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Sharing the passion for thrash metal bands like Slayer, Exodus, Kreator and Possessed was a given for 1985 era Pantera roadies Walt Trachsler and Jim Mulqueen. Trachsler who was Darrell Abbotts guitar tech and Mulqueen, an all around general roadie decided to combine the love of that thrash music and formed one of the original Texas thrash bands, Rotting Corpse.

Trachsler met Arlington resident John Perez, founder of the Doom Metal outfit Solitude Aeturnus through a posted advertisement at Pipe Dream Records in Arlington seeking musicians that shared the same passions as Perez.

It was Perez who posted the history-making ad in the spring of 1985.

With Trachsler, Perez and Mulqueen in place, it was time to create the concept of Rotting Corpse. The band name selection process fell upon Trachsler and Perez who elected to choose the name Rotting Corpse.

The moniker was chosen when no thrash band existed in the area, thus earning the right to claim the title for the first thrash band for the Dallas Fort Worth area. The goal was to select a name that would peak the curiosity of fans alike and challenge the norm. And with a name that was as vile as it was for the time, the goal of selecting the proper name was obtained.

After what seemed to be a never-ending search, drummer David Gryder came into the picture.

During the bands five-year tenure Corpse released four self financed demo cassette tapes with the second and third (unreleased) demos being produced by Vinnie Paul. The fourth demo featured a cover version of ACDCs Walk All Over You, the bands only recorded cover song.

Mike Scaccia of Ministry and Rigor Mortis says the Rotting Corpse version of the classic ACDC song is the best cover song hes ever heard.

The demos released by Rotting Corpse saw favorable print reviews, solid sales, distribution and tape trading throughout the metal underground communities worldwide.

Rotting Corpse shared the stage with notable underground metal bands such as Death, Nasty Savage, Nuclear Assualt, Devastation and Dark Angel with Corpse being tapped as main support for the Texas leg of the Dark Angel tour in July of 1987.

Nuclear Assualts Dan Liker who was the original bass player in Anthrax proclaimed Rotting Corpse as Americas noisiest band.

Corpse was laid to rest on Valentines Day 1990 but was given life 14-years later with Murphy and Trachsler getting together with former members, Luke Brewer on guitars and Randy Gribb on drums for an impromptu jam the weekend of Murphys wedding in July 2004.

What was meant as a final hoorah and a quick trip down memory lane for the four band mates actually triggered the passion that was burning inside Trachsler in the early days of Rotting Corpse.

With bassist Murphy leading the charge, all the early Rotting Corpse demos including the two demos produced by Vinnie Paul were re-mastered and officially released on CD for the first time through their own label, F**k It Records.

Rotting Corpse along with original vocalist Mulqueen have been playing sporadically throughout Texas sharing the stage fellow thrashers Rigor Mortis and Gammacide ..ed nights.

Rick Perry of Gammacide says, Walt (Trachsler) plays rhythm guitar like (James) Hetfield (Metallica) did back when he was badass.

Screw the Nu, the Old School is back in session. Rotting Corpse has been resurrected.