Divers hommages...
RIGOR MORTIS :
RIGOR MORTIS and WARBEAST frontman Bruce Corbitt spoke to Jay Nanda of the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner about the passing of MINISTRY and RIGOR MORTIS guitarist Mike Scaccia, who died on December 22 while performing with RIGOR MORTIS at The Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas at Corbitt's 50th-birthday celebration.
"If I picked the one most important person of my life, not counting my own family and brother, it would be Mike Scaccia," Corbitt said. "I've said it from the beginning: I would've never been in a band or started singing in a band if I didn't become friends with Mike. And now here I am 30 years later, I'm still doing tours and making albums. I owe everything to him. Because when I met him, I was just a fan, into music. I had dreams like everybody. Veteran air guitarist, but never bothered to learn to play an instrument and kind of too shy to try to sing. But we became close friends, and I realized this was a guy that was put on this earth to play his guitar. Somebody with greatness, who had a gift. I wanted to be in a band with him so bad because he would make us all look good. I didn't even know how to sing, but somehow, because I had long hair (and) I could party all night. [laughs] It's a true story. That's kind of how I got the job. I'm talking about our first band called SPECTRUM. It didn't last too long, and Mike went his own way. We stayed in touch here and there, but a few years later, when he started RIGOR MORTIS with Casey Orr and Harden Harrison, again I wanted to be in a band with Mike so bad, I did everything I could. He was such a humble guy. He was never going to brag about himself, but I always said, "Man, I'm Mike Scaccia's No. 1 fan," and I sure didn't have any trouble going out and telling everyone what a great guitarist he is. I'm going to miss him every day for the rest of my life."
He added: "When you've got someone like that with such a talent to not have an ego at the same time, that's a rare combination. You just don't find that very often. That's the thing, you know. Such a great guy, great friend. He had such a sense of humor. He made our lives more fun when we were around him. He was such a family-oriented guy with his parents and his sisters and his wife and kids. Can't say anything bad about Mike Scaccia, man, you know? He was always there for everyone, and I'm blessed to have known him."
Regarding the circumstances behind Mike's passing, Bruce said: "Now, looking back, at first, you're like, 'Wow, what if I would have not asked him to play on my birthday? Would this have happened? Would he still be here?' It's a 32-year-old friendship — agreeing to give up some time for Christmas with his family to come practice with us and do a show. And then we're on stage together; it was going to be one of the best shows I remember. There's just so many, but at the time, everyone was in great spirits, celebrating. And the new material, that was what's so cool. We got to play some of these new songs with Mike. And that's the thing. You never understand why this happened, but I think I said that last night, if Mike himself could have wrote the perfect ending, this would be it. He was still gripping that guitar, and we took it out of his hands when we were trying to help him. It's a devastating thing to deal with and see, but over time, I'm going to be thankful that it happened the way it happened — as bad as that sounds. I don't know. I'm glad I was by his side 'till the very last minute."
GWAR :
GWAR frontman Dave Brockie (a.k.a. Oderus Urungus) has posted the following message regarding the passing of MINISTRY and RIGOR MORTIS guitarist Mike Scaccia:
"The metal and music world in general lost a true legend this past week after the unexpected death of MINISTRY and RIGOR MORTIS guitar player Mike Scaccia. Mike collapsed during a RIGOR MORTIS gig in Dallas and never regained consciousness.
"We are stunned by this terrible, gut-wrenching event that unfortunately we are all-too-familiar with, having lost our brother, Cory Smoot, a little over a year ago. Our hearts go out to Mike's family and friends.
"Mike was a friend of ours and practically a brother to our longtime bass player, Casey Orr. He had tried to get Mike to play for GWAR a couple of times and Mike was always smart enough to turn him down. I completely understand why someone wouldn't want to subject themselves to what we go through, but still I always wondered what GWAR would have sounded like with Mike. But then we found Cory... then lost Cory... Ain't life a fucking bitch.
"If there is one thing I have realized in this last year, it's that the life we are given is incredibly precious and can be snatched away from us at any moment. You have to savor every drop and get every molecule of sweetness you can...and you have to protect and cherish all of your loved ones with every bit of strength your heart can muster. An easy task? No. But in order to give life meaning, it is one we must essay, endure, and triumph over.
"I don't think many would argue that Mike's trademark guitar sound jumpstarted MINISTRY and forged some of the most memorable sounds that legendary band ever created. The hugeness of MINISTRY made many miss Mike's groundbreaking work with RIGOR MORTIS, one of the seminal thrash metal acts to ever spurn the face of this bloody clod we call Earth. He was, quite simply, a guitar God.
"The GWAR family grieves deeply with the many friends, fans, and family that Mike left behind.
"Again our hearts go out to all who are suffering through this incredible loss, and I ask the GWAR family to help, if they can."
SOLITUDE AETURNUS :
John Perez of Texas doom metal veterans SOLITUDE AETURNUS has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding the passing of MINISTRY and RIGOR MORTIS guitarist Mike Scaccia:
"I am by no means the official spokesperson for the Dallas/Fort Worth metal scene, but I feel compelled to speak a few words about this all-too-shocking event.
"Scaccia meant so much to the world but he also meant even more to all of the metal community in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. No doubt people know of the great Darrell Abbott [PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN] who was also from our scene, but it must be stated that 'round these parts, Scaccia's name was held in equal high esteem. Yesterday's heartfelt memorial service was a testament to this fact and brings to mind the bigger picture of what this is all about.
"People like Scaccia brings us all together in brotherhood and sisterhood through our shared love for music. This brings us together as a community and we bond and share with each other the gift of music.
"Scaccia made us all excited about metal music through his completely over-the-top approach to guitar and we all knew that he was the man to contend with when it came to blistering, 'bee wing' picking. But he was a complete musician and much more than just a thrash metal genius.
"For all of us fellow musicians in the area, he made us proud of the fact that we had not only one of the greatest guitarists in metal/rock history, but TWO of them! And how bizarre that Mike passed on stage, just as our other brother did years back. But we all rest just a little bit easier knowing that he went out doing what he was born to do and on home turf with his family and friends surrounding him.
"I know that my peers around the area are still mourning and still in shock over Mike's much-too-early passing, but we should all feel grateful that we had such a badass and all-round genuine guy to look up to right in our own backyard.
"Our prayers and thoughts are with his family, band mates and closest friends, and I know I can speak on behalf of all DFW metalheads when I say, 'Thanks for the inspiration and memories, Mike! You will not be forgotten.'
"Rest in peace."