Roger Patterson

Who was Roger Patterson?

Roger Patterson was an American bass player, well known for his work in the Florida death metal band Atheist. His playing style is characterized by its speed and complexity. Alex Webster, bassist with Cannibal Corpse, has acknowledged Patterson as "a big influence", describing his playing on the album Piece of Time as "phenomenal".

Patterson joined Atheist in 1985. The band recorded their first full-length album, Piece of Time, in 1988, which was released in 1989 in Europe, but not in the United States until 1990. As a result, Atheist began preparing for their next album, to which Roger contributed greatly. Before recording, however, the band was in a car crash and Roger was killed, on February 12, 1991.

Atheist would record and release their next album, Unquestionable Presence, later that year and dedicate it to Roger's memory. The 2005 re-issue version features several previously unheard demo recordings of Patterson performing UP material.

In 1991, the famous grindcore band Napalm Death released Mass Appeal Madness in Roger's memory, as did Suffocation with their album Effigy of the Forgotten, and members of Death paid homage to him on their album Human.