Steve Di Giorgio
A bass virtuoso who fundamentally reshaped the role of the instrument in extreme metal with his fluid, fretless technique.
Born 1967 (age 59)·American bassist·Birthday: November 7·Generation X
Biography
Steve Di Giorgio didn't just play bass in metal bands; he revolutionized what the instrument could do in the genre's most aggressive forms. Emerging from the Bay Area thrash scene with Sadus, he quickly distinguished himself by wielding a fretless bass, producing a distinctive singing, fluid tone that cut through distorted guitars. This technique became his signature, and he became the most in-demand session musician in death metal. His groundbreaking work on Death's 'Human' album is often cited as a watershed moment, introducing unprecedented levels of melodic and technical sophistication to the genre's low end. Di Giorgio's career is a who's-who of metal, with tenures in Testament, Autopsy, and even a stint with Megadeth. More than a sideman, he is a foundational influence, inspiring a generation of bassists to approach their instrument as a lead voice.
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.
Steve 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 Steve 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
Steve'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
- His fretless bass work on Death's 1991 album 'Human' is considered a landmark in technical death metal.
- Has performed on over 50 studio albums across a vast spectrum of metal subgenres as a member or guest.
- Was a full-time member of Testament for several albums and tours, including the acclaimed 'The Gathering' (1999).
- Co-founded the progressive death metal band Sadus, which has released five studio albums.
Did You Know?
He is primarily known for playing fretless bass guitars, notably a modified Yamaha BB series bass.
He briefly played bass for Megadeth in the early 2000s, appearing on the album 'The World Needs a Hero'.
He is a self-taught musician who developed his unique style outside of formal training.
“The bass should be a voice, not just a thud in the background.”
