GW What led to Chuck getting his first guitar?

SCHULDINER Chuck’s father and I were searching for something to help Chuck with his grief over losing his brother. We discussed it with him and an acoustic guitar seemed the best. It was portable, something he could carry with him when we went on vacation or camping, to a friend’s house or wherever.

GW Did Chuck take guitar lessons?

SCHULDINER Chuck found the acoustic guitar lessons and his teacher boring, he didn’t like the repetitious of it all. From the first time he played the electric guitar it was as if a switch was turned on in him and it never turned off.

GW So Chuck was self taught.

SCHULDINER I guess you could say that. He had a very good ear for music early on and what he listened to he taught himself to play. He absolutely loved doing that. Chuck taught his nephew, Christopher, to play on the Stealth and he said Christopher also had that ear for music.

GW What was Chuck’s earliest exposure to music?

SCHULDINER Chuck’s father and I always listened to a wide range of music and so Chuck was exposed to that from an early age. He liked a wide range of music throughout his life, though heavy metal was what he really loved.

GW Do you remember when Chuck first formed Death?

SCHULDINER Chuck organized his first band in our garage a few years after the death of his brother. The first name Chuck wanted for the band was taken so the name Death was chosen. From our talks after we found out about his illness, it was obvious to me to that was the deciding factor.

GW Do you remember the first time Chuck played guitar in public?

SCHULDINER I think he was about 15 when he first played in public. He and his friends played at a park near our house in Altamonte Springs. I was there and I remember it very well and have pictures of that day.

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