Earache-signed thrash metallers Evile have announced that their bassist Mike Alexander has died after suffering a brain hemorrhage while on tour in Sweden.
Paying tribute to their bandmate, the rest of the band said in a statement: "This is so hard to find the words to express fully how we feel. We can't believe or accept what's happened. One minute we're talking to our buddy, Mike, the next minute we can never speak to him again. There's so many things rushing through our heads that we want to say, do and feel. We half expect him to come round the corner and call us 'dickheads'. We can't get our heads around it".
They continued: "It upsets us so much that he was away from his family when this happened, although knowing Mike, we're at least glad he was on tour doing what he loves. We're lost for words. We all miss him so much already. He was such a headstrong, genuinely nice guy who loved music and his family. We've got so many brilliant memories with him. Our hearts go out to his daughter, family and friends at this tragic, difficult time. Mike is much loved and is sorely missed. Rest in peace, brother".
London-born Alexander started collaborating with Evile bandmates Matt Drake and Ben Carter in 2000. They formed Evile in 2004, self-releasing their debut EP the same year. They signed to Earache in 2006, and released their second album for the label just last month. It seems that Alexander had been in good health before being taken ill suddenly while on tour in Sweden.