Mille Petrozza
The driving force behind Kreator, whose ferocious guitar work and visionary songwriting forged the sound of European thrash metal and inspired generations.
Born 1967 (age 59)·German guitarist and singer·Birthday: December 18·Generation X
Biography
Mille Petrozza is the relentless heart of Kreator, a band that, alongside peers like Destruction and Sodom, defined Teutonic thrash metal. From the raw, violent outbursts of their early albums like 'Pleasure to Kill,' Petrozza's razor-sharp riffing and snarling, polemic vocals set a new standard for aggression. But he was never content with mere speed. As a songwriter and conceptualist, he pushed Kreator into darker, more ambitious territories, incorporating elements of death metal and industrial sounds while maintaining a fiercely political and social conscience. His unwavering vision through lineup changes and shifting musical trends ensured Kreator's survival and eventual resurgence as elder statesmen of extreme metal. More than just a frontman, Petrozza is an architect, whose dedication crafted a sonic legacy of power, precision, and unflinching critique.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mille was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mille Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Mille's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded the seminal German thrash metal band Kreator (originally Tormentor) and is the only constant member across their entire discography.
- Pioneered the aggressive European thrash metal sound with influential early albums like 'Pleasure to Kill' (1986) and 'Terrible Certainty' (1987).
- Successfully reinvented Kreator's sound in the late 1990s and 2000s, incorporating melodic and industrial elements to critical and commercial acclaim.
- Has written and recorded over 15 studio albums with Kreator, maintaining a consistent output for over four decades.
Did You Know?
He is a vegetarian and has been for many years, which is a notable stance in the heavy metal scene.
The stage name 'Mille' comes from a childhood nickname based on the comic character 'Mighty Mouse' (Mickey Maus in German).
He is an avid fan of football and supports FC Schalke 04.
In the early days, he worked in a record store, which helped fuel his deep knowledge of metal and punk.
“Thrash metal was always political. It was never just music to headbang to; it was a statement.”
