Black Hawk commented: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce that our friend and bassist, Didy Mackel, passed away suddenly today. Didy had been playing with Black Hawk for the past three years and was previously active in the bands Mania, Not Fragile , and Iron Angel, leaving his mark on the metal scene for many years. We are all still in shock and struggling to find the right words. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones. We wish them strength and comfort during this incredibly difficult time. R.I.P. Didy . You will be deeply missed and never forgotten. We will see you again on the other side."
Iron Angel added: "Dear fans and friends, our big Iron Angel family has lost another one of it's members as our longtime bassist and friend of Dirk's since the early 80s, Didy Mackel, has passed away this morning. Not only was he the one responsible for convincing Dirk to put the band back together in 2014, he also brought in the two guitar players to round out the line-up, thus making the Iron Angel reunion possible in the first place. His cheerful and enthusiastic persona has often been a guiding light to us, even in our darkest of times and his wisdom and seemingly limitless patience has more than once been the glue to hold us all together. The world has not only lost an incredible bass player, but also a wonderful human being."
