Metal

Died On This Date (November 3, 2011) Cory Smoot aka Flattus Maximus of GWAR

Cory Smoot
August 25, 1977 – November 3, 2011

Cory Smoot, or as he’s better known to fans, Flattus Maximus, was the lead guitarist for notorious heavy metal band, GWAR.  Formed in 1984, GWAR built a legion of fans due in part to their over-the-top sci-fi inspired costumes and comic book violence that ran through their lyrics and live shows.  Not an original member, Smoot joined the band in 2002 and was the longest running Flattus Maximus in the band’s history.  Besides playing on every album since he joined, Smoot helped with production and mixing duties as well.  He can be heard singing lead on the band’s “Release The Flies.”  As reported by MetalSucks, during the morning hours of November 3, 2011, Cory Smoot’s GWAR band mates discovered his lifeless body as they were preparing to travel into Canada on tour.  Cause of death was attributed to a coronary artery thrombosis.

Thanks to Ken McCullagh for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Lust In Space (Bonus Track Version) - Gwar

Died On This Date (October 20, 2011) Terry Span / Guitarist For Aleister Wild

Terry Span
DOB Unknown – October 20, 2011

Terry Span was the founding lead guitarist for Colorado Springs hard rock band, Aleister Wild.  Span formed the group in Canton, Ohio during the 1990s, but eventually relocated to Colorado.  Following a gig on October 8, 2011, Span reportedly tried to step in to stop an altercation between a couple of his band mates when bass player, Michael Sorden allegedly hit him hard enough to put him into a coma.  As reported in the Huffington Post, Terry Span, age 48, ultimately died from his injuries on October 20, 2011.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

 

Died On This Date (October 2, 2011) Mikko Laine / Guitarist For Sole Remedy

Mikko Laine
1981 – October 2, 2011

Mikko Laine was the guitarist in Finnish metal band, Sole Remedy.  Formed in 1998, the band steadily built a legion of fans for its progressive and dark elements.  According to Blabbermouth, Laine, who was catching some sleep in the backstage area of the ProgPower Europe festival following their set, was run over by a truck that was transporting heavy equipment from the stage area.  The driver reportedly did not see him laying on the ground.  The 30-year-old guitarist died at the scene.

 

What You Should Own

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Apoptosis - Sole Remedy

 

Died On This Date (September 9, 2011) Jonas Bergqvist aka B / Co-Founder Of Lifelover

Jonas Bergqvist
DOB Unknown – September 9, 2011

Jonas Bergqvist, known professionally as B, was as songwriter and founding guitarist for Swedish narcotic metal band, Lifelover.  Formed in 2005, Lifelover began building a sizable following thanks in part to such albums as 2006’s Pulver, Dekadens (2009) and their most recent, Sjukdom, released in February of 2011.  They were also a popular concert draw across Europe.  Jonas Bergqvist died unexpectedly on September 9, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

What You Should Own

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Sjukdom - Lifelover

Died On This Date (August 28, 2012) Johnny Giosa / Drummer For The BulletBoys

Johnny Giosa
DOB Unknown – August 28, 2011

Johnny Giosa was a rock drummer from Los Angeles, CA (by way Pennsylvania) who is perhaps best remembered as a recent drummer for the revitalized ’80s metal band, BulletBoys. Over the course of his career, Giosa played with several other acts and still found time to model, act, and style hair, reportedly “for the stars.”  During the early morning hours of August 28, 2011, Johnny Giosa was killed when his car swerved into a pillar along the 405 freeway.  Cause of the accident was not immediately released.  Giosa was 42.

Thanks to David Plastik at eRockPhotos for the assist.