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Metal Church - Frontman Mike Howe Dead At 55


It is with great sadness that we have been informed that Mike Howe, frontman of American heavy metal outfit Metal Church, has passed away. The band confirmed the sad news on their Facebook page earlier today, revealing that he passed away in his California home. A cause of death hasn't been revealed. He was 55 years old.

Metal Church wrote: "It is with our deepest regrets that we must announce the passing of our brother, our friend and true legend of heavy metal music. Mike Howe passed away this morning at his home in Eureka, California. We are devastated and at a loss for words. Please respect our privacy and the Howe family's privacy during this most difficult time."

Howe joined Metal Church in 1988, after a two year tenure fronting California thrash metal act Heretic (USA). He stayed with Metal Church until they disbanded in the mid-'90s and returned almost two decades later in 2015.

Heretic (USA) also posted on Facebook: "Saddened to hear of the the passing of former HereticMetal vocalist Mike Howe. R.I.P."

Mike Howe made five studio albums with Metal Church - 1989's Blessing In Disguise, 1991's The Human Factor, 1993's Hanging In The Balance, 2016's XI and 2018's Damned If You Do. The band had announced earlier this month that their next album was planned for release in 2022.

Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and family. Rest in peace, Mike.



Photo credit: Frank Hoensch/Redferns/Getty Images


Source: facebook.com
Band profile: Metal Church
Posted: 27.07.2021 by nikarg


Comments

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Comments: 15   Visited by: 171 users
27.07.2021 - 12:04
nikarg
Staff
Today also marks three years since Mark Shelton's death. It's a bit naïve but I like to think that these two may meet somehow, somewhere.

Rest in peace.
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27.07.2021 - 12:04
TheDarkWizard
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27.07.2021 - 12:16
qlacs
"The Quaker"
Oh man, this is so saddening. He seemed to be in such a good shape still. Blessing in Disguise is my favourite MC album. Rest in Peace, Mike.
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27.07.2021 - 12:28
fenchik
So Sad..R.I.P Mike....
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27.07.2021 - 15:05
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
This is sad he has some kick in a way he sung... Only John Bush might replace him. Rip
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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27.07.2021 - 15:20
JOPE OF STEELE
Steelemeister
Very unexpected at such age; he looks healthy in the pics. Another legendary MC singer now gone after David Wayne... RIP
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My vision is augmented
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27.07.2021 - 19:49
Ansercanagicus
endangered bird
Damn. He had an awesome voice
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2024
2023
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28.07.2021 - 00:29
CWA
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. WHY GOD, WHY!?!?!?
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28.07.2021 - 00:55
JoHn Doe
Sad and shocking news.
too young to go...

RIP
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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28.07.2021 - 13:04
Pimpelmee
Amazing Mapman
Written by Bad English on 27.07.2021 at 15:05

This is sad he has some kick in a way he sung... Only John Bush might replace him. Rip

Very sad indeed
Your suggestion reminds me of the good times:
https://www.pimpelmee.nl/images/ArmoredChurch.jpg
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31.07.2021 - 01:15
nikarg
Staff
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31.07.2021 - 01:49
Metal Spartan
Suicide...unbelievable
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31.07.2021 - 21:58
JOPE OF STEELE
Steelemeister
The surviving members of METAL CHURCH shared a statement on social media in which they blamed Howe's death on the fact that he "was victimized by a failing health-care system and subsequently poisoned by the venom of Big Pharma," a term which refers collectively to the global pharmaceutical industry. "In short and in essence, he fell prey to the real 'Fake Healer'."

"Concerning our recently deleted post addressing the news that Mike's passing was a suicide, we wanted to dispel any misconceptions that might have arisen from certain media reports," METAL CHURCH wrote in its latest post. "In our efforts to do that, our attempts at honesty created a narrative that fell outside our purest of intentions. We were in no way, shape or form referring to anything in relation to vaccinations, COVID or politics. We were saying our brother was hurting and while he was seeking medical care for it, the treatments he was utilizing did not protect him. Otherwise, he would still be with us today.

"If you knew Mike Howe, then you knew he was a truly good human being who loved his friends, his family and his many fans around the world. He would always go the extra mile to make someone feel good and he would always give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. We ask that you remember Mike in that way and for the amazing metal music he created.

"This is an extremely difficult time for everyone who knew Mike personally and those that knew him through the music. We are all still processing the loss of our brother. We apologize that the original statement was misunderstood or created an incorrect dialog. We ask that you please stop attacking each other in relation to Mike's passing and METAL CHURCH. We ask that you take that energy and use it to keep Mike's memory alive by sharing the music he created while he was with us. We want METAL CHURCH music to bring people together as it has over the years and not be divisive.

"Godspeed Mike Howe, WE LOVE YOU!!!"

I think they should have kept the initial post, it looks to me that they only removed it due to PR. Only John Joseph looks to have balls to call out big pharma.
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My vision is augmented
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01.08.2021 - 00:10
nikarg
Staff
Written by JOPE OF STEELE on 31.07.2021 at 21:58

I think they should have kept the initial post, it looks to me that they only removed it due to PR.

They did very well to remove it because it was an unneeded post at a very inappropriate time and it created a shitstorm of idiotic comments that disrespected Mike's memory.

There is a lot that is wrong about the quality of care that people suffering from mental health problems receive and a lot more wrong about how these people are treated with medication. However, publicly addressing these issues on social media in a way that points fingers and assigns blame for the fact that a person decided to take his own life is outright ridiculous and uncalled for. It is as stupid as if someone told the band members "if you were truly his friends and cared about him, you would have done something and he would still be alive."

This post from Jake Superchi is the kind of respectful emotional reaction I would have expected Metal Church to have.
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01.08.2021 - 23:35
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
According to TMZ, METAL CHURCH singer Mike Howe's official cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to hanging. A spokesperson for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Dept. told the site authorities are calling it a suicide.
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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