Paul Baloff was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 singer, most notable for his time in thrash metal

Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...

 band Exodus

Exodus (band)

Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...

.

Paul was the second vocalist with Exodus replacing Keith Stewart in 1981 and singing on their 1982 Demo and their first official album Bonded by Blood

Bonded by Blood

For other uses of the phrase, see Bonded by Blood Bonded by Blood is the debut album by the San Francisco thrash metal band Exodus. Although the album was completed in the summer of 1984, it was not released until 1985 due to issues with Exodus and its record label...

in 1985. After the release, they started the pre-production for their second album. Following the recording of a three song demo in 1986, Paul Baloff was dismissed from Exodus after "personal and musical differences", although he still had writer credits on their next album Pleasures of the Flesh

Pleasures of the Flesh

-Band Line-Up:*Steve "Zetro" Souza -Vocals*Gary Holt - Guitars*Rick Hunolt - Guitars*Rob McKillop - Bass*Tom Hunting - Drums-Charts:Album - Billboard -Credits:...

.

After leaving Exodus, he sang in several bands in the San Francisco Bay area, such as Piranha, Hirax

Hirax

Hirax is an American thrash metal band from Cypress, California. Starting in 1984 under the leadership of vocalist Katon W. De Pena , the band played in Los Angeles and San Francisco with the other new thrash metal bands of the area such as Metallica, Exodus, and Slayer...

, and Heathen

Heathen (band)

Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area San Francisco, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco...

.

In 1997, when Exodus decided to reunite, Baloff was again invited to sing with the band.

In 2002 Paul Baloff suffered a stroke

Stroke

A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...

 which left him in a coma and he was taken off life support by doctors. He was 41 years old.

Discography

• 1982 Demo (1982)
• Bonded by Blood
  Bonded by Blood
  For other uses of the phrase, see Bonded by Blood Bonded by Blood is the debut album by the San Francisco thrash metal band Exodus. Although the album was completed in the summer of 1984, it was not released until 1985 due to issues with Exodus and its record label...
  
  (1985)
• Lessons in Violence
  Lessons in Violence
  Lessons In Violence is a compilation album by thrash metal band Exodus. This is the last Exodus album to feature Rob McKillop on bass.-Track listing:#Bonded By Blood - 3:48#Exodus - 4:09#Chemi-Kill - 5:46#The Toxic Waltz - 4:51...
  
  (1992)
• Another Lesson in Violence
  Another Lesson in Violence
  Another Lesson in Violence is a live album by the thrash metal band Exodus.This album features a huge line-up change for Exodus. Paul Baloff returns on vocals who originally left after Bonded by Blood. Tom Hunting returns after taking ill just before the Fabulous Disaster tour in 1989. This is also...
  
  (1997)