Michael "Mike" Scaccia (June 14, 1965 – December 23, 2012) was an American musician, best known as the lead (and sometimes rhythm) guitarist for the metal bands Ministry, Rigor Mortis, and The Revolting Cocks.

Early career

Scaccia was born in Babylon, New York, in the United States of America. He was of Italian descent and had three older sisters.

Scaccia's first band, Spectrum, was formed with high school friends Chuck and Chad Williams on guitar and bass,Johnny Carpenter on drums and Barry (Baron) Lane on vocals.

Rigor Mortis originally formed in 1983 when schoolmates Harden Harrison and Casey Orr met Scaccia. The three shared a love for horror/gore flicks and extremely heavy music, and that recipe helped them create a truly unique form of speed metal that had never been heard before. Within five years they had virtually created the thrash metal scene in Texas and landed a major label deal. In 1988, with Bruce Corbitt on vocals, Rigor Mortis released their self-titled debut album on Capitol Records.

In 1989, Scaccia was asked by Al Jourgensen to join his band Ministry for their 1989-1990 The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour. Jourgensen was so impressed by Scaccia's talents that he included him into the band full-time. Scaccia left Rigor Mortis in 1991. He then went on to record and tour for Ministry's next album, the platinum-selling smash Psalm 69 throughout 1992. He also played on their memorable Lollapalooza tour.

Throughout 1994-1995, recording began on Ministry's follow-up, Filth Pig. They relocated to Austin where sessions took place. He left the band right before the band's 1996 tour to support Filth Pig.

Reunion

In early 2003, Rigor Mortis reformed in Texas to ecstatic reviews. Scaccia was included in the lineup. Also at this time, a clean, sober Jourgensen again asked him to rejoin for touring their new album, Animositisomina. He agreed, and has been performing full-time with them since. He did, however, leave Ministry again in 2006, but has since then rejoined with Al Jourgensen in the studio to record their latest album Relapse which is scheduled to tour in the summer of 2012. Currently it has been confirmed that Mike had been working with all the original members of Rigor Mortis who are in the studio writing and recording their first album in 20 years, which is also scheduled to be produced by Al Jourgensen.

Death

Scaccia collapsed onstage shortly before midnight on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at The Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was performing as part of the 50th birthday celebrations for Bruce Corbitt, the singer from Rigor Mortis; he passed away around 12:30 am on Sunday, December 23rd at a local hospital. Although initial reports suggested a seizure possibly caused by the strobe lighting at the venue, the coroner indicated the cause of death to be "sudden heart attack brought on by heart disease". He was 47. A memorial service was held for Scaccia on Sunday, December 30th at the Aristide Event and Conference Center in Mansfield, TX.

Projects

• Rigor Mortis
• Ministry
• Revolting Cocks
• BloHole
• League of Blind Women
• Lard
• Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters

Personal discography

• Rigor Mortis, s/t (1988, Capitol)
• Ministry, In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up (1990, Sire)
• 1000 Homo DJs, Supernaut (1990, WaxTrax!)
• Revolting Cocks, Beers, Steers, and Queers (1990, WaxTrax!)
• Ministry, Jesus Built My Hotrod (1991, Sire)
• Ministry, Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs (1992, Sire)
• Skrew, Burning In Water, Drowning In Flame (1992, Metal Blade)
• Ministry, Just One Fix (1993, Sire)
• Revolting Cocks, Linger Ficken' Good...And Other Barnyard Oddities (1993, Sire)
• Ministry, Filth Pig (1996, Warner)
• Lard, Pure Chewing Satisfaction (1997, Alternative Tentacles)
• League of Blind Women, League of Blind Women (1998, Milo Music/mp3.com)
• Various Artists, Lucio Fulci: A Symphony of Fear (1999, Blackest Heart/Graveside)
• Lard, 70's Rock Must Die (2000, Alternative Tentacles)
• Ministry, Greatest Fits (2001, Warner)
• Ministry, Houses of the Molé (2004, Sanctuary)
• Revolting Cocks, Cocked and Loaded (2006, 13th Planet Records)
• Ministry, Rio Grande Blood (2006, 13th Planet Records)
• Ministry, Cover Up (2008, 13th Planet Records)
• Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters, Bikers Welcome Ladies Drink Free (2011, 13th Planet Records)
• Ministry, Relapse (2012, 13th Planet Records)