Jourgensen’s shock over Scaccia death

Mike Scaccia 1965 ~ 2012

Ministry mainman Al Jourgensen says he’s “completely in shock and shattered” over the death of guitarist Mike Scaccia.

While playing with Rigor Mortis on Saturday night in Fort Worth, Texas, Scaccia collapsed and could not be revived. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was 47.

Jourgensen says: “I just lost my lil’ brother and my best friend. The 13th Planet compound is devastated, completely in shock and shattered.

“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!

“Get to know his lead parts — for they are in the pantheon of music! Unfortunately, most of you didn’t get to know Mikey’s soul — which is in the pantheon of humanity. He is my hero, my friend and my idol. Mikey was always beside me — my right-hand man — through thick and thin, the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.

“Rest in peace my brother, my friend, my heart.

“Please pray for Mike Scaccia and Jenny, his wife and their children, and his family.”

Rigor Mortis frontman Bruce Corbitt has added another tribute of his own, saying: “I’m just dealing with this the best way I can – that is to make sure that Mike’s greatness is never forgotten.

“We always knew his greatness. It didn’t take a tragedy for us to realise that. If that’s what it took for Mike to get the respect he always deserved, then so be it.

“I only wish some of you would have been able to understand what we knew all along: the man had a gift.”

Blabbermouth reports that some friends believe Scaccia suffered a heart attack, and that he’d asked for the strobe lights to be turned off moments before his collapse.

He leaves widow Jenny and four children.