PITTSBURG, Kan. — Dead Metal Society (DMS) are set to put on a free concert 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15 at Kansas Crossing Casino.
DMS was formed in 2007 for the sole purpose of re-living the ‘80s rock experience. The band quickly gained popularity and demand grew to venues across Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas.
Performances at casinos, theaters, and nightclubs have built a wide geographic fan base for the band, which aims to deliver a period correct sight and sound performance that reverses time for the audience.
Hailing from Kansas City, vocalist Todd Edwards studied music at the University of Central Missouri and subsequently hit the road with the band RIF- RAF from 1987 to 1992. He moved to Tulsa in 1997 and re-joined the music scene with bands Salvation Amy and The Element before he joined DMS.
Guitarist Mark Mortensen is the only Oklahoma native. As a Sapulpa high school student, he began his rock career by playing shows in Oklahoma and the surrounding states. Bands like Rude Jester, Bonz Barcus, and Sibyl’s Machine put him on the front line as a rock guitar icon.
Originally from Clovis, New Mexico, guitarist Ben Hosterman started his music career on the “alternative” music path. Bands such as Mad Verb and New Science brought him into the limelight as they opened for national acts such as Alice Cooper, Collective Soul, and Bowling for Soup.
Bass guitarist “Nine” is a native of San Diego CA, who moved to Tulsa as a sophomore in high school. A hard adjustment at first, he soon settled in with Mortenson, a kindred musical spirit. In bands like Bonz Barcus and Rude Jester, he spent time sharing the stage with such bands as Ratt, Skid Row, Warrant, and Molly Hatchet.
Drummer Jason Gilardi was born and raised in California. He grew up in Beverly Hills as Hollywood royalty, the son of famed actress Annette Funicello. He decided early on that music was his path and in 1993 he joined the band Caroline’s Spine, which toured the US and Europe in support of bands such as Aerosmith, Kiss and Def Leppard.
