Rigor Mortis guitarist collapses on stage, dies

Rigor Mortis guitarist collapses on stage, dies

The Associated Press

Mike Scaccia, the guitarist for metal acts like Ministry, Rigor Mortis and the Revolting Cocks, reportedly died of a sudden heart attack caused by heart disease.

The lead guitarist for heavy metal band Rigor Mortis died shortly after collapsing on stage from a heart attack during a performance early Sunday morning.

Forty-seven-year-old Mike Scaccia suffered an apparent seizure on stage during a performance at the Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas, and was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, Blabbermouth.net reported.

Rigor Mortis’ Saturday night gig at the Rail Club had been a birthday bash for frontman Bruce Corbitt. Witnesses told the metal news site that the singer had asked for the club’s strobe lights to be turned down just moments before Scaccia’s collapse.

The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office, however, listed a sudden heart attack caused by heart disease as the cause of death, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

“My brother is gone!" Corbitt wrote on Facebook on Sunday morning. "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.

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"RIP, Mike â€" the greatest guitar player I ever knew. I'm proud to say that I was always Mike Scaccia's biggest fan, and always will be."

Born in Babylon, New York, Scaccia helped form thrash pioneers Rigor Mortis in 1983, but moved on to join the better-known Ministry six years later. Though he officially left that band in 1996, his blistering licks can be heard on Ministry’s latest album, “Relapse.”

Scaccia, who reformed Rigor Mortis in 2003, also played for the Revolting Cocks.

Ministry lead singer Al Jourgensen posted a tribute to his longtime bandmate on the group’s Facebook page Sunday.

“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.”

Scaccia is survived by a wife, Jenny Rowen Scaccia, and four children.