Frank Watkins (musician)

Frank Watkins (February 19, 1968 – October 18, 2015) was an American heavy metal musician best known as a former, long-time bass player for the death metal band Obituary; he played with them from 1989 to 1997 and then from 2003 until 2010. He had been the bass player of the Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth at the time of his death, where he had been known as Bøddel.

Frank Watkins
Watkins performing with Gorgoroth as "Bøddel". Photo by Alexandre Cardoso.
Background information
Also known asBøddel
Born(1968-02-19)February 19, 1968
United States
DiedOctober 18, 2015(2015-10-18) (aged 47)
GenresDeath metal, black metal
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsBass guitar, guitar
Years active1986-2015
Associated actsObituary
Gorgoroth
Hellwitch
Bad Rep
Sacrosanct
Websitewww.obituary.cc
www.gorgoroth.info

Biography

Frank Watkins was born in 1968.[1] He began playing music at the age of 12 and started his professional career in 1986, before joining Obituary in 1989. He played on every Obituary release until his departure from the band in 2010, with the exception of their debut album Slowly We Rot (1989).

Frank prided himself not only on the technical side of his music, but also on the business aspect, managing, mentoring, and guiding other bands and musicians. He formed his management company, Back From the Dead Productions, in 2007 to help bands create a positive impact in their musical careers. In late 2007, Watkins became the bassist of Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth, and in 2009 he participated in the recording of the Gorgoroth album Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt. He debuted live with the band at the Hole in the Sky festival in Bergen on August 29, 2009. This was the first concert Gorgoroth had performed since September 2007. In an interview with Metal Maniacs published online in August 2009, Watkins explained that for his work with Gorgoroth he had taken the stage name "Bøddel", which means "Executioner" in Norwegian.

Watkins died from an undisclosed type of cancer on October 18, 2015. He was 47 years old.[2]

Bands
  • Sacrosanct (1985–1986)
  • Bad Rep (1986–1987)
  • Hellwitch (1987–1989)
  • The Henchmen (1993)
  • Obituary (1989–1997, 2003–2010)
  • Gorgoroth (2007–2015)

Discography

Obituary

Gorgoroth
gollark: The current one is a 32G massively inbred multiprizekin SAltkin.
gollark: I'm currently working on breeding together my messiest dragons to form an omega-messy.
gollark: How about a random 6d hatchling for your soul?
gollark: I'll pay £0.03 for your soul.
gollark: It's apparently a really simple cipher, there's an online translator.

References
  1. "Frank Watkins, U.S. heavy metalist bass, Obituary, Cause of Death February 19 in History". Brainyhistory.com. February 19, 1968. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  2. "Former OBITUARY Bassist FRANK WATKINS Dies At 47". Blabbermouth.net. October 18, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
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