Noted Tech-Thrash mob HEATHEN was already a veteran of the notorious Bay Area scene by the time of their formation in the early 80's. Drummer Carl Sacco was previously with THE LEWD, METAL CHURCH and MURDER whilst vocalist Sam Kress ran the Metal fanzine 'Whiplash'. Completing the inaugural 1984 line-up were guitarists Lee Altus and Jim Sanguinetti. Lacking a bassist HEATHEN soldiered on undertaking their first gig, on 21st April 1985, without one, after which Sanguinetti opted out to form MORDRED. HEATHEN duly drafted the scene veteran guitarist Doug Piercy, then a member of CONTROL but having previous credits with COBRA, DELTA and the highly influential ANVIL CHORUS. Kress was asked to leave in late 1985 and was superseded by Dave White (a.k.a. David Godfery), from BLIND ILLUSION. The SCEPTRE credited Eric Wong was installed on bass as the new look HEATHEN re-dubuted live on 6th February 1986.

After HEATHEN's first demo of 1986, 'Pray For Death' in April 1986, Wong was ousted in favour of ex-GRIFFIN man Mike 'Yaz' Jastremski. Besides working with HEATHEN Piercy got his name around in 1986 by producing demos for such acts as MORDRED, LEGACY and ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT. Another demo, 'Set Me Free' with the title track being a SWEET cover version, arrived in 1987.

HEATHEN recorded the debut album for Combat Records, produced by none other than MONTROSE veteran RONNIE MONTROSE at recorded at Music Annex in Menlo Park with engineer Roger Wiersma, for a May 1987 release. Sacco departed in early 1988 and in his stead came Darren Minter for the band's first US tour.

HEATHEN purged Godfrey from the band after numerous interested labels expressed concerns over the band's frontman. Godfrey reacted by creating his own act LAUGHING DEAD. For a brief tenure in 1988 HEATHEN worked with erstwhile EXODUS and PIRANHA man Paul Ballof, recording a two song demo in November 1988 comprising 'Hypnotized' and 'Mercy Is No Virtue'. HEATHEN also subsequently worked with David Wayne of METAL CHURCH but this liaison was even shorter. However, before long HEATHEN had re-enlisted Godfrey after Ballof had lasted less than a month. Swallowing their pride HEATHEN invited Godfrey back into the ranks and also recruited bass player Manny Bravo.

Jastrempski was next to go and HEATHEN, minus a permanent bassist, utilized the talents of BLIND ILLUSION guitarist Mark Biedermann in 1991 to record the bass parts on the 'Victims Of Deception' album. Guest guitar parts came courtesy of ANVIL CHORUS man Thaen Rasmussen. The album, issued by Roadrunner Records, included a cover of RAINBOW's 'Kill The King'. HEATHEN's touring line-up following the 'Victims Of Deception' album comprised Godfrey, Altus, Minter, Piercy and bassist Randy Laire. 

In 1989 Altus auditioned for MEGADETH but shied off this possible union concerned with the lifestyle of Mustaine's crew at the time. Altus opted out joining ANGEL WITCH in January 1991. HEATHEN, back with Piercy, then toured Europe as support to Brazilians SEPULTURA. Tragedy struck though when Laire was killed in a car crash. Piercy later relocating to Germany to create THE COMPANY.

In 1992 Altus and Rasmussen united with VICIOUS RUMOURS drummer Larry Howe and MY VICTIM singer Jay to create BOMB THREAT touring the California clubs with a nostalgic set of NWoBHM covers. Thaen Rasmussen took Piercy's place and Jason Vie Brooks took the bass role. Former REXXEN guitarist Ira Black was also inducted during 1992 but the band folded when Altus and Minter joined German Industrial Metal act DIE KRUPPS. Godfrey joined INNER THRESHOLD, a band formed by ex-DEFIANCE members.

In 1995 Vie Brooks turned up as part of GRIP INC. the band created by ex-SLAYER drummer DAVE LOMBARDO and would later join HATE SQUAD. Black journeyed through former EXODUS man Steve Souza's DOG FACE, ex-TESLA guitarist Tommy Skeoch's UTERIS before joining VICIOUS RUMOURS in 2000.

HEATHEN reformed in 2000 with a line-up of Godfrey, Altus, Rasmussen, Vie Brooks and Minter. In early 2003 Minter re-surfaced, teaming up with vocalist Skitz, guitarist Joe Fraulob and bassist Venessa in a new project entitled DECONSTRUCT. In March though Minter had reunited with his HEATHEN colleague Lee Altus in yet another incarnation of ANGEL WITCH. By mid 2003 HEATHEN, albeit minus guitarist Doug Piercy, had reunited for a Rob Beaton produced album 'Recovered'. The band at this juncture comprised vocalist David White, guitarists Lee Altus and Ira Black from VICIOUS RUMORS, bassist Mike 'Yaz' Jastremski and drummer Darren Minter. This record collected together tracks from the 'Opiate Of The Masses' demo and a set of cover versions originally recorded in the mid nineties as an intended tribute release in honour of Randy Laire. Included would be QUEEN's 'Death On Two Legs', TYGERS OF PAN TANG's 'Hellbound', THIN LIZZY's 'Holy war' and the SWEET SAVAGE track 'Eye Of The Storm'.

HEATHEN, parting ways with Mike Jastremski, drafted Jon Torres on bass in June of 2004, a veteran of the scene with a heritage tracing through THUNDERHEAD, WARNING SF, ULYSSES SIREN, LÄÄZ ROCKIT and ANGEL WITCH. Sven Soderlund of MERCENARY would take Ira Black's position for gigs in July and August. HEATHEN cut a new, three track demo in January 2005.

Former HEATHEN bassist Mike Jastremski passed away on 23rd May 2005. The 42 year old musician had suffered a heart attack whilst undergoing a drug detoxification programme. In June HEATHEN drafted new guitarist Terry Lauderdale, a veteran of DIE SIEGER, SABOTAGE and VAN HALEN tribute band HOT FOR TEACHER. Meantime, Lee Altus side-stepped into the ranks of fellow Thrash veterans EXODUS. Ex-HEATHEN guitarist Ira Black worked with METAL CHURCH and Sci-Fi Metal band EMERALD TRIANGLE during 2005. Another new band project that year saw former bassist Jason Vie Brooks returning to the scene with Cincinnati , Ohio based THE ALLKNOWING.

HEATHEN signed to French label Season Of Mist in January 2006. Shortly afterward, Thaen Rasmussen joined VICIOUS RUMORS for a series of European concerts. Reports emerged in August stating the band was in negotiations with Dutch label Mascot Records. In November Polish label Metal Mind Productions re-released 'Victims Of Deception' as a digipack CD hosting bonus tracks and limited to 2000 hand numbered copies.

Guitarist Kragen Lum, of PSYCHOSIS and PROTOTYPE, enrolled in late 2007. HEATHEN performed at the 5th April 2008 'Keep It True X' festival in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. Darren Minter returned to the fold on drums in June to record a fresh album for Mascot Records. The revised HEATHEN debuted live on 11th October at the 'Thrash Assault 3' festival at Soundpark-Ost in Würzburg, Germany.

The band formed up an impressive billing for the December 2008 'Death To Xmas' European tour alongside FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, SAMAEL, DISMEMBER, HELSTAR, ONSLAUGHT, HATCHET and MONSTROSITY.

Mascot Records released 'The Evolution Of Chaos' during 2009. That same year ex-HEATHEN personnel Jason Vie Brooks and Ira Black forged LORENZO, a modern rock band featuring vocalist Marko Lorenzo and drummer Steve Jacobs, of FORBIDDEN and MANMADEGOD.