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Derrick Green
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Derrick Green
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Key Information

Derrick Leon Green (born January 20, 1971) is an American musician best known as the vocalist of Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura. He joined the band in 1997 after the departure of band founder Max Cavalera.

Early life

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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Green is the youngest of three children; his sister Renée Green is an artist, writer, and filmmaker. Green's father, Friendly, an electrician, and mother, Gloria, a music teacher, moved the family from inner-city Cleveland to suburban Shaker Heights when Green was 7. "This was my first live interaction with white people," Green later recalled. From an early age, Green wished to travel and live outside the United States; he went to Berlin for a time before moving from New York to São Paulo.[1]

Career

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Pre-Sepultura

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Green became a friend and roadie of the already formed thrash metal/hardcore band Outface which formed in 1985. He then joined the band in 1986 at the age of 15 after the departures of their first two singers. The band consisted of guitarist Charlie Garriga (CIV), bassist Frank Cavanagh (Prong and Filter) and drummer Mark Konopka. They recorded two demos, one in 1987 and the other in 1989. They were then offered a recording deal by a friend from New York, Walter Schreifels (Quicksand, Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits) for a recording deal to record for his new sub label of Crisis Records for one studio album, Friendly Green (named after Green's father), released in 1992. Stylistically, their music varied between rock, heavy metal and punk with ska elements. Green was credited as Simon Verde on the Outface release; verde means green in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Romanian. With this lineup they toured and played in many places on the east coast and the south of the United States and one tour in Europe.

Once back from the tour in Europe, Green and Garriga decided that they wanted to move to New York City. Cavanagh stayed and later went on to join the band Filter. Konopka also decided to stay and recorded one album with the band Integrity.

In New York, Green and Garriga teamed up with drummer Sammy Siegler (Side by Side, Youth of Today, Judge), bass player Eric Thrice (Orange 9mm), who was replaced by Sara Cox, to form Overfiend. The band was named after the brutal Japanese animated film Legend of the Overfiend. They recorded a three-song demo with the help of Schreifels, the direction was much heavier with influences of metal and heavy rock. Their first show was played in Staten Island opening for Sick of It All. This would be their only show. Garriga and Siegler would leave the band to join and form CIV.

In 1996, Green would start to play guitar and sing with Sara Cox, they would then form the band Alpha Jerk. They later recruited drummer Luke Abby (Warzone, Gorilla Biscuits), who was then replaced by Nick Heller (Sweet Diesel). They would release one self-titled album on Toybox Records. They managed to play a few shows in the New York area and doing a few shows together with the bands Lunachicks and Demonspeed. Two songs were featured on New York's Hardest, Vol. 2 compilation.

Sepultura

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Green performing in 2009

Green was approached in 1997 by A&R rep Mike Gitter from Roadrunner Records. He told him that Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera had left the band in 1996 and they were searching for a new vocalist. He suggested Green try out for the position. Sepultura had recorded one song with no vocals to see what people all around the world could come up with. Green got a hold of the tape from Gitter and he recorded his idea for the song "Choke" and sent it to Brazil. A month later he received a phone call from Sepultura's drummer, Igor Cavalera. He was then asked to fly down to São Paulo, Brazil to meet everyone and audition for the position. Green flew out a week later and met everyone and auditioned for two weeks. Green was asked to come back to Brazil to start recording his first album, Against, with Sepultura.

Most of Against was written before Green entered the band. Against was released in 1998 and the group set out on a world tour. Green moved from New York and decided to live in Amsterdam while on a promo tour. The album was critically and commercially less successful than previous Sepultura albums, as many fans were still coming to terms with the absence of Max Cavalera from the band. AllMusic gave the album 3 stars out of 5, and gave an optimistic note of the band's future by stating that "there are enough flashes of the old Sepultura brilliance to suggest that great things are still to come".[2]

Nation would be the first album that Green would take part in the writing process for, from beginning to end. He decided to move to São Paulo to be closer to the group and work on the new material. Nation, the band's eighth album with Roadrunner Records, was released in 2001 and sold poorly. AllMusic gave the album 3 stars out of 5 and said, "As Green scrapes the lining of his vocal chords through the brash, impassioned tracks, he's singing about more than just 'one tribe, Sepulnation'; he's suggesting something bigger, something worth shouting about and fighting for".[3] In an interview, Derrick said about the album that "every song will be related to the idea of building this idea of a positive nation. We will have our own flag, our own anthem, our own army".

Nation was the group's last studio album with Roadrunner Records, as their contract ran out. The contract had an option for one more album but the group felt the label was not supportive enough. A recording of Max Cavalera's last live show with Sepultura, titled Under a Pale Grey Sky, was released in 2002 by Roadrunner Records, against the wishes of the band.

Revolusongs, an EP of cover songs was released by the band. The EP was exclusively released in Brazil and Japan, but then the band was picked up by record label SPV and Revolusongs was later included as a bonus disc on the digipak edition of Roorback, the next full-length studio album with Green. A collaboration between the video director Ricardo Della Rosa and Green created the idea of the music video of U2's song "Bullet the Blue Sky". It won best photography in the 2003 Brazil MTV music awards show.

Despite Roorback receiving critical acclaim, sales remained low. AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and said, "if there are still any lingering doubts about the Green/Sepultura match, 2003's excellent Roorback should put them to rest for good. Green is passionate and focused throughout the album —he has no problem going that extra mile— and the writing is consistently strong".[4]

All the tracks on the DVD Live in São Paulo were recorded on April 3, 2005, at a concert in São Paulo, Brazil. A CD of the same name was also recorded. Both were released on November 8, 2005, through SPV Records. The second DVD features a documentary of the band's career from 1998 on, filmed and co-edited by Green.

Dante XXI was released on March 14, 2006. It is a concept album based on Dante's The Divine Comedy, a book that Green read in high school and suggested to the band for the concept for the album. In "Convicted in Life" video, Green collaborated with the video director Luis Carone for the idea. The video won for best editing in a video and best direction in a video at the Brazil MTV music awards show in 2006.

AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that, "Overall, Dante XXI is easily one of Sepultura's strongest releases to feature Green on vocals".[5] Igor Cavalera left the band after the release of Dante XXI. He was replaced by Brazilian drummer Jean Dolabella who they continued with and toured with for the most part of the Dante XXI tour.

Green with Sepultura in Germany, 2018

Sepultura released the album A-Lex on January 26, 2009. A-Lex is a concept album based on Anthony Burgess' book A Clockwork Orange. AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and said that "personnel changes can have a very negative effect on a band, but Sepultura have maintained their vitality all these years – and that vitality is alive and well on the superb A-Lex".[6]

In July 2010, it was announced that Sepultura have signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records, and will release their first album Kairos for the label in 2011. Roy Z (Judas Priest, Halford, Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, Helloween) was the producer for the new album.

Musica Diablo

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Green joined another band, Musica Diablo, in 2008, a thrash metal band with members of Nitrominds, Ação Direta and Dead Fish. On May 28, 2010, the band released their self-titled debut album on both CD and MP3 download.[7] CD Universe said that "Musica Diablo's extreme fast thrash metal, with the characteristic Brazilian style and a strong root into the 1980s veterans made them unique, and the need of recording a proper album was eminent. The band recorded their first album in January 2010 with the well known producer Rafael Ramos in Rio de Janeiro. A month later, Derrick Green recorded his vocals in São Paulo, again under Rafael's production. The result is a killer, blast-in-your-face album with 11 songs of sheer violence and pure Brazilian Thrash Metal!".[8] Green has since left Musica Diablo.[9]

Collaborations

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Green was a guest vocalist on a few CDs including Biohazard's Uncivilization and the soundtrack of the Brazilian movie Lisbela e o Prisioneiro.

Green appeared with Sepultura in a successful ad campaign for Volkswagen that aired nationally throughout Brazil in 2008. The spot said that "it's the first time you've seen Sepultura like this. And a sedan like this one too".[10] This Volkswagen TV spot shows Sepultura playing bossa nova, the opposite of its Heavy Metal style, to say that "you never saw something like this, as you never saw a car like the new Voyage".

Green is working on a three volume book set of his photography and writings due to be released in late 2011/2012. Each volume will be released at different times.

In 2013, Green worked on a side project called Maximum Hedrum.[11]

Personal life

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In 2011, when asked about his religious views, Green replied:[12]

I think there is a connection that is missing between nature and people. We're connected. People cannot live without nature. And I feel this is something that is a very powerful inner phase, indisputable and very realistic. And it's in a sense a God in itself, this planet, it's something beautiful and very powerful and gives so much nourishment to its people and everything around us and I feel to be connected with that is something that we need to re-learn. So for me, my religion is this planet and having that connection and trying my best to learn to deal with it.

Green speaks fluent Portuguese with a noticeable American accent. He previously lived in Carapicuíba, São Paulo, but now lives in Los Angeles.[13]

Green is a vegan.[14][15] He has been a vegetarian since 1986. He made this publicly clear in a PETA video interview regarding Sepultura's 2006 video of the song "Convicted in Life". He stated in the interview that the subject of this video is that some kind of "karma" is inflicted on those that damage the environment and its wildlife.[16]

Discography

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Derrick Green

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Derrick Leon Green (born January 20, 1971) is an American heavy metal musician best known as the lead vocalist of the Brazilian thrash/groove metal band Sepultura, a position he has held since 1997. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents Friendly Green, an electrician, and Gloria Green, a music teacher, Green was the youngest of three children, with siblings Gregory Lawrence Green and artist Renée Green. His family relocated to the suburb of Shaker Heights during his youth, where his mother's influence sparked an early interest in music. At age 15 in 1986, Green joined the Cleveland-based hardcore punk band Outface as its frontman, performing under the pseudonym Simon Verde and contributing to their debut album Friendly Green—named after his father—before the group disbanded after a European tour in the early 1990s. Following Outface, he relocated to New York City, where he sang in additional hardcore and metal acts, worked briefly as a roadie for the band Quicksand, and even interviewed Kiss for MTV Brasil. Green's international breakthrough came when he auditioned for and joined Sepultura in 1997 as the replacement for co-founder Max Cavalera, bringing a powerful, groove-oriented vocal style that helped evolve the band's sound across albums like Against (1998), Nation (2000), and Quadra (2020). In 2023, Sepultura announced a global farewell tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary, scheduled to conclude in 2026. Under his tenure, Sepultura has maintained a prolific output, incorporating elements of hardcore, industrial, and tribal influences while touring globally and earning acclaim for their resilience amid lineup changes. Beyond Sepultura, Green has pursued diverse interests, including photography documenting his travels and band life, and collaborations such as contributing vocals to the Scooby-Doo track "Mysteries. Inc.!" He has also been a vocal advocate for vegetarianism since 1986, aligning with themes of non-violence and animal rights in his activism as an ambassador for The Non-Violence Project Foundation.

Early years

Family background

Derrick Leon Green was born on January 20, 1971, in , , as the youngest of three children to parents Friendly Green, an electrician, and Gloria Green, a music teacher. His older siblings included brother Gregory Lawrence Green and sister Renée Green. Green's parents played a pivotal role in nurturing his artistic interests from a young age, providing a supportive environment despite the unconventional nature of his pursuits. In a June 2025 interview with Chaoszine, Green described his parents as "very supportive" of his decision to pursue music, noting that his mother, as a music teacher, particularly understood the value of expressing personality through artistic expression. He recalled practicing in the family basement, where his parents tolerated the loud music and even attended some early shows, appreciating the positive audience response. This encouragement from Friendly and Gloria fostered an open-minded household that valued creativity. The family's creative dynamic was further enriched by Green's older sister, Renée Green, a renowned multimedia artist, writer, filmmaker, and professor known for her installations exploring cultural and historical themes. Growing up alongside her in contributed to an environment steeped in artistic exploration and intellectual discourse. At the age of seven, the Green family relocated from inner-city to the suburb of Shaker Heights, seeking better opportunities and a more stable setting for their children. This move marked a significant shift in Green's upbringing, exposing him to diverse influences in a more affluent community while maintaining strong family ties.

Musical beginnings

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, during the 1980s, Derrick Green was immersed in the city's vibrant local music scene, attending hardcore and punk shows as early as age 14. This exposure introduced him to a diverse array of genres, including punk, hardcore, and emerging metal acts, which profoundly shaped his formative musical tastes. Green's early inspirations drew from a eclectic mix of bands, as evidenced by his personal record collection, which included influential works by Bad Brains, Black Sabbath, Queen, and Joy Division. These artists represented a blend of aggressive punk energy, heavy metal riffs, theatrical rock, and post-punk introspection that resonated with him during his teenage years. He began purchasing albums around age 12, starting with Rush's Moving Pictures and Descendents' Milo Goes to College, further broadening his appreciation for progressive rock and hardcore. In 1986, at the age of 15, Green started singing, marking a pivotal personal milestone that aligned with his adoption of a vegetarian lifestyle—a decision he has maintained and later expanded to . His mother, a music teacher, played a key role in nurturing his interests by exposing him to various musical styles from a young age. Through self-practice inspired by these influences, Green honed his vocal abilities in informal settings, laying the groundwork for his entry into more structured musical endeavors.

Professional career

Early bands

Derrick Green began his musical journey in the hardcore scene by joining the Cleveland-based band Outface in 1986 at the age of 15 as , replacing a previous singer. The lineup included Charlie Garriga (later of CIV), bassist Frank Cavanagh, and drummer Mark Konopka, blending with emerging metal influences. Outface recorded two demos in 1987 and 1989, followed by their sole studio album, Friendly Green, released in 1992 on Crisis Records and named in honor of Green's father. The band toured extensively across the US East Coast, the South, and , including a 1993 European run that marked their final effort before disbanding upon relocating to . After the move to New York with Garriga, Green formed the short-lived hardcore/thrash band Overfiend in the early 1990s, where he handled vocals alongside Garriga on guitar, on drums, and bassists Eric Thrice (initially) and (later). The group, produced by for their three-song demo, performed only once, opening for in , before dissolving; Garriga and Siegler subsequently formed CIV. This project highlighted Green's continued immersion in the underground, building on his Cleveland roots amid the local scene's punk-metal crossover energy. In 1996, Green co-founded Alpha Jerk in New York, contributing vocals and guitar to the punk-infused lineup featuring bassist , drummer Luke Abbey (formerly of ), guitarist Chris, and later drummer Nick Heller. The band released a self-titled six-track mini-album that year on Toybox Records, with two songs also appearing on the New York's Hardest, Vol. 2 compilation. Alpha Jerk's raw, aggressive sound further solidified Green's reputation in extreme music circles, emphasizing his vocal versatility in the thriving environment before his international breakthrough.

Sepultura tenure

In 1997, following the departure of founding vocalist Max Cavalera, Sepultura sought a new frontman by recording an instrumental version of the song "Choke" and distributing demo tapes worldwide through their label, Roadrunner Records. American singer Derrick Green, then based in New York City and having recently fronted the hardcore band Alpha Jerk, submitted a vocal demo that impressed the band, leading to an invitation for a two-week audition in São Paulo, Brazil. During the audition, Green performed with the remaining members—guitarist Andreas Kisser, bassist Paulo Jr., and drummer Igor Cavalera—and was selected as the new vocalist, marking his official entry into the band that year. Green initially remained based in the United States but relocated to in 2000, after completing tours for the band's first album with him and during preparations for the follow-up, to fully commit to the group's operations. This move facilitated his deep immersion in Brazilian culture, where he learned fluently over two years, enabling him to connect more authentically with fans and incorporate local influences into Sepultura's evolving sound, which blended aggression with groove elements. His adaptation helped bridge the band's international appeal while preserving its Brazilian roots, contributing to a stylistic shift that emphasized rhythmic grooves alongside traditional thrash riffs. Over his tenure since 1997, which continued beyond 2020 with extensive touring—including a farewell tour announced in December 2023 to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary and conclude in 2026—Green contributed to nine studio albums through Quadra (2020). The debut, Against (1998), introduced his powerful, guttural vocals on tracks like "Choke" and "For a Day to Come," setting a tone of resilience amid fan backlash over Cavalera's exit. Subsequent releases included Nation (2001), which explored tribal and industrial themes; Roorback (2003), featuring politically charged lyrics; Dante XXI (2006), inspired by Dante's Inferno and recorded partly in an opera house; A-Lex (2009), a concept album drawing from Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange; Kairos (2011), marking a return to raw energy; The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart (2013), based on Fritz Lang's Metropolis; Machine Messiah (2017), critiquing automation's societal impact; and Quadra (2020), dividing its tracks into conceptual "quadras" reflecting diverse influences. Sepultura's era with Green was defined by extensive global tours, including the Against World Tour (1998–1999), which solidified his stage presence despite initial skepticism, and later cycles like the Tour (2006–2007) and Machine Messiah Tour (2017–2019), often featuring high-energy performances of both classic and new material. Lineup changes impacted the band's dynamics, notably the departure of drummer in 2006 due to personal commitments, replaced by until 2011, when joined, bringing a progressive edge that enhanced albums like and Quadra. Casagrande remained until February 2023, when he departed to join Slipknot and was replaced by Greyson Nekrutman, who has performed on the band's farewell tour. Critical reception for Green's tenure shifted from controversy— with Against facing accusations of diluting Sepultura's intensity post-Cavalera—to widespread acclaim for later works, as A-Lex and Machine Messiah earned praise for their conceptual depth and Green's versatile delivery, while Quadra was lauded for revitalizing the band's thrash-groove fusion. This evolution underscored Green's role in sustaining Sepultura's relevance, transforming initial doubt into recognition of the band's adaptability and innovation.

Side projects and collaborations

In addition to his primary role in Sepultura, Derrick Green pursued several side projects that highlighted his across metal subgenres and multimedia collaborations. In 2008, he joined the Brazilian band Musica Diablo, a supergroup featuring members from Nitrominds, Ação Direta, and . The band recorded their self-titled debut album in early 2010, with Green providing vocals during sessions in Rio de Janeiro, resulting in a high-energy release characterized by fast-paced thrash riffs and crossover elements. Green departed the group amicably in 2011 to prioritize his commitments with Sepultura. Green also made notable guest appearances on other artists' recordings. He contributed guest vocals to the track "Trap" on Biohazard's sixth studio album, Uncivilization, released in 2001, joining forces with guitarist for a hardcore-infused collaboration that blended aggressive rhythms with . In 2003, Green participated in the soundtrack for the Brazilian film Lisbela e o Prisioneiro, providing vocals alongside Sepultura bandmates on tracks such as "A Dança das Borboletas" with and "O Matador," marking a fusion of metal with traditional Brazilian sounds under music director Moraes. Further demonstrating his versatility, Green launched the electronic-funk project Maximum Hedrum in 2013 alongside producer (of N.A.S.A.) and electronic musician . The duo's self-titled album blended Green's powerful vocals with futuristic grooves, recorded across locations including and , and distributed by Stereophonic Records. To promote the release, Maximum Hedrum embarked on a month-long residency at Los Globos nightclub in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood, starting January 21, 2013, where Green performed live sets that showcased his adaptation to dance-oriented material.

Later career and transitions

Recent Sepultura activities

Sepultura released their fifteenth studio album, Quadra, on February 7, 2020, via Nuclear Blast Records, a release that arrived just prior to the onset of the . The album's promotion faced significant delays due to global lockdowns, limiting initial live performances and forcing the band to adapt through virtual content and during . Once restrictions eased, Sepultura resumed extensive global touring in support of Quadra, including European and North American legs that showcased Derrick Green's evolving vocal style and the band's renewed energy. On December 8, 2023, announced the "Celebrating Life Through Death" 40 Years Farewell Tour to commemorate the band's 40th anniversary and signal their impending disbandment. As part of this final run, the group planned to record 40 live tracks across 40 different cities, culminating in a compilation album featuring their most energetic performances from the tour. The tour emphasized Green's long-term adaptation to the band since 1997, highlighting his role in maintaining 's intensity over nearly three decades. Key highlights of the 2024-2025 farewell activities included two "Farewell at Sea" shows aboard the Cruise from January 30 to February 3, 2025, departing from Miami, Florida. In June 2025, the band performed at Rockfest in , , on June 12, delivering a set that blended classics and newer material amid the festival's heavy metal lineup. They followed with a show at Sentrum Scene in , , on June 10, where Green's commanding presence anchored anthems like "Refuse/Resist" and "." The European leg extended through summer festivals such as Hills of Rock in Plovdiv, Bulgaria (July 25-27), and Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Râșnov, Romania (July 30-August 3), while additional continental dates carried activities into August 2025. Throughout 2025, Green participated in interviews reflecting on his journey, crediting his parents' strong support for his early musical pursuits as a foundational influence. In a June discussion at Rockfest, he addressed the initial challenges of joining post-Max Cavalera, emphasizing resilience and adaptation as keys to his enduring tenure. In August 2025, the band announced plans to release a new four-song EP in 2026, with recordings already completed during the farewell tour period. Additionally, in October 2025, confirmed that former drummer Greyson Nekrutman would return to the band in 2026 to complete the remaining dates of the farewell tour.

Post-Sepultura plans

Following the announcement of Sepultura's farewell tour, which concluded its initial phases in 2025 ahead of a final show in late 2026, Derrick Green discussed potential collaborations with guitarist in 2024 interviews. The duo floated the idea of forming a reggae band post-dissolution, with Kisser noting they had "the idea for a reggae project" and Green expressing openness to exploring non-metal genres involving more singing. Green has indicated plans to continue solo explorations beyond heavy metal, hinting at new vocal-focused projects. In recent discussions, he emphasized interest in work for and commercials, alongside musical ventures that allow for greater emphasis, signaling a shift toward versatile creative outlets. After 28 years of intensive touring with since joining in 1997, Green highlighted a desire for improved work-life balance, focusing on U.S.-based creativity from his home to foster personal and artistic growth without the rigors of constant global travel. In 2025 media appearances, such as his Chaoszine interview at Rockfest, he reflected on 's legacy as an evolving force in metal, crediting vocal training and producers like for his development from hardcore roots to a distinctive frontman style that sustained the band's impact across generations.

Personal life

Lifestyle and health advocacy

Derrick Green adopted a vegetarian diet in 1986 at the age of 15, prompted by ethical concerns over practices after learning about the conditions in slaughterhouses described as "factories of death." He remained a vegetarian for many years before transitioning to around 2018. This commitment has remained a cornerstone of his personal philosophy, aligning with broader wellness principles. Green sustains his through consistent weight training and when at home, while adapting to tour demands with bodyweight exercises like push-ups and sit-ups performed daily before performances. These routines, combined with his vegan lifestyle and avoidance of alcohol, support his levels and overall amid the rigors of a touring schedule. Since 2020, Green has co-hosted the plant-based travel series Highway to Health with musician Tanya O'Callaghan, exploring vegan cuisine, global adventures, and wellness topics tailored to the challenges faced by touring artists, including strategies. The show promotes and has featured discussions on plant-based diets' role in maintaining vitality for musicians. Green views nature as a vital spiritual connection, stating in 2011 that "there is a connection that is missing between nature and people... It’s like a spiritual connection for me," underscoring humanity's interdependence with the natural world. This perspective ties into his advocacy for ethical living and environmental awareness.

Residence and cultural influences

Derrick Green was born and raised in , , where his family relocated to the suburb of Shaker Heights when he was seven years old, fostering his early immersion in the local hardcore and scenes. In 1993, he moved to with former bandmate Charlie Garriga following the disbandment of their group Outface, where he formed new projects like Overfiend and Alpha Jerk, marking his initial foray into a broader urban music environment. Later, in the late 1990s, Green spent time living in during Sepultura's Against tour, an experience that exposed him to European punk influences and reinforced his long-held desire to live abroad. Upon joining in 1997, Green relocated to , , in 2000, residing there through the 2010s to fully integrate with the band and its cultural context. Initially unfamiliar with the language and customs, he learned fluent over two years, which was essential for his adaptation and deepened engagement with the vibrant Brazilian metal scene, allowing him to connect authentically with fans and collaborators. This period profoundly shaped his musical worldview, incorporating Brazilian rhythms into 's sound while drawing from the raw energy of European punk scenes encountered earlier. In recent years, amid the band's ongoing farewell tour, which began in 2024 and is scheduled to end in 2026, Green has returned to the , establishing his current residence in , . Reflecting on his global journey in recent interviews, he emphasizes the balance between his American roots in Cleveland's punk heritage and the expansive perspectives gained from decades abroad, crediting international living for broadening his artistic outlook and resilience.

Discography

Sepultura albums

Derrick Green joined in 1997, marking a significant shift in the band's sound and his role as on their subsequent . His tenure, spanning from Against in 1998 to Quadra in 2020, saw Green's vocal style evolve from raw, aggressive growls and hardcore shouts rooted in his punk influences to a more versatile palette incorporating melodic cleans, spoken-word elements, and layered harmonies that complemented the band's experimental and thrash explorations. This progression allowed to blend with thematic depth, often drawing critical praise for Green's commanding presence despite initial fan resistance to the post-Max Cavalera era. Against, released on October 13, 1998, via , represented a nu-metal pivot with industrial and hardcore edges, exploring themes of resistance and societal conformity. Green's debut showcased intense, guttural growls and rhythmic barks that injected urgency into tracks like "Choke" and "Tribus," though some critics noted the album's transitional awkwardness. It peaked at number 82 on the , selling moderately but signaling the band's adaptation under Green's influence. rated it 3/5 stars, commending the raw energy while critiquing uneven songwriting. Nation, issued on March 20, 2001, by , delved into experimental territory with infusions and political commentary on unity and division, featuring guests like . Green's vocals expanded here, mixing ferocious screams with cleaner, emotive deliveries on songs such as "Nation" and "Who Must Die?," marking an early step toward melodic integration. The reached number 134 on the and number 4 on the Top Independent Albums chart. awarded it 3/5 stars, highlighting its ambitious scope but uneven execution. Roorback, out on May 20, 2003, through SPV Records, signaled a return to thrash roots with anti-war and social critique themes, balancing aggression and groove in tracks like "Godless." Green's performance grew more confident, blending deep growls with occasional melodic hooks to drive the 's intensity. It charted at number 17 on the , with first-week U.S. sales of around 4,000 copies. gave it 3.5/5 stars, praising the revitalized heaviness and Green's solid anchoring. Dante XXI, released on March 24, 2006, via SPV Records, was a concept album inspired by Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, traversing infernal and redemptive motifs across structured tracks. Green's vocals adapted dynamically, employing dramatic growls, chants, and subtle cleans to evoke the narrative's emotional arcs, particularly in "Convicted in Life." It hit number 45 on the Billboard Independent Albums, with initial U.S. sales under 2,300 units. AllMusic scored it 3.5/5 stars, lauding the conceptual cohesion and Green's thematic delivery. A-Lex, dropped on January 23, 2009, by SPV Records, drew from Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, probing violence, , and ultraviolence through a mix of thrash and progressive elements. Green's style incorporated more varied textures, from snarling aggression to eerie spoken passages, enhancing the dystopian vibe in cuts like "Moloko Mesto." It briefly charted around number 80 on the 200. rated it 3.5/5 stars, appreciating the bold concept and Green's versatile menace. Kairos, unveiled on June 24, 2011, via Nuclear Blast, emphasized aggressive thrash revival with existential themes, fueled by new drummer Eloy Casagrande's precision. Green's vocals surged with renewed ferocity, layering hardcore shouts over melodic undertones in tracks like "," solidifying his evolution toward balanced aggression. It topped the CMJ Loud Rock chart for three weeks but did not enter the 200. assigned 3.5/5 stars, noting the album's raw power and Green's commanding evolution. The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart, released on October 25, 2013, by Nuclear Blast, explored philosophical inquiries into technology and humanity, inspired by Fritz Lang's . Green's delivery reached a peak of expressiveness, weaving guttural roars with clean, introspective lines to underscore the album's intellectual heft, as in "The Vatican." It achieved modest international charting but no entry. praised its ambition in a 3.5/5 review, crediting Green's nuanced performance for thematic depth. Machine Messiah, out on January 13, 2017, via Nuclear Blast, critiqued and mechanization, blending thrash, prog, and orchestral flourishes. Green's vocals shone with maturity, alternating thunderous growls and haunting cleans to convey alienation in the title track and "Phantom Self." It sold 1,900 units in its first U.S. week, entering various European charts but missing the 200. rated it 4/5 stars, hailing it as Green's strongest showcase yet. Quadra, Sepultura's final studio album with Green, released on February 7, 2020, by Nuclear Blast amid the , structured around numerological quadrants symbolizing life's divisions—thrash aggression, groove, melody, and experimentation. Green's voice culminated in fluid versatility, from brutal roars in "Isolation" to soaring melodies in "Guardians of ," encapsulating his two-decade arc. It marked the band's most widespread charting since , entering 17 countries including top 20s in seven, though U.S. figures were limited by the era's disruptions. gave it 4/5 stars, acclaiming the cohesive evolution and Green's pivotal role in the farewell statement.

Other contributions

Green's musical contributions outside of Sepultura span his early hardcore and metal projects in the United States, a Brazilian side project, and select guest appearances on other artists' recordings. In the late and early , Green fronted the Cleveland-based hardcore band Outface, using the Simon Verde for his vocals. The group released one studio , Friendly Green (1992, Crisis Records), named after Green's father, which blended and hardcore elements. Following Outface's disbandment, Green formed Alpha Jerk in New York, where he served as vocalist and guitarist. The band issued a self-titled debut album in 1996 (Toybox Records), featuring raw, aggressive tracks like "What You Got" and "Backwoods Billy," two of which later appeared on the compilation New York's Hardest, Vol. 2 (1998). During his early years with , Green launched the side project Musica Diablo in 2008 with members from bands like and Nitrominds. As lead vocalist and lyricist, he contributed to the group's self-titled debut album (2010, Saol Records), a effort including songs such as "Sweet Revenge" and "," as well as the preceding single "Lifeless" (2010). Green left the project in 2011. More recently, Green provided guest vocals on the single "Terrorized" by the hardcore band Beloved Ghouls (2020), contributing lyrics alongside main vocalist of . Green has made occasional guest appearances on other releases, including vocals on "Never Surrender" from 's Integrity 2000 (1999, ); vocals on "Trap" from Biohazard's Uncivilization (2001, ), a track also featuring guitarist ; vocals on "Mysteries. Inc.!" for the Big Top Scooby-Doo! soundtrack (2012); and guest vocalist on "Human Tumour" by Kaosis, the band led by former guitarist (2024).

References

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