The band was founded in 1986 by Rick Perry (electric guitar) and Eric Roy (electric bass). Perry and Roy had previously played in the local cover band Warlock. The band covered various songs by Judas Priest , Iron Maiden , and Metallica . Jamey Milford (drums) and Varnam Ponville (vocals) joined the band a few months later. In a garage in Texas, they recorded their first tracks together, including some songs from their Warlock days. On March 21, 1987, they played their first small gig in Fort Worth . Two weeks later, they opened for Rigor Mortis and Watchtower at the Arcadia Theater in Dallas . In early 1987, the band participated in a "Battle of the Bands." Gammacide made it to the top eight and appeared on a local compilation cassette called Metal Cruelty .