Mike Scaccia, guitarist for Ministry and Rigor Mortis, collapses on stage, dies of sudden heart attack
BY ETHAN SACKS / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
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.
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.
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.”