Henry Derek Elis

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Henry Derek Elis

| image = Henry Derek Elis.png

| image_upright =

| landscape = yes

| alt =

| caption = Derek Elis with Act of Defiance in 2018

| birth_name = Henry Derek Bonner

| alias = Henry Derek, To The Boy Elis

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|03|08}}

| birth_place = Milledgeville, Georgia, U.S.

| origin = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}

| death_place =

| genre = Thrash metal, melodic death metal, metalcore, groove metal, industrial metal, gothic metal, country, folk, blues

| occupation = Musician, singer

| instrument = Vocals, guitar

| years_active = 1995–present

| label = Metal Blade, Roadrunner

| current_member_of = {{hlist|Act of Defiance|Qaalm|Caveflowers}}

| past_member_of = {{hlist|Scar the Martyr|Thrown into Exile|Lilitu|Blood Promise|Crying for Winter}}

| website = {{URL|henryderekelis.com}}

}}

Henry Derek Elis (born Henry Derek Bonner; March 8, 1978) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist for the extreme metal band Act of Defiance from Los AngelesPasbani, Robert. [http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/former-megadeth-members-officially-launch-new-band-act-of-defiance "Former Megadeth Members Officially Launch New Band, Act of Defiance; Offer First Taste of New Music"], Metal Injection, February 26, 2015. Retrieved on October 22, 2018. and is also active as a solo country music artist.

Early life

Henry Derek Elis (née Bonner) was born in Milledgeville, Georgia on March 8, 1978. Raised by his grandmother, Henry Derek grew up next to Central State Hospital, Georgia's state mental asylum.[http://bravewords.com/news/henry-derek-elis-to-release-the-devil-is-my-friend-album-in-october-video-trailer-streaming "Henry Derek Elis to release The Devil is My Friend album in October; video trailer streaming"], Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, September 17, 2018. Retrieved on October 22, 2018. His music career began in 1995 when he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and formed the black gothic metal band Lilitu.[https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Lilitu/1315] "Lilitu", Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved on October 22, 2018. Henry Derek later joined the Sweet Meat Love & Holy Cult folk collective, releasing acoustic-based folk music under the moniker To The Boy Elis before moving to Los Angeles, California.Pozo, Gonzalo. [https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/henry-derek-elis-announces-solo-album/ "Act of Defiance / Ex-Scar the Martyr Singer Henry Derek Elis To Release 'The Devil Is My Friend' Solo Album In November"], Sonic Perspectives, September 18, 2018. Retrieved on October 22, 2018.

Career

= Scar the Martyr =

Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison formed heavy metal band Scar the Martyr in April 2013.Rosenberg, Axl. [http://www.metalsucks.net/2013/04/24/joey-jordison-and-jed-simon-are-working-on-a-new-project-together/ "Joey Jordison and Jed Simon Are Working On a New Project Together"], MetalSucks, April 24, 2013. Retrieved on October 22, 2018. On June 21, 2013, the full lineup was announced, with Henry Derek as lead vocalist.Rosenberg, Axl. [http://www.metalsucks.net/2013/06/21/joey-jordisons-new-band-has-a-name-now/ "Joey Jordison's New Band Has a Name Now"], MetalSucks, June 21, 2013. Retrieved on October 22, 2018. Elis left the band a year later due to creative and personal differences.[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/singer-henry-derek-bonner-quits-joey-jordisons-scar-the-martyr/ "Singer Henry Derek Bonner 'Quits' Joey Jordison's Scar the Martyr"], Blabbermouth.net, April 10, 2014. Retrieved on October 22, 2018.[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/joey-jordisons-scar-the-martyr-says-singer-henry-derek-bonner-was-fired-from-band/ "Joey Jordison's Scar the Martyr: Singer Henry Derek Bonner Was Fired From Band"], Blabbermouth.net, April 10, 2014. Retrieved on October 22, 2018. Elis appears on the band's debut album, Scar the Martyr, released on October 1, 2013, via Roadrunner Records.[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/slipknot-drummer-s-scar-the-martyr-to-release-debut-album-in-october/ "Slipknot Drummer's Scar the Martyr To Release Debut Album In October"], Blabbermouth.net, July 24, 2013. Retrieved on October 22, 2018.

= Thrown into Exile, Act of Defiance =

On December 25, 2014, it was announced that Henry Derek was the new vocalist for the metal band Thrown into Exile.Werkheiser, Seth. [https://www.metalinsider.net/new-music/thrown-into-exile-aim-to-restore-the-truth "Thrown Into Exile aim to "Restore the Truth"], Metal Insider, December 25, 2014. Retrieved on October 22, 2018. He then formed the heavy metal super-group, Act of Defiance, with Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover, both former members of Megadeth, and Matt Bachand of Shadows Fall in February 2015. Act of Defiance embarked on their first European tour in summer, 2018.[https://www.metalblade.com/europe/news/act-of-defiance-european-tour/ "Act of Defiance European tour and festival appearances confirmed for July and August of 2018!"], Metal Blade Records, February 26, 2018. Retrieved on October 22, 2018.

= QAALM =

On July 14, 2019, it was announced that Henry Derek Elis was playing lead guitar in a new Los Angeles based Doom band Qaalm. Qaalm made a stream of their demo available on Bandcamp and consists of Pete Majors Ex Harassor – Lead Vocals, Henry Derek Elis – Lead Guitar, Christopher Jon Ex I, Parasite- Keys & Samples, Brock Elmore – Guitar & Backing Vocals, David Huet – Bass and Etay Levy – Drums.

= Solo career =

Henry Derek Elis released his EP, Don't Look, on September 14, 2018, followed by his debut solo album, The Devil Is My Friend, on October 26, 2018. Elis sings, plays banjo, mandolin, bass, organ, dobro, classical, baritone, acoustic and electric guitars. The album also includes contributions from Aubrey Richmond & John Schreffler Jr. (Shooter Jennings), Jarboe (Swans), Tara Vanflower (Lycia), Neal Tiemann (DevilDriver), and Sera Timms (Black Mare). On October 12, 2018, reporter Robert Crawford included Henry Derek's song, "What's Left of Us", in Rolling Stone's 10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week writing, "Elis delivers this haunting, minor-key barn-burner like a carnival barker who's gone hoarse, framing his Tom Waits-ish growl with swirls of fiddle and pedal steel. A Southern gothic standout from his new release, The Devil Is My Friend, "What's Left of Us" is gravely and graveyard-worthy — the perfect soundtrack for mid-October."Crawford, Robert. [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/10-best-country-americana-songs-tim-mcgraw-736916/ "10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Tim McGraw, Lauren Jenkins"], Rolling Stone, October 12, 2018. Retrieved on October 22, 2018.