Heavy metal star of Ministry/Rigor Mortis DIES after collapsing on stage: Guitarist  falls off set during Texas scream session 

• Mike Scaccia suffered a heart attack in  front of crowd at birthday gig

  By Alex Gore

PUBLISHED:12:42 GMT, 24  December 2012| UPDATED:17:13 GMT, 24 December 2012

heavy metal guitarist has died after  collapsing on stage at a gig to celebrate his band mate's 50th  birthday.

Mike Scaccia, 47, was playing with Rigor  Mortis at the Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday night when he stunned  the crowd by collapsing.

The musician - who also plays with another  heavy metal group Ministry - was celebrating lead singer Bruce Corbitt's  birthday when he suffered the heart attack caused by heart disease

Earlier reports suggested Scaccia died from a  seizure after asking for strobe lights in the club to be turned off during his  performance.

A statement posted by Corbitt on his Facebook  page said: '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 Scaccia! The greatest guitar player I ever knew!'

Scaccia was born in 1965 in Babylon, New  York, and formed Rigor Mortis in 1983.

The Texas-based group, who are credited as  pioneers of thrash metal, added Corbitt five years later and released their  self-titled debut album, having landed a major record deal with Capitol.

Scaccia left the band in 1991 and joined  Ministry. He recorded the group's platinum-selling album Psalm 69 the following  year before leaving in 1996.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2252816/Heavy-metal-star-Ri...