Dublin Death Patrol

Dublin Death Patrol

Dublin Death Patrol (DDP) is a thrash metal project born from the shared musical history and local roots of its members. The collaboration features Testament vocalist Chuck Billy alongside fellow Dublin, California musicians, including Willy Lange (Rampage, Laaz Rockit) and Steve "Zetro" Souza (formerly of Testament and Exodus), along with Souza's brothers Andy and Eddy, and other local artists.

Origins in the Bay Area Scene

The genesis of Dublin Death Patrol can be traced back to the early 1980s with a Bay Area thrash band named Rampage. This group comprised neighborhood friends from Dublin, California, including Chuck Billy, his brother Andy Billy, Greg Bustamante, Ernie Boehm, and Willie Lange. At approximately 18 years old, these musicians had known each other since childhood and were heavily influenced by a diverse range of artists, from classic rock acts like Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and Aerosmith to punk pioneers such as the Dead Kennedys and the Sex Pistols. Their sound was shaped by the vibrant musical landscape of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Reunion and Rebirth

The modern iteration of Dublin Death Patrol emerged in the summer of 2005. Lääz Rockit received an invitation to perform a reunion show in Holland at the Dynamo Open Air festival. Upon learning that Testament was also slated to perform, Willy Lange saw an opportunity to reconnect. This reunion led to conversations between Lange and Chuck Billy about reviving some of the older material they had written years prior but never recorded. Inspired by the enthusiastic reception of "old school metal" from a younger audience at the festival, the idea to reform Dublin Death Patrol solidified.

Recording "DDP 4 Life"

The newly formed Dublin Death Patrol began by rehearsing cover songs and a selection of their original compositions from two decades earlier. The synergy and quality of these songs were so compelling that the band decided to write new material. The songwriting process proved to be swift, and the resulting tracks exceeded their expectations. This creative momentum culminated in the decision to record and release their debut album, titled DDP 4 Life.

Band Members