Ministry/Rigor Mortis Guitar, RIP

Man, I hate posting updates like this.  In fact I'd even rather post about the brilliance of bands like Attack Attack or how real Bret Micheal's wig looks than do another RIP post.  But alas, I must take a moment to say RIP to Ministry and Rigor Mortis guitarist Mike Scaccia who died after collapsing onstage during a performance.  The news is still very fresh, as the show was only last night (Dec. 22).  I am sure more details will be released, but as for now not too much is known as the cause.   I can't imagine seeing a musician collapse on stay like that.  I send my best to those around him.

The only details as of now are that the musician was performing with thrashers, Rigor Mortis, at the Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas, when he suddenly fell to the ground from a seizure.  Classic Rock magazine reports "that one of the band’s members returned to the address the crowd, stating only, 'It doesn’t look good.' Scaccia was rushed to the hospital, but passed away soon after."   That's horrible, I can't imagine what everyone was thinking.

And it gets worse- the band's singer, Bruce Corbitt, had scheduled this specific show to celebrate his 50th birthday.  Obviously he was very close with Scaccia, and he posted the following 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 — 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.”

This is such sad news right before Christmas (and any time for that matter).  I won't lie and act like I even knew this guys name before hearing this awful news, but I do of course know Ministry and Rigor Mortis, and have been to a enough shows to know this is NOT what is supposed to happen.  Scaccia helped form Rigor Mortis in 1983 and by 1988, had the band signed to Capitol Records with their self-titled debut being released shortly after.  Scaccia's time in Ministry can be heard on the band's ‘Psalm 69′ (1992) and ’Filth Pig’ (1996) albums.   RIP, Mike.