Tragic news out of the US with Mike Scaccia – a member of Ministry, Rigor Mortis and the Revolting Cocks – dying after suffering a reported heart attack on stage.

Classic Rock reports that Scaccia, 47, collapsed during a Rigor Mortis show at the Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas. He was taken to a local hospital, but died soon after. UPDATE 24/12: Some outlets are reporting the cause of death as a result of a strobe light-induced seizure.

The show was put on to celebrate the 50th birthday of singer Bruce Corbitt, who paid tribute to his bandmate on Facebook: "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 – the greatest guitar player I ever knew. I'm proud to say that I was always Mike Scaccia's biggest fan, and always will be."

Scaccia founded Texan thrash metal pioneers Rigor Mortis in 1983 with Harden Harrison and Casey Orr. The band later drafted in Corbitt as lead singer, releasing their self-titled debut through Capitol Records in 1988. The following year Scaccia was recruited by Al Jourgensen as a touring guitarist for industrial metal act Ministry, who he later joined full-time. He played on their platinum-selling hit Psalm 69 and Filth Pig before quitting the band in 1996. He was part of the reunited line-up that released 12th studio album Relapse earlier this year.

Jourgensen posted the following tribute on Facebook: "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!"

An ambassador for Gibson guitars, Scaccia also performed in Dusters, Lard, The League of Blind Woman, Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters and Revolting Cocks.