Corey Mitchell — true crime author, MetalSucks contributor, and co-founder of Housecore Horror Film Festival — passed away yesterday after suffering what appears to have been a heart attack during load-out.
HHFF unfortunately had to be the bearer of bad news when the fest posted this on Facebook:
Thank you all for a fantastic weekend – it is, however, with a heavy heart that we here at Housecore Horror Film Festival must announce that our friend and the father of this wicked brain-child, Corey Mitchell, passed away this morning.
Please send your thoughts and prayers to his family. He loved the festival. He loved horror. He loved metal. You damn sure know he loved you guys. Cheers, and thank for your respect during this sensitive time.
The Austin Chronicle got a hold of Phil Anselmo and his long-time girlfriend Kate Richardson to see exactly what happened:
At the time of his death early Monday morning, Mitchell, 47, was apparently loading up his car with help from a fan who had spent the night nearby. According to Kate Richardson, partner of Housecore Records founder and Pantera/Down frontman Philip H. Anselmo, “[The fan] heard a thud and turned around and saw [Mitchell] on his knees. Then he fell all the way down. He got him on his side and then he called for help.”
”We’re really just still in shock,” said Anselmo, who we reached by phone. “After Danzig was done, Corey and I got up on stage and thanked all the bands and all the fans, the filmmakers, and TheTexas Chain Saw people. It’s all just horrifically surreal. This one hurts, man. They all do, but this has a special kind of hurt to it. The event was such a blast, such a success, and everybody had such a great time. Nobody worked as hard as Corey. He believed in it so fucking much. He fought for it every inch of the way. It’s like lightning striking, man, you just never know.
Corey was currently working on Phil's autobiography, Mouth for War: Pantera and Beyond, which was due in January 2015. No word on whether or not his death will affect the release. He is survived by his wife Audra and daughters Emma and Sabrina.
Rest in Peace, Corey.
