Amery Smith
| Amery Smith | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | AWOL |
| Born |
August 3, 1964 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Punk, hardcore punk, heavy metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Associated acts | Suicidal Tendencies, Los Cycos, The Brood, Uncle Slam, Beastie Boys, BS2000, Leftover Crack, AgainST, G.F.P., Dead Fucking Last, Luicidal |
Amery "AWOL" Smith (born August 3, 1964) is a drummer from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for playing drums in the Venice punk band Suicidal Tendencies.
Amery Smith spent the first year of his life in Venice then moved 3 miles south with his father to Playa Del Rey, where he eventually met Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. "Neighborhood Watch played a backyard party at the house in Playa Del Rey and they had a Suicidal/Venice following. My band opened for Neighborhood Watch at the party and the next day I got a phone call from Mike Muir asking me if I wanted to try out for Suicidal Tendencies. And I said yes".
Amery Smith played on the 1983 debut album on Lisa Fancher’s Frontier Records for Suicidal Tendencies and at the time Smith, being influenced by drummers such as Rush's Neil Peart, used rototoms which can be heard in the classic drum intro to "Institutionalized." Smith had an original and refreshing drum style compared to most punk drummers of 1983. He was also singer Mike Muirs first choice for the band Los Cycos, which was created during the band's four-year recording hiatus and at the time included his longtime friend Bob Heathcote (who later joined Suicidal Tendencies on their 1989 How Will I Laugh... album) on bass, guitarist Grant Estes on lead guitar, Anthony Gallo on rhythm guitar, and Mike Muir on vocals. Bassist Louiche Mayorga replaced Heathcote and No Mercy drummer Sal Troy replaced Smith for the recordings. Though he played only a few rehearsals before permanently leaving Los Cycos to form The Brood with guitarist Jon Nelson. Los Cycos did record one song "It's Not Easy" on the "Welcome to Venice" album.
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