
What about influences — early and current? Who shaped your sound?
Chris Reifert:
Early influences included the doom stuff, as well as fast bands like Slayer, Death, Possessed, Terrorizer, and Master. We liked the old school punk and doom bands like Black Sabbath, Trouble, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Candlemas, and Witchfinder General. Also classic rock guitarists like Frank Marino, Robin Trower, and Cream. Frank Zappa and The Residents were influences too — so not just metal. Our tastes are pretty eclectic.
Todd Owens:
Any newer bands you’re into?
Chris Reifert:
Yeah, there’s tons now — second and third generation death metal bands, as long as they care about songwriting and don’t just try to be fast or slow. I love new music and don’t dismiss anything past the ’80s. There’s great underground stuff coming out constantly.
Todd Owens:
What’s on the horizon for Autopsy?
Chris Reifert:
We have a mini LP called Skull Grinder coming out in November, and a four-CD box set called After the Cutting with old, new, and unheard material. Plus a few more shows — making it up as we go.
Todd Owens:
Do you have any favorite drummers or drum setups?
Chris Reifert:
I have some favorites that haven’t changed much. I’m impressed by fast, technical drummers but what I really like is looseness and creativity — guys like Keith Moon, Clive Burr, Dave Lombardo, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, Bill Ward, Peter Criss. The kind of raw, reckless energy.
Todd Owens:
Last question: Violation Wound — anything coming up there?
Chris Reifert:
Yeah, we have tons of releases coming — splits, a double album, compilation appearances. It’s pretty much punk — old style punk, not the trendy stuff. Speedy hardcore with an old-school vibe. We were inspired by lost Mystic Records bands — obscure stuff you never heard.
Todd Owens:
You’ve been playing guitar a long time too, right?
Chris Reifert:
Since around 1982, mostly at home writing songs, not really on stage. I’m not a virtuoso, more cave man-ish. But I like interacting with other musicians and get my creativity out that way.
Todd Owens:
Thanks so much for your time, Chris. Any last words for Capital Chaos TV viewers?
Chris Reifert:
Thanks for supporting our weirdness. If you can, check out Autopsy!
Catch Autopsy on tour and stream Skull Grinder wherever you get your music
Watch the full video interview below.
Interview by Todd Owens | Editing by Capital Chaos TV
Categories: Autopsy, Interviews
Capital Chaos TV 
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