Napalm Death are an English grindcore band, founded by Nic Bullen (bass guitar, vocals) and Miles Ratledge (drums) in May 1981 when the two were 12/13 years old. The band currently consists of bassist Shane Embury (since 1987), lead vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway (since 1989), drummer Danny Herrera (since 1991) and guitarist John Cooke (a touring member from 2015).

History Bullen and Ratledge founded the band as an extension of their Fanzine writing. The two were joined by Daryl "Dez" Fedeski on guitar in August 1981, and Graham Robertson on bass in January 1982.

Fedeski departed that October, Robertson moved to guitar, and Bullen took over bass until Finbar Quinn joined on bass and backing vocals. The band entered a hiatus in June 1983 and played one concert on 8 June 1984, at which they were joined by Marian Williams on additional vocals.

In July 1985, the band consisted of Ratledge on drums, Bullen on bass guitar/vocals, Robertson and Damien Errington on guitars. This line up was short lived, as Bullen and Ratledge reverted the band to a trio with Justin Broadrick on guitar. The trio played their first concert on 31 August 1985. They were joined by Peter Shaw on bass in September, who recorded the demo Hatred Surge with the band.

The band split with Miles Ratledge soon after, with Bullen and Broadrick being joined by local fan Mick Harris. The trio first performed in December 1985 and recorded half an LP in August 1986. This was originally planned to be split with Atavistic but later became the A side to their debut, Scum.

After recording, the band were joined by Jim Whitely on bass guitar. This four piece played a few concerts before Broadrick left and Frank Healy joined as his temporary replacement.

Bullen, the sole remaining founding member, left in March 1987. The band found full time replacements in Bill Steer on guitar and Lee Dorrian on lead vocals. This line-up recorded the B side to Scum, which was released in 1987.

During promotion for Scum, Whitely departed and was replaced by Shane Embury, a friend of Harris and Bullen. This line-up recorded From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988) before Steer and Dorian departed after a Japanese tour in July 1989. Harris and Embury recruited Jesse Pintado (ex-Terrorizer) on guitar and Mark "Barney" Greenway (ex-Benediction) as lead singer. Mitch Harris (ex-Righteous Pigs) joined as second guitarist after the tour.

Mick Harris departed after releasing Harmony Corruption (1990) in February 1991. His replacement was Danny Herrera.

The next line-up change was Greenway's departure in 1996. He was replaced by Phil Vane of Extreme Noise Terror, a band with Greenway joined after his departure. Vane remained with the band for a few months before being expelled. Greenway then returned to record vocals for Inside the Torn Apart (1997); Vane subsequently re-joined Extreme Noise Terror.

Pintado departed by April 2005, having not played on their past two studio albums. He was not replaced and the band reverted to having one guitarist. Mitch Harris went on indefinite touring hiatus in 2014; his touring replacement has been John Cooke who had previously acted as road manager, driver, as well as substitute vocalist and bassist in 2010 and 2012 respectively. In 2026, on a podcast with Matt Mills from Heavy Stories Podcast Shane Embury confirmed that Mitch Harris is not in Napalm Death anymore. Other substitutes included ex-Brutal Truth and Nuclear Assault guitarist Erik Burke.

Members Current members ImageNameYears activeInstruments Release contributionsShane Embury1987–presentall releases except Scum (1987)Mark "Barney" Greenwaylead vocals all releases from Harmony Corruption (1990) onwardsDanny Herrera1991–presentdrums all releases from Utopia Banished (1992) onwardsJohn Cooke2022–present all releases from Apex Predator – Easy Meat (2015)

Former members ImageNameYears activeInstruments Release contributions Nicholas "Nik Napalm" Bullen Scum (1987) A side and all demos Miles "Rat" Ratledge drums all demos from "Halloween" (1982) to "Hatred Surge" (1985) Daryl "Daz F" Fedeski 1981–1982 guitar Graham "Robbo" Robertson Finbar "Fin" Quinn Marian Williams 1984 additional vocals rowspan="2" Damien Errington 1985 guitar Justin Broadrick 1985–1986 Mick Harris 1985–1991 Peter "P-Nut" Shaw 1985bass guitar "Hatred Surge" (1985) Jim Whitely Frank Healy 1987guitar Bill Steer 1987–1989 Lee Dorrian lead vocals Jesse Pintado 1989–2004 guitar all releases from Harmony Corruption (1990) to The DVD (2001) Mitch Harris 1989–2020 all releases from Harmony Corruption (1990) to Resentment is Always Seismic - A Final Throw of Throes (2022) Phil Vane 1996 lead vocals

Touring musicians ImageNameYears activeInstruments Notes Erik Burke 2015 guitar Burke played guitar in place of Harris on a North American tour in 2015. Vernon Blake bass guitar Blake replaced Embury on two occasions, first in 2015 and again in 2019 and 2020. Jesper Liveröd 2017 Liverod played in place of Embury in 2017. Adam Clarkson 2023–present Clarkson played in place of Embury occasionally since 2023. Matt Sheridan 2026 bass guitar Sheridan played bass on the NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

Timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembers Releases May – August 1981 Nic Bullen – bass guitar, lead vocals Miles Ratledge – drums rowspan="2" August 1981 – January 1982 Daryl Fedeski – guitar Nic Bullen – bass guitar, lead vocals Miles Ratledge – drums January – September 1982 Nic Bullen – lead vocals Daryl Fedeski – guitar Graham Robertson – bass guitar Miles Ratledge – drums "Halloween" (1982) "And, Like Sheep, We Have All Gone Astray" (1982) October – December 1982 Graham Robertson – guitar Nic Bullen – bass guitar, lead vocals Miles Ratledge – drums January – June 1983 Nic Bullen – lead vocals Graham Robertson – guitar Fin Quinn – bass guitar, backing vocals Miles Ratledge – drums "Kak" (1983) "Unpopular Yawns of Middle Class Warfare" (1983)band inactive June 1983 — June 1984 June 1984 Nic Bullen – lead vocals Marian Williams – additional vocals Graham Robertson – guitar Fin Quinn – bass guitar, backing vocals Miles Ratledge – drums band inactive June 1984 — July 1985 July – August 1985 Graham Robertson – guitar Damien Errington – guitar Nic Bullen – bass guitar, lead vocals Miles Ratledge – drums rowspan="2" August – September 1985 Justin Broadrick – guitar Nic Bullen – bass guitar, lead vocals Miles Ratledge – drums September – December 1985 Nic Bullen – lead vocals Justin Broadrick – guitar Peter "P-Nut" Shaw – bass guitar Miles Ratledge – drums "Hatred Surge" (1985) December 1985 – September 1986 Nic Bullen – bass guitar, lead vocals Justin Broadrick – guitar, lead vocals Mick Harris – drums "From Enslavement to Obliteration (Demo)" (1986) "Scum (Demo)" (1986) Scum (1987) A side September — October 1986 Nic Bullen – lead vocals Justin Broadrick – guitar Jim Whitely – bass guitar Mick Harris – drums rowspan="2" October 1986 – March 1987 Nic Bullen – lead vocals Frank Healy – guitar Jim Whitely – bass guitar Mick Harris – drums March – November 1987 Lee Dorian – lead vocals Bill Steer – guitar Jim Whitely – bass guitar Mick Harris – drums, backing vocals Scum (1987) B side November 1987 – July 1989 Lee Dorian – lead vocals Bill Steer – guitar Shane Embury – bass guitar Mick Harris – drums, backing vocals From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988) Mentally Murdered (1989) The Complete Radio One Sessions (2000) The DVD (2001) August – late 1989 Barney Greenway – lead vocals Jesse Pintado – guitar Shane Embury – bass guitar Mick Harris – drums, backing vocals The DVD (2001) Live at Rock City (2019) Late 1989 – early 1991 Barney Greenway – vocals Jesse Pintado – guitars Mitch Harris – guitar Shane Embury – bass guitar Mick Harris – drums, backing vocals Harmony Corruption (1990) Mass Appeal Madness (1991) The Complete Radio One Sessions (2000) The DVD (2001) Early 1991 – 1996 Barney Greenway – lead vocals Jesse Pintado – guitar Mitch Harris – guitar, backing vocals Shane Embury – bass guitar Danny Herrera – drums Utopia Banished (1992) Fear, Emptiness, Despair (1994) Diatribes (1996) Bootlegged in Japan (1998) The Complete Radio One Sessions (2000) 1996 Phil Vane – lead vocals Jesse Pintado – guitar Mitch Harris – guitar, backing vocals Shane Embury – bass guitar Danny Herrera – drums 1996 – early 2004 Barney Greenway – lead vocals Jesse Pintado – guitar Mitch Harris – guitar, backing vocals Shane Embury – bass guitar Danny Herrera – drums Inside the Torn Apart (1997) Words from the Exit Wound (1998) Leaders Not Followers (1999) Enemy of the Music Business (2000) Order of the Leech (2002) Punishment in Capitals (2002) Leaders Not Followers: Part 2 (2004) Early 2004 – November 2014 Barney Greenway – lead vocals Mitch Harris – guitar, backing vocals Shane Embury – bass guitar, backing vocals Danny Herrera – drums The Code Is Red...Long Live the Code (2005) Smear Campaign (2006) Time Waits for No Slave (2009) Live in Japan – Grind Kaijyu Attack! (2009) Utilitarian (2012) November 2014 – present Barney Greenway – lead vocals Mitch Harris – guitar, backing vocals John Cooke – guitar, backing vocals Shane Embury – bass guitar, backing vocals Danny Herrera – drumsApex Predator – Easy Meat (2015) Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism (2020) Resentment Is Always Seismic (2022)

References

Bibliography