Mike Scaccia, guitarist for Ministry and Rigor Mortis, has died after suffering a seizure on stage, reports Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
Tributes have been flowing in for Scaccia, who was performing at a 50th birthday celebration for Rigor Mortis singer Bruce Corbitt in Fort Worth, Texas.
Scaccia collapsed on stage from a seizure, and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to Blabbermouth, Scaccia had asked staff at the venue – the Rail Club – to turn off the strobe lights only moments before he suffered the seizure.
Corbitt – the birthday boy – was clearly distraught, stating on his Facebook page that he’s feeling like “a messed up and stressed out guy right now”.
“I’m on an emotional rollercoaster… in shock…. devastated… just like so many others that knew and loved Mike. I’m a messed up and stressed out guy right now to be honest. I don’t want any sympathy myself… this is one of those unexplained moments in life that I will never really get over. I was probably the last person to look into his eyes while he was still conscious. After we found out he didn’t make it…. I was allowed to go in and say goodbye to him. I stood there and told him what he meant to me and my life…. I told him I loved him. But all of my thoughts are for Mike’s wife, his kids and his family. I hurt for them so much! Please everyone help support them through this. If I hear of anything that any of you can do… I will make sure to let you know.”
Corbitt also asked fans to post a picture of Scaccia as their profile picture in a tribute to the late guitarist, and share any other videos or images they have of him.
Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen – who invited Scaccia to join the band in 1989 – posted the following statement on the band’s Facebook page.
“I just lost my lil’ brother and my best friend – the 13th Planet compound is devastated, completely in shock and shattered,” he wrote.
“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!”
This comment was proceeded by a smaller status from the band – containing the picture attached up top.
“MICHAEL RALPH SCACCIA …Our Dearest Friend. We love you. We miss you. God Rest Your Precious Soul. We cannot fathom this loss.”
According to Blabbermouth, Management of the Rail Club are appealing for the return of a stolen camera that was filming the show – as it contains footage of the Scaccia incident on tape.
