I have been singing in bands for 15 years. Over the years I have challenged myself at different types of singing. Led by anger, passion, and real life issues, I try to relate to the listener with every line. The band lays down the music and I take the song and try to deliver the message Many times I let the guitars determine the subject of the song by the tones, and with Dead-Lift, it happens to be a perfect fit. Since 2003, we've worked together to make great music and we try like Hell to keep the listeners guessing what's coming next.
With every album or demo we release I try to mix up the style to touch the old and the new audience. I have found my influences changing vastly over the years which range from mainstream to the underground. My favorite Artists include Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, Bush, 36 Crazyfists, Slipknot, Eminem, Tonedeff, Rage Against the Machine, POD, Deftones, Walls of Jericho, Lynyrd Skynyrd, U2, Skindred, and the list goes on and on.
It all started from the first clicks of the hi-hat of "Back in Black" by AC/DC, I knew I had to play guitar. I started taking lessons at age 8, mainly classical, jazz and blues. That wasn't exactly what I was into but it did give me a better understanding of my craft. Playing guitar has been very therapeutic in dealing with all that life has to offer. It's a process of blending every emotion into something that everyone can connect with.
My main influences range from AC/DC, Exodus, Bolt Thrower, Metallica, Pantera, Type O Negative, Lamb of God, Ozzy, G'n'R' and Alice in Chains, but I'll listen to almost anything - except Country. I play Jackson guitars, Crate cab, GHS Strings, Furman power conditioner, Korg tuner and a Rocktron Chameleon 2000 and Velocity Amp.
Playing guitar since he was 14, Brian Kurtz has been crafting his skill for almost 15 years. Starting off listening to bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Brian quickly broadened his taste into heavy music listening to Megadeth, Metallica and Black Sabbath.
Bringing his unique style influenced (think Hendrix, Clapton, Mustaine, Hetfield, Hammet and Cantrel), Brian joined his first band in 1996. This band exisitedunder a few different names (Pea Shooter, Negative Feedback and Suspended in Kaos) brought him through the end of high school and into college eventually coming to an end in 2002.
During an experimental phase, Brian joined Intellectual Confusion in 2000 combining Pink Flyod and Megadeth. In fact, Brian originally joined the band as the lead singer but quickly switched gears and took over guitar responsibilies. 2002 brought Brian into Misaligned. Started by his brother and his roommate, Brian joined as just a practice buddy for his roommate.
In 2003 the tragic death of high school band mate Ricky (inspiration for the Dead-Lift song Americo's Melody) introduced Brian and Misaligned to Dead-Lift. After this Misaligned and Dead-Lift developed a great relationship and played many shows together including two at Sheppards Park in Lake George during Americade (04 and 05). Misaligned played at many venues including The Chance, The Loft and Club Crannel in Poughkeepsie. January 06 brought the end of Misaligned at a farwell show at Popeyes in Peekskill.
Brian was invited by Dead-Lift to try out as a second guitarist in the summer of 06. It was quickly realized that he was a good fit and jumped in feet first with his first two shows being the Most Original Band Contest Finals and opening Big Day Out at S.P.A.C in 06. Brian has helped write songs No Comprimise, Crossed the Line and Poor Man's Anthem among others.
Brian plays a 1996 Fender American Standard Stratocaster with DR strings. He plugs into a Rocktron Prophesey preamp and a Mesa Boogie 50/50 power amp and a Mesa Boogie Rectifier Standard 4x12 4FB cab.
With Dead-Lift forging ahead with two new members Brian hopes to be a part of the great song writing and chemistry that the band has.
aka Maddog aka Gorby Hetfield aka Old Man. Started playing guitar at age 8 after his father took him to see Kiss at the Palace Theater in Albany New York in 1978 changing his life forever. With metal music flowing through his veins, he played with many different peeps. His first claim to fame came in the early 1990s in a band called Kaptain Krunch he opened for many national acts such as Pantera, Overkill, Biohazard, Sacred Riech, Metal Church, Nuclear Assault, King Diamond, SOD, Mucky Pup, MOD, Savatage, Testament, and many more. After being diagnosis with carpel tunnel, and not being able to play the guitar anymore, he turned his attention to ripping up the bass. He played in the bands Driven Further, Junkhead, and Days are Numbered. Meeting up with the ever heavy fuckers from Dead-Lift a new era begins. With new ideas and new grooves coming forth like a head getting hit with a baseball bat the general public is in for one hell of a treat because dead-lift is fucking back mother fuckers so get ready to rip your faces off cause we are here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!