Editing Obituary (band)

{{short description|American death metal band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Obituary
| image             = Hellfest2017Obituary 03.jpg
| caption           = Obituary at [[Hellfest]] 2017
| image_upright     = 1.2
| landscape         = yes
| alias             = {{flatlist|
* Executioner (1984–1986)
* Xecutioner (1986–1988)
}}
| origin            = [[Tampa, Florida]], U.S.
| genre             = [[Death metal]]
| discography       = [[Obituary discography]]
| years_active      = {{flatlist|
* 1984–1998
* 2003–present
}}
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Relapse Records|Relapse]]
* [[Candlelight Records|Candlelight]]
* [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|obituary.cc}}
| current_members   = * John Tardy
* Donald Tardy
* [[Trevor Peres]]
* [[Terry Butler]]
* Ken Andrews
| past_members      = * [[Allen West (musician)|Allen West]]
* Daniel Tucker
* [[James Murphy (guitarist)|James Murphy]]
* [[Frank Watkins (musician)|Frank Watkins]]
* [[Ralph Santolla]]
}}

'''Obituary''' is an American [[death metal]] band formed in [[Tampa, Florida]], in 1984. Initially called Executioner, they were one of the fundamental acts in the development of the death metal genre,<ref>{{cite web |last=Birchmeier |first=Jason |date=<!--none given--> |title=Obituary &#124; Biography |website=[[AllMusic]] |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/obituary-mn0000465562/biography |access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> and are one of the genre's most successful bands of all time.<ref name="blabbermouth_cc">{{cite news |date=November 17, 2003 |title=It's Official: CANNIBAL CORPSE Are The Top-Selling Death Metal Band Of The SoundScan Era |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/it-s-official-cannibal-corpse-are-the-top-selling-death-metal-band-of-the-soundscan-era/ |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref> Obituary has released eleven studio albums and, with the exception of a five-year hiatus from 1998 to 2003, they continue to perform live.

Obituary's current lineup consists of vocalist John Tardy, drummer Donald Tardy, rhythm guitarist [[Trevor Peres]], bassist [[Terry Butler]], and lead guitarist Ken Andrews. The band has gone through several lineup changes, with the Tardy brothers and Peres being the only constant members.

==History==
===Early career (1984–1990)===
Founded as Executioner in [[Seffner, Florida|Seffner]], [[Florida]] in 1984, they soon dropped the "E" from their name after discovering another band of the same name, becoming Xecutioner. The band's first lineup was composed of John Tardy (lead vocals), Donald Tardy (drums), [[Trevor Peres]] (rhythm guitar), Jerome Grable (bass) and Jerry Tidwell (lead guitar). The band was inspired by [[Hellhammer]]/[[Celtic Frost]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Judas Priest]], [[Slayer]],<ref>{{cite web|date= November 3, 2015|title=Interview: Trevor Peres of Obituary|url=https://www.moshville.co.uk/interview/2015/11/interview-trevor-peres-of-obituary/|website=moshville.co.uk|accessdate=January 29, 2025}}</ref> [[Savatage]], [[Nasty Savage]], and bands in the then-burgeoning [[Florida death metal]] scene: [[Death (metal band)|Death]] and [[Morbid Angel]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Stevenson|first1=Arielle|date=October 22, 2009|title=The way the music died: The earliest days of Tampa Death Metal|url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/music/the-way-the-music-died-the-earliest-days-of-tampa-death-metal/1046088|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027025354/https://www.tampabay.com/features/music/the-way-the-music-died-the-earliest-days-of-tampa-death-metal/1046088/|archive-date=October 27, 2009|website=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|publisher=[[Times Publishing Company]]|accessdate=April 26, 2016}}</ref> The band released demos between 1985 and 1987 (the 1985 demo as Executioner and the 1986 and 1987 demos as Xecutioner). They made their vinyl debut in 1987 with two tracks ("Find the Arise" and "Like the Dead") on the ''Raging Death'' compilation.

Not long after the release of the compilation, bassist Grable was replaced by Daniel Tucker and guitarist Tidwell was replaced by [[Allen West (musician)|Allen West]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} The following year, shortly before the release of the band's first album ''[[Slowly We Rot]]'' (1989), they changed their name to Obituary.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} Soon after the release of the album, however, Tucker and West quit the band and were respectively replaced by [[Frank Watkins (musician)|Frank Watkins]]{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} and then-[[Death (metal band)|Death]] guitarist [[James Murphy (guitarist)|James Murphy]]. This new lineup recorded the band's second album ''[[Cause of Death (album)|Cause of Death]]'', which was released on September 19, 1990,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Birchmeier |first=Jason |title=Cause of Death - Obituary |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cause-of-death-mw0000690757 |access-date=16 February 2025 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> and is often considered to be one of the most important death metal albums of all time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |date=November 1, 2018 |title=11 Florida Death Metal Albums You Need |work=[[Loudwire|Loudwire.com]] |url=https://loudwire.com/11-florida-death-metal-albums-you-need/ |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Yardley |first=Miranda |date=August 24, 2012 |title=The Terrorizer Friday Death Metal Top 15 |work=[[Terrorizer (magazine)|Terrorizer.com]] |url=http://www.terrorizer.com/news/features-2/the-terrorizer-friday-death-metal-top-15/ |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref>

===Rise to success (1991–1997)===
In 1991, just prior to the writing and recording sessions of their third album, Murphy left Obituary to join [[Cancer (band)|Cancer]] and was replaced by a returning Allen West. The lineup of Peres, Watkins, West and the Tardy brothers recorded the band's next three albums, starting with ''[[The End Complete]]'' (1992). ''The End Complete'' was a moderate success for Obituary, having sold more than a hundred thousand copies,<ref name="blabbermouth_cc"/> and it was the band's first album to chart in the United States and Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Heatseekers Albums Chart |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard.com]] |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/Heatseekers-albums/1992-05-16 |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name="UK-chart">{{cite web |title=OBITUARY &#124; Official Charts Company |publisher=Officialcharts.com |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/obituary/ |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name="GER-chart">{{cite web |title=Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts |publisher=Musicline.de |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Obituary/longplay |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name="NLD-chart">{{cite web |title=Dutch Charts |publisher=Dutchcharts.nl |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=obituary&cat=a |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref> This success also resulted in the release of Obituary's first-ever music video "The End Complete", which received significant airplay on [[MTV]]'s ''[[Headbangers Ball]]''.<ref name="hbb">{{cite news |title=Headbangers Ball- The Unofficial Tribute Site - Episode Database |work=headbangersballunofficialtributesite.com |url=http://www.headbangersballunofficialtributesite.com/episode-database |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref>

Obituary's fourth studio album, ''[[World Demise]]'', was released in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jeffries |first=Vincent |date= |title=World Demise - Obituary |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r204471 |accessdate=October 13, 2011 |website=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=}}</ref> Although the album did not sell as well as ''The End Complete'', it still managed to reach the top 100 in several territories, including the United States,<ref>{{cite web |title=Heatseekers Albums Chart |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard.com]] |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/Heatseekers-albums/1994-09-24 |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref> United Kingdom,<ref name="UK-chart"/> Germany,<ref name="GER-chart"/> Switzerland<ref>{{cite web |title=Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community |publisher=Hitparade.ch |url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=obituary&cat=a |access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref> and the Netherlands,<ref name="NLD-chart"/> and a music video for "Don't Care" was shot.<ref name="hbb"/>

After a two-and-a-half year break from touring and recording, Obituary released their fifth studio album ''[[Back from the Dead (Obituary album)|Back from the Dead]]'' in 1997. While the band did not abandon the death metal sound it had become known for with its previous albums, ''Back from the Dead'' is noted for being Obituary's most diverse record, incorporating elements of [[groove metal]], [[hardcore punk]], and in particular, its closing track "Bullituary" is played in a [[rap metal|rap]]/[[nu metal]] style.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bromley |first=Adrian |date=July 6, 1997 |title=CoC : Obituary - Back from the Dead : Review |url=http://chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=2-481 |access-date=November 29, 2024 |website=[[Chronicles of Chaos (webzine)|Chronicles of Chaos]]}}</ref><ref name="voicesfromthedarkside">{{Cite web |last=Dávid |first=László |title=Voices From The Darkside |url=https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interview/obituary/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |website=Voices from the Dark Side}}</ref> Regarding the album's musical direction, John Tardy recalls: "We took a more raw approach with that album. We used a new producer Jaime Locke on that record. We really like the [[New York hardcore|NY Hardcore]] sound and those influences came out on that record. I love the album really in your face. Also my friends Skinner T and #1 Diablo did some rapping on it."<ref name="voicesfromthedarkside"/>

===Breakup and comeback (1998–2014)===
[[File:Obituary live in Toronto, 2009.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Obituary in 2009]]
By 1998, Obituary had disbanded due to exhaustion from touring, lack of support from their label, and its band members getting jobs and raising families of their own.<ref name="voicesfromthedarkside"/><ref name="substack">{{Cite web |last=Salmeron |first=J. |date=July 13, 2012 |title=The killer sounds of Obituary - by J. Salmeron |url=https://promethean.substack.com/p/obituary-interview |access-date=November 29, 2024 |website=promethean.substack.com}}</ref> John Tardy said, "We stopped because there were a lot of politics in the band at the time. We were spending more than we were making, the label stopped supporting us and we were all getting older and for the first time in our lives realized this wasn't going to last forever. So we all had different opinions about our band."<ref name="voicesfromthedarkside"/> Guitarist Trevor Peres later claimed that one of the reasons Obituary broke up was because they "had been together since we were teenagers, and then all of a sudden it turned into a professional thing and we were touring and for like 10 years we didn't live like normal people, we were like animals, like monkeys in a cage."<ref name="substack"/>

Following Obituary's breakup, Donald Tardy played in [[Andrew W.K.]]'s touring band (during W.K.'s appearance on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' Tardy wore an Obituary shirt). Allen West focused on his two projects, Lowbrow and [[Six Feet Under (band)|Six Feet Under]]. [[Trevor Peres]] formed Catastrophic in 2001, which released one album, ''The Cleansing'', in that same year. Obituary reformed in 2003 and Catastrophic continued to exist alongside the reformed Obituary. A reunion album, ''[[Frozen in Time (album)|Frozen in Time]]'', was released in 2005. The band's first live DVD, ''[[Frozen Alive]]'', was released in January 2007.

Obituary was signed with [[Candlelight Records]] for its next three releases, ''[[Xecutioner's Return]]'' (2007), ''[[Darkest Day]]'' (2009), and the EP ''[[Left to Die]]'' (2008). A concert DVD release was also announced for January 2010.<ref name="newDVD">{{cite news |title=OBITUARY: 'Live Xecution' DVD Trailer Available - Dec. 4, 2009 |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=131427 |access-date=March 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228105546/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=131427 |archive-date=February 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2012, the band has been highly involved with the promotion of a new social networking site called Unation, as well as Donald Tardy beginning a Cat Sanctuary organization called Metal Meowlisha, an organization practicing "trap-neuter-vaccinate-return", and caring for 25 cat colonies (200 cats).<ref>{{cite web |last=Oliveira |first=Victoria |date=September 23, 2014 |title=INTERVIEW: OBITUARY' |publisher=RockRevolt Magazine |url=http://rockrevoltmagazine.com/interview-obituary/}}</ref>

In April 2010, Obituary began work on new material for their ninth studio album ''[[Inked in Blood]]'', which was not released until 2014.<ref name=nextalbum>{{cite news |title=OBITUARY Begins Work On New Material - Apr. 20, 2010 |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=138853 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526081758/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=138853 |archive-date=May 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=OBITUARY To Perform First Three Albums During Live Pay-Per-Event - May 31, 2013 |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=190653 |access-date=May 31, 2010}}</ref><ref name=newalbum>{{cite news |title=OBITUARY: New Album Title Revealed - July 28, 2014 |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-new-album-title-revealed/ |access-date=July 29, 2014}}</ref> It was the first Obituary album not to be recorded with longtime bassist [[Frank Watkins (musician)|Frank Watkins]] since their 1989 debut album ''[[Slowly We Rot]]''<!-- Do not change this to "Cause of Death". "Slowly We Rot" was the last/only Obituary album not featuring Frank Watkins. -->.<ref name=newalbum/> On August 2, 2013, the band launched a [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unation/help-fund-a-new-obituary-album Kickstarter campaign] with a goal of raising $10,000.00; the money raised was promised to allow Obituary to record and release their ninth album independently. The goal was met on August 3. When interviewed by metal webzine ''All About the Rock'', John Tardy said of the Kickstarter campaign, "This campaign has been awesome and just confirms again what we already know and that is that we have the greatest fans in the world. We are using Kickstarter to raise enough money to release an album on our own. This is not a bash against record companies, it is just what we want to do. Years ago this would not even be a thought, but today we feel everything is in place for us, for better or worse, give it a shot.".<ref>{{cite web |last=Hogan |first=Craig |date=August 13, 2013 |title=Interview with Obituary frontman John Tardy |work=All About the Rock |url=http://allabouttherock.co.uk/interview-with-obituary-frontman-john-tardy/ |access-date=March 13, 2014}}</ref> Though the band raised enough money to self-released, they were still signed to [[Relapse Records]] and partnered with the label for distribution of ''Inked In Blood'', their first Relapse release.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--none given--> |date=June 9, 2014 |title=Obituary - Obituary and Relapse Records Join Forces; Band Finalizing New Album - Relapse Records |publisher=saladdaysmag.com |url=http://www.saladdaysmag.com/obituary-and-relapse-records-join-forces-band-finalizing-new-album/ |access-date=October 24, 2020}}</ref>

===Death of Frank Watkins, ''Obituary'' and ''Dying of Everything'' (2015–present)===
On October 18, 2015, former and longtime Obituary bassist [[Frank Watkins (musician)|Frank Watkins]] died from cancer.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 18, 2015 |title=Former Obituary Bassist Frank Watkins Dies At 47 |work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-obituary-bassist-frank-watkins-dies-at-47/ |access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref>

On August 24, 2016, Obituary streamed a new song called "Loathe", a B-side to their then-upcoming single "Ten Thousand Ways to Die", which was released on October 21.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 2016 |title=Obituary To Release 'Ten Thousand Ways To Die' Single In October; New Song 'Loathe' Streaming |work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-to-release-ten-thousand-ways-to-die-single-in-october-loathe-song/ |access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref> The band released its [[Obituary (album)|self-titled tenth studio album]] on March 17, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 11, 2017 |title=Obituary To Release Self-Titled Tenth Album In March |work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-to-release-self-titled-tenth-album-in-march/ |access-date=January 11, 2017}}</ref> A month prior to its release, the band released a song called "No", which appeared on [[Decibel (magazine)|''Decibel'' magazine]]'s flexi disc series.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 15, 2017 |title=Obituary Premieres New Track 'No' |work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=131652 |access-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref>

In November and December 2018, Obituary embarked on a European tour as part of [[Slayer]]'s [[Slayer Farewell Tour|farewell tour]], also featuring [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]] and [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]].<ref>{{cite news |date=May 11, 2018 |title=SLAYER Announces Final European Tour With LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX And OBITUARY |work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/slayer-announces-final-european-tour-with-lamb-of-god-anthrax-and-obituary/ |access-date=May 24, 2018}}</ref> When asked in a June 2018 interview about the next Obituary album, drummer Donald Tardy said, "We're always thinking about new songs and writing riffs and this and that. But at this time of our lives and this time of the music industry… This new album has only been out for just over a year now, so we're in no hurry to try and push another album out of us as quick as we can; there's no sense."<ref>{{cite news |date=June 15, 2018 |title=OBITUARY Is In No Rush To Make New Studio Album |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-is-in-no-rush-to-make-new-studio-album/ |access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref> In an August 2020 interview with Australia's Riff Crew, Donald Tardy revealed that, during the pandemic, Obituary had been working on a "monster" of a new album planned for release in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 6, 2020 |title=OBITUARY Is Working On 'Monster' New Album While In Quarantine |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-is-working-on-monster-new-album-while-in-quarantine/ |access-date=August 6, 2020}}</ref> The band had planned to tour in 2021, specifically Europe, in support of the record.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 15, 2020 |title=OBITUARY Is 'Knee Deep In Writing New Music', Says DONALD TARDY |publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-is-knee-deep-in-writing-new-music-says-donald-tardy/ |access-date=October 15, 2020}}</ref> In a March 2021 interview with France's United Rock Nations, vocalist John Tardy reiterated his brother's comments, saying that Obituary had been working on new material during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and added that their new album would be released in 2022, with a tour to follow.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-fans-shouldnt-expect-surprises-on-next-album-we-dont-like-to-evolve-too-much/|title=OBITUARY Fans Shouldn't Expect Surprises On Next Album: 'We Don't Like To Evolve Too Much'|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=March 29, 2021|date=March 29, 2021}}</ref> On November 10, 2022, Obituary released "The Wrong Time" as the lead single from their then-upcoming eleventh studio album ''[[Dying of Everything]]'', released on January 13, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|author=Amanda Hatfield|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/obituary-announce-new-lp-dying-of-everything-share-the-wrong-time-exclusive-vinyl/|title=Obituary announce new LP 'Dying of Everything,' share "The Wrong Time" (exclusive vinyl)|magazine=[[BrooklynVegan]]|access-date=November 10, 2022|date=November 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/obituary-announces-dying-of-everything-album-shares-the-wrong-time-music-video|title=OBITUARY Announces 'Dying Of Everything' Album, Shares 'The Wrong Time' Music Video|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=November 10, 2022|date=November 10, 2022}}</ref> As of May 2025, a new album by the band is in the works.<ref name="boxset">{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=58411|title=Obituary - Announce 'Godly Beings' Box Set|publisher=[[Metal Storm (webzine)|Metal Storm]]|access-date=May 11, 2025|date=May 11, 2025}}</ref>

An Obituary box set, titled ''Godly Beings'' is due for release on July 18, 2025 through Dissonance Productions. It will include the band's first four albums in their entirety with bonus tracks, and is "complimented with the addition of liner notes from writer David Gehlke, who has written ''Turned Inside Out'', the official biography of Obituary" and "four reproduction postcards featuring classic images of the band."<ref name="boxset" />

== Musical style ==
Obituary's music is based on heavy [[Groove (music)|groove]] guitar and drum riffs along with John Tardy's [[growling vocals]], creating one of the signature sounds of death metal. Obituary played material that was described as "slower, catchier" on the albums ''[[The End Complete]]'' and ''[[World Demise]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Purcell |first1=Natalie J. |title=Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture |publisher=McFarland |page=67}}</ref> Jon Wiederhorn of ''[[Loudwire]]'' wrote that the band "were less musically adept than [[Morbid Angel]] or [[Death (metal band)|Death]], so they downplayed whirlwind tempos for chugging, grimy half-time rhythms that sounded like they were oozing from a sewage treatment plant."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon|date=2017-08-31 |title=Death Metal 101: The History of Death Metal |url=https://loudwire.com/heavy-metal-101-history-of-death-metal/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref> Eduardo Rivadavia of ''Loudwire'' wrote, "Obituary managed to stand out among the early [[Florida death metal|Floridian death metal]] bands by way of a very simple, but effective songwriting strategy. Namely, while most of their contemporaries were still indebted to [[Thrash metal|thrash]] and raging away at blazing speeds, Obituary embraced the slower tempos typical of [[doom metal]], and fused it all together behind some of the era's heaviest guitar tones."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo|date=2018-11-01 |title=11 Florida Death Metal Albums You Need |url=https://loudwire.com/11-florida-death-metal-albums-you-need/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref>

==Band members==
<gallery perrow="5" caption="Obituary at Party.San Metal Open Air 2023">
File:Obituary Party.San Metal Open Air 2023 13.jpg|John Tardy
File:Obituary Party.San Metal Open Air 2023 19.jpg|Donald Tardy
File:Obituary Party.San Metal Open Air 2023 04.jpg|Trevor Peres
File:Obituary Party.San Metal Open Air 2023 09.jpg|Terry Butler
File:Obituary Party.San Metal Open Air 2023 21.jpg|Kenny Andrews
</gallery>{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}

'''Current members'''
* John Tardy – vocals (1988–1998, 2003–present)
* Donald Tardy – drums (1988–1998, 2003–present)
* [[Trevor Peres]] – rhythm guitar (1988–1998, 2003–present)
* [[Terry Butler]] – bass (2010–present)
* Kenny Andrews – lead guitar (2012–present)
{{col-3}}

'''Former members'''
* [[Allen West (musician)|Allen West]] – lead guitar (1988–1989, 1991–1998, 2003–2006)
* Daniel Tucker – bass (1988–1989)
* [[James Murphy (guitarist)|James Murphy]] – lead guitar (1989–1991)
* [[Frank Watkins (musician)|Frank Watkins]] – bass (1989–1998, 2003–2010; died 2015)
* [[Ralph Santolla]] – lead guitar (2007–2011; died 2018)
{{col-3}}

'''Former touring musicians'''
* [[Steve Di Giorgio]] – bass (2010)
* Lee Harrison – lead guitar (2012), drums (2018)
{{col-end}}

'''Timeline'''
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea = left:110 bottom:60 top:0 right:20
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1988 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1988
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1988

Colors=
  id:Vocals   value:red              legend:Vocals
  id:Lead     value:teal             legend:Lead_guitar
  id:Rhythm   value:brightgreen      legend:Rhythm_guitar
  id:Bass     value:blue             legend:Bass
  id:Drums    value:orange           legend:Drums
  id:Lines1   value:black            legend:Studio_album
  id:bars     value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1988
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1988

LineData=
  at:14/06/1989 color:black layer:back
  at:19/09/1990 color:black layer:back
  at:21/04/1992 color:black layer:back
  at:06/09/1994 color:black layer:back
  at:22/03/1997 color:black layer:back
  at:18/07/2005 color:black layer:back
  at:27/08/2007 color:black layer:back
  at:30/06/2009 color:black layer:back
  at:28/10/2014 color:black layer:back
  at:17/03/2017 color:black layer:back
  at:13/01/2023 color:black layer:back

BarData =
  bar:John        text:"John Tardy"
  bar:Allen       text:"Allen West"
  bar:James       text:"James Murphy"
  bar:Ralph       text:"Ralph Santolla †"
  bar:Ken         text:"Ken Andrews"
  bar:Trevor      text:"Trevor Peres"
  bar:Daniel      text:"Daniel Tucker"
  bar:Frank       text:"Frank Watkins †"
  bar:Terry       text:"Terry Butler"
  bar:Don         text:"Donald Tardy"

PlotData=
  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:John from:start        till:01/07/1998 color:Vocals
  bar:John from:01/07/2003   till:end color:Vocals
  bar:Don from:start         till:01/07/1998 color:Drums
  bar:Don from:01/07/2003    till:end color:Drums
  bar:Allen from:start       till:01/08/1989 color:Lead
  bar:Allen from:01/02/1991  till:01/07/1998 color:Lead
  bar:Allen from:01/07/1997  till:01/07/1998 color:Rhythm width:3
  bar:Allen from:01/07/2003  till:31/12/2006 color:Lead
  bar:Trevor from:start      till:01/07/1997 color:Rhythm
  bar:Trevor from:01/07/2003 till:end color:Rhythm
  bar:Daniel from:start      till:01/08/1989 color:Bass
  bar:Frank from:01/08/1989  till:01/07/1998 color:Bass
  bar:Frank from:01/07/2003  till:01/04/2010 color:Bass
  bar:James from:01/08/1989  till:01/02/1991 color:Lead
  bar:Ralph from:01/01/2007  till:31/12/2011 color:Lead
  bar:Terry from:01/04/2010  till:end color:Bass
  bar:Ken   from:01/01/2012  till:end color:Lead
}}

==Discography==
{{main|Obituary discography}}
<!-- This section is for studio albums only. DO NOT add "Ten Thousand Ways to Die" or any other release. -->
* ''[[Slowly We Rot]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Cause of Death (album)|Cause of Death]]'' (1990)
* ''[[The End Complete]]'' (1992)
* ''[[World Demise]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Back from the Dead (Obituary album)|Back from the Dead]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Frozen in Time (album)|Frozen in Time]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Xecutioner's Return]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Darkest Day]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Inked in Blood]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Obituary (album)|Obituary]]'' (2017)
* ''[[Dying of Everything]]'' (2023)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p13844|pure_url=yes}} Obituary at Allmusic]
* [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r14337|pure_url=yes}} Slowly We Rot at Allmusic]

==External links==
{{commons category|Obituary|Obituary (band)}}
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.obituary.cc/ Obituary.cc]

{{Obituary (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obituary}}
[[Category:1984 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines]]
[[Category:Death metal musical groups from Florida]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1984]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1998]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2003]]
[[Category:Musical quintets from Florida]]
[[Category:Roadrunner Records artists]]
[[Category:Candlelight Records artists]]
[[Category:Sibling musical groups]]