Biography
Emerging first through regional acclaim with the Texas thrash titans Rigor Mortis, rapid-fire guitarist Mike Scaccia later attained global stature alongside the international industrial iconoclasts Ministry. During the mid-'80s his fascination with heavy sounds and horror films guided him into Rigor Mortis, the roughshod quartet that briefly commanded Dallas mosh pits. His blistering fretwork quickly drew the notice of Chicago's insidious Al Jourgensen and Paul Barker, who enlisted the hirsute axe-man initially for studio sessions and subsequently for their touring lineup. Ministry's massive Psalm 69 contains the track "TV2," a showcase of Scaccia at his quickest and most commanding, arriving precisely when the band seemed poised to conquer the world. Though countless imitators later profited from the precedents Ministry had set, the once-prolific group encountered repeated setbacks throughout the '90s, issuing recordings and mounting tours only sporadically and never fully exploiting its brief platinum period. Meanwhile Rigor Mortis—whose remaining members went on to perform with Speedealer and the Hellions, among others—continued to float prospects of reunions and road work until Scaccia died suddenly in December 2012 after collapsing onstage during a concert in Ft. Worth, Texas.