Two schoolmates, Harden Harrison (drums) and Casey Orr (bass), formed the band when they met Mike Scaccia (guitar). The three young men shared an interest in horror/gore films and very heavy music. With Bruce Corbitt on vocals, they created some of the heaviest thrash metal at the time often flirting with death metal. They were also one of the only major thrash bands from Texas and virtually created the underground metal scene there. The band was signed by Capitol Records in 1987.
In 2005, the original lineup reunited and performed at Ozzfest 2008 in Texas. In 2009, Rigor Mortis played in Germany at the Keep It True Festival.
Mike Scaccia also played guitar with industrial metal band Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard, and others.[3] Casey Orr plays bass in the shock rock band Gwar as the character Beefcake the Mighty. Harden Harrison also plays drums with the metal bands Speedealer and Mitra. Bruce Corbitt also sang for the thrash metal band Warbeast (formerly Texas Metal Alliance). Former Rigor Mortis vocalist/guitarist Doyle Bright also played guitar in the metal band Hallows Eve. He currently performs vocals and guitars in the band SOG.
On December 23, 2012, the band's guitarist Mike Scaccia died from a heart attack while performing onstage.[4][5][6]
On October 6, 2014, Rigor Mortis released their final album Slaves to the Grave, which had been recorded in February 2012 at Ministry's 13th Planet Studios in El Paso. With no label interested in the album, Rigor Mortis successfully crowdfunded the new album by raising $22,838 from fan pre-orders to self-release the final album.[7][8]
After years of battling with cancer, Corbitt died on January 25, 2019, at the age of 56.[9] The remaining members perform Rigor Mortis music under the moniker Wizards of Gore in tribute to Mike Scaccia.
Musical style
The band made the transition from speed metal to thrash metal to death metal.[2] The music on the self-titled debut album is described as technically demanding and "furiously fast". The lyrics mostly describe horror stories, inspired by films such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre or A Nightmare on Elm Street. The band sees their songs as "little tales of death and doom, with the purpose of entertaining people". The EP Freaks featured Doyle Bright as the new singer, who "sounds exactly like his predecessor".[10]
Band members
Timeline
Select discography
1986: Demo 1986
1988: The Decline of the Western Civilization Part 2 (The Metal Years) Soundtrack (Capitol)
1988: Demons Demo
1988: Rigor Mortis (Capitol) - Released on July 19, 1988
