I never know how to type these things, because I never prepare for this shit. Ministry and Rigor Mortis guitarist Mike Scaccia died over the weekend during a performance in Ft. Worth, Texas. Rigor Mortis was performing at The Rail Club on Saturday night (December 22) when Mike collapsed during the sixth song of the thrash band's set. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead at the age of 47.
Rigor Mortis was performing at a special 50th birthday celebration for the band's vocalist Bruce Corbitt. Early reports read that Scaccia collapsed strobe lights; however, The Rail Club owner Buster O'Keefe posted on his Facebook that the strobe lights were turned off during the first song at drummer Harden Harrison's request, and that Scaccia collapsed during the band's sixth song.
Mike Scaccia made his name as one fucking amazing guitar player in Rigor Mortis, which he helped form in 1983. The band's 1988 debut self-titled album captured the attention of Al Jourgensen, who invited Scaccia to join Ministry for its The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour in 1989. His work on the 1992 album Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs launched Ministry into commercial success on MTV.
Rigor Mortis vocalist Bruce Corbitt was where I first learned the news, shortly after Scaccia's untimely passing. He posted on his Facebook:
"My brother is gone! The only reason I am who I am is because of this man. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't even be in a band. RIP Mike Scaccia! The greatest guitar player I ever knew!"
Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen also posted a statement on the Ministry Facebook page:
"I just lost my lil' brother and my best friend – the 13th Planet compound is devastated, completely in shock and shattered," the note reads, in part. "Mikey was not only the best guitar player in the history of music, but he was a close, close, close part of our family – and I just lost a huge chunk of my heart today. Our lives are forever changed. Life without Mikey is like orange juice without pulp – kind of bland. I have no words to express what this guy meant to me, my family, my career. . . . Everything!"
On behalf of everyone here at Metal Injection, our thoughts are with the Scaccia and Rigor Mortis family. We'll bring more information forward as we get it, but until now, let's remember one of the fastest guitar players who ever lived.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXCh9OhDiCI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUpqIxG4bTs[/youtube]
