Rick Rozz, born Frederick Donald DeLillo on January 9, 1967, is an American guitarist best known for his foundational work in the death metal genre. Growing up in Brooklyn before relocating to Altamonte Springs, Florida during his formative years, Rozz became a crucial figure in shaping the sound of early death metal through his work with pioneering bands Death and Massacre. As a founding member of Death, he helped establish the band's revolutionary approach to the genre, rejoining the group in 1987 to play on and co-write the landmark 1988 album Leprosy, which remains a cornerstone of death metal history.
Beyond his Death tenure, Rozz has maintained a prolific presence in the death metal underground through Massacre, contributing his guitar work to the band's catalog spanning from the 1990 release From Beyond through the 1996 LP Promise and continuing into the 2010s. His compositional contributions extended to the 2014 Massacre album Back From Beyond on Century Media Records. In 2019, Rozz spearheaded a reformation of Massacre alongside original vocalist Kam Lee and bassist Michael Borders, reuniting the classic lineup for a series of weekend dates worldwide. The band has continued performing globally, cementing Rozz's enduring influence on the death metal landscape and his commitment to preserving the genre's legacy.
