Henry Derek Elis

Henry Derek Elis (born Henry Derek Bonner; March 8, 1978) is an American musician and the lead vocalist for the extreme metal band Act of Defiance from Los Angeles, California.[1]

Henry Derek Elis
Birth nameHenry Derek Bonner
Also known asHenry Derek, To The Boy Elis
Born (1978-03-08) March 8, 1978
Milledgeville, Georgia, U.S.
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
GenresThrash metal, melodic death metal, metalcore, groove metal, industrial metal, gothic metal, country, folk, blues
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, keyboard
Years active1995–present
LabelsMetal Blade, Roadrunner
Associated acts
Websitehenryderekelis.com

Biography

Early years

Henry Derek Elis (née Bonner) was born in Milledgeville, Georgia on March 8, 1978. Raised by his grandmother, Henry Derek grew up next to Central State Hospital, Georgia's state mental asylum.[2] His music career began in 1995 when he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and formed the black gothic metal band Lilitu.[3] Henry Derek later joined the Sweet Meat Love & Holy Cult folk collective, releasing acoustic-based folk music under the moniker To The Boy Elis before moving to Los Angeles, California.[4]

Scar the Martyr

Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison formed heavy metal band Scar the Martyr in April, 2013.[5] On June 21, 2013 the full lineup was announced, with Henry Derek as lead vocalist.[6] Elis left the band a year later due to creative and personal differences.[7][8] Elis appears on the band's debut album, Scar the Martyr, released on October 1, 2013 via Roadrunner Records.[9]

Thrown Into Exile, Act of Defiance

On December 25, 2014, it was announced that Henry Derek was the new vocalist for the metal band Thrown into Exile.[10] He then formed the heavy metal super-group, Act of Defiance, with Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover, both former members of Megadeth, and Matt Bachand of Shadows Fall in February 2015.[1] Act of Defiance embarked on their first European tour in summer, 2018.[11]

QAALM

On July 14, 2019 it was announced that Henry Derek Elis was playing lead guitar in a new Los Angeles based Doom band Qaalm. Qaalm made a stream of there demo available on Bandcamp and consists of Pete Majors Ex Harassor - Lead Vocals, Henry Derek Elis - Lead Guitar, Christopher Jon Ex I, Parasite- Keys & Samples, Brock Elmore - Guitar & Backing Vocals, David Huet - Bass and Etay Levy - Drums.

Solo career

Henry Derek Elis released his EP, Don't Look, on September 14, 2018, followed by his debut solo album, The Devil Is My Friend, on October 26, 2018.[2] Elis sings, plays banjo, mandolin, bass, organ, dobro, classical, baritone, acoustic and electric guitars. The album also includes contributions from Aubrey Richmond & John Schreffler Jr. (Shooter Jennings), Jarboe (Swans), Tara Vanflower (Lycia), Neal Tiemann (DevilDriver), and Sera Timms (Black Mare).[4] On October 12, 2018, reporter Robert Crawford included Henry Derek's song, "What's Left of Us", in Rolling Stone's 10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week writing, "Elis delivers this haunting, minor-key barn-burner like a carnival barker who's gone hoarse, framing his Tom Waits-ish growl with swirls of fiddle and pedal steel. A Southern gothic standout from his new release, The Devil Is My Friend, "What's Left of Us" is gravely and graveyard-worthy — the perfect soundtrack for mid-October."[12]

Bands

Discography

Solo albums
  • The Devil Is My Friend (2018)
  • Don't Look (EP, 2018)
  • All the Pretty Little Horses (EP, 2020)

Lilitu
  • Servants of Twilight (1997)
  • The Earth Gods (2000)
  • Memorial (2001)
  • The Delores Lesion (2004)

Crying for Winter
  • Crying for Winter (1997)

Blood Promise
  • Demo 2006 (2006)
  • Demo 2007 (2007)

To the Boy Elis
  • Love Is Like the Cost of Livin' (2008)

Scar the Martyr

Thrown into Exile
  • Safe Inside (2016)

Act of Defiance

References
  1. Pasbani, Robert. "Former Megadeth Members Officially Launch New Band, Act of Defiance; Offer First Taste of New Music", Metal Injection, 26 February 2015. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  2. "Henry Derek Elis to release The Devil is My Friend album in October; video trailer streaming", Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, 17 September 2018. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  3. "Lilitu", Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  4. Pozo, Gonzalo. "Act of Defiance / Ex-Scar the Martyr Singer Henry Derek Elis To Release 'The Devil Is My Friend' Solo Album In November", Sonic Perspectives, 18 September 2018. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  5. Rosenberg, Axl. "Joey Jordison and Jed Simon Are Working On a New Project Together", MetalSucks, 24 April 2013. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  6. Rosenberg, Axl. "Joey Jordison's New Band Has a Name Now", MetalSucks, 21 June 2013. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  7. "Singer Henry Derek Bonner 'Quits' Joey Jordison's Scar the Martyr", Blabbermouth.net, 10 April 2014. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  8. "Joey Jordison's Scar the Martyr: Singer Henry Derek Bonner Was Fired From Band", Blabbermouth.net, 10 April 2014. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  9. "Slipknot Drummer's Scar the Martyr To Release Debut Album In October", Blabbermouth.net, 24 July 2013. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  10. Werkheiser, Seth. "Thrown Into Exile aim to "Restore the Truth", Metal Insider, 25 December 2014. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  11. "Act of Defiance European tour and festival appearances confirmed for July and August of 2018!", Metal Blade Records, 26 February 2018. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
  12. Crawford, Robert. "10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Tim McGraw, Lauren Jenkins", Rolling Stone, 12 October 2018. Retrieved on 22 October 2018.
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