S.A. Sanctuary

SA SANCTUARY on the road with Saxon

S.A. Sanctuary (or SA SANCTUARY) is a band from San Antonio Texas.

about S.A. Sanctuary

The band has gone through many members (mostly bassists) since it's inception. In the early-mid 1980's the band was named Sanctuary. Later, a band from Washington State would use the name as well and get signed. Rather than feud over the name, Velasquez opted to alter the band name to S.A. Sanctuary to avoid confusion in 1987. The bands founding member, Orrie Velasquez, is the only original member. When the band started out in 1987 (post Sanctuary), it was more of a metal / hard rock band, similar to Iron Maiden. In the mid 1990's, SA SANCTUARY ended due to the drummer, and guitarist joining the Air Force. SA SANCTUARY would reform in 1998 with all new members.

Through out time as members changed, so did the musical style of the band. Today they are considered a Thrash, and with some material, Death Metal.

Orrie and Angel are fairly good friends with a number of big names in music. In spring 2010, Angel Fuentes and Orrie Velasquez were guitar and bass tech for George Lynch's band, Souls of We during his South West USA leg of the tour.

Discography

1. The Battle - demo from 1998
2. Rehearsal in Place 2000
3. Abandon in Place - original release from 2000
4. Promises CD Single - released in 2002 (sources state Promises cd single will be re-released)
5. Abandon In Place - re-released in 2009
6. Shred Your Head (live tour cd from 2009) Release in 2010

video

SA SANCTUARY youtube Video page

Members

• Orrie Velasquez - guitar and secondary voice
• Angel Fuentes - lead guitar and main voice
• Romeo CK Vallejo - bass (currently filling in on drums)
• Edward 'Eddie' Correa - keyboards (live only)

past members

• Raul Gomez - drums (also past member of Redzer)
• Jerry Casterlano - lead guitar and then bass (parts of 2002 only, also past member of Redzer)
• Ted Wawryzniak - bass
• Tony Ramirez - bass
• Rick Flores - bass
• Robert Esquivel - bass
• Steve Swanson - guitar (only during 1987)
• Danny Jimenez - bass
• Mike Reykjavik - drums

Notable Past Shows

2001

(w/ Slayer)

• Nov. 13 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre
• Nov. 16 - New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
• Nov. 17 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
• Nov. 19 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
• Nov. 20 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
• Nov. 21 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Theatre
• Nov. 23 - Detroit, MI - Harpo's
• Nov. 24 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom

2002

(w/ Judas Priest)

• Aug. 01 - Houston, TX - Aerial Theater
• Aug. 02 - San Antonio, TX - Sunken Garden (Budgie recorded Life In San Antonio this night)
• Aug. 03 - Dallas, TX - Canyon Club
• Aug. 04 - Lubbock, TX - Pavilion
• Aug. 06 - El Paso, TX Far - West Entertainment

2003

(w/ Halford, Testament)

• May 24 - Dallas, TX Deep Ellum Live
• May 27 - Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
• May 31 - Seattle, WA Northgate Theatre
• June 01 - Portland, OR Roseland
• June 06 - Los Angeles, CA House Of Blues
• June 07 - Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues

2005

(w/Exodus)

• Apr. 21 – San Antonio, TX - The Sanctuary
• Apr. 22 – Houston, TX - Engine Room

(w/ Exodus, 3 Inches of Blood, Crisis)

• Oct. 08 - The Galaxy Club - Dallas, TX
• Oct. 09 - The Engine Room - Houston, TX
• Oct. 10 - El Paradiso Tropical - Corpus Christi, TX

2009

(w/ Saxon)

• May 21 - Corpus Christi, TX - Ayers Center
• May 22 - San Antonio, TX - Sunken Garden
• Aug. 22 - San Antonio, TX -Sunken Garden

notes

• The SA in SA Sanctuary, is an abbreviation for San Antonio (Texas), where the band started.
• In 2002, Orrie was unable to play with the band for several months. Rather than cancel their shows, SA Sanctuary continued as Pawns Of Christ till Orrie was able to return. This "break" was for a "family emergency".
• the band have a 200lb metal gargoyle "mascot" named Willie.

links

• official site
• official SA Sanctuary myspace page
• official SA Sanctuary facebook profile