Body Count is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1990. The group is fronted by
Ice T, who co-founded the group with lead guitarist Ernie C. out of their interest in heavy metal music. Ice-T took on the role of vocalist and writing the lyrics for most of the group's songs. Lead guitarist Ernie C has been responsible for writing the group's music.
-Wikipedia
Members:
Ice-T - vocals (1990-present)
Ernie C - lead guitar (1990-present)
Ill Will - drums (2009-present)
Vincent Price - bass (2001-present)
Juan of the Dead - rhythm guitar (2013-present)
Sean E Sean - live backing vocals, sampler (1990-present)
Name Origin:
According to Ice-T:
"We named the group Body Count because every Sunday night in L.A., I'd watch the news, and
the newscasters would tally up the youths killed in gang homicides that week and then just segue to sports.
'Is that all I am,' I thought, 'a body count?'"
From: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre(s):
Thrash metal,
crossover thrash,
speed metal,
hardcore punk
Active From: 1990-2006, 2009-present
Associated Acts:
Ice-T,
Ice Pick,
Madball
Quotes:
"I thought I was safe. I thought within the world of rock'n'roll, you could be free to write what you want. Hell,
I was listening to Talking Heads singin' 'Psycho Killer.' F*ck it, I'll make 'Cop Killer'! But, that was the
cross of metal with something that was real. Now we're not just killing your family, we're killing somebody so
real that everybody just went, 'oh shit.'"
-Ice-T
"The people who did have a platform were way off backing me on the First Amendment. That's not where all the anger
should have been directed. The anger should have been generated back at the police. [...] Because people jumped
on the wrong issue they were able to drive this thing totally through Warner Brothers."
-Ice-T
"I didn't want my band to get pigeon-holed as that's the only reason that record sold. It just got outta hand
and I was just tired of hearing it. I said, 'fuck it,' I mean they're saying we did it for money, and we didn't.
I'd gave the record away, ya know, let's move on, let's get back to real issues, not a record but
the cops that are out there killing people."
-Ice-T
"For me, honestly, after something like that, you can either come to a dead stop or you can go on. [...]
It was so emotional. We were in the middle of making a new record together and he goes and dies?
It was like, 'damn!' Soon enough, though, everybody was like, 'c'mon c'mon you gotta do it.'
It was make-or-break. The key essence of Body Count is it's a band made up of friends. It's not about going
out and hiring the best drummer or the best guitarist. If we don't know you, you can't be in the band."
-Ice-T, after the death of guitarist D-Roc