Mike Alexander

Sadly, just a few days into their European tour with Amon Amarth, Evile’s Mike Alexander was suddenly taken ill and rushed to hospital, but tragically passed away in Lulea, Sweden due to a Pulmonary Embolism (Blood Clot on the Lungs).

Evile members Matt Drake, Ol Drake and Ben Carter have released the following 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.

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, two lads, Hayley, his whole family and friends at this tragic, difficult time.

Mike is much loved and is sorely missed.

Rest in peace, brother.”

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On Friday the 30th of October SEREGON will be releasing their new 7 Track EP ‘DISPOSABLE SUFFERING’, this will coincide with an EP Release party the same day at Yate Community Centre in Yate near Bristol, UK. A charity raffle was already set to take place but due to the tragic events of 05/10/09 all proceeds made from the raffle and door sales will go to the family of late EVILE Bassist Mike Alexander.

Items included in the Charity Raffle:

• Signed copy of Metal Hammer (June 2007) by the members of MEGADETH & Promotional Beer Mat (Donated from personal collection of SEREGON’s James Moore).
• A set of MEGADETH Plectrums from the 2007 World Tour & Promotional Beer Mat (Donated from personal collection of SEREGON’s James Moore).
• A signed live photo of TESTAMENT in Dubai 2006, (Donated from personal collection of SEREGON’s James Moore).
• A signed copy of SEREGON’s new EP ‘DISPOSABLE SUFFERING’ and signed SEREGON Promo Shot.
• A ‘DISPOSABLE SUFFERING’ SEREGON T-Shirt and signed SEREGON Promo Shot.
• Various signed vinyl’s from EXODUS
• Goodie bag from WHIPLASH
• Epiphone ANNHILATOR Flying V in Black (JEFF WATERS Signature) prototype : Signed and dated by JEFF WATERS, shipping/donation to be paid for by Jeff’s sister, KATHY WATERS
• Plus many more item’s on the night!

When asked by the UK’s TERRORIZER Magazine how he felt and why SEREGON have taken so many opportunities to help Mike’s family, SEREGON’S James Moore said:

“The main reason as to why we are doing everything we can is simple, the UK Thrash scene is a big family and families need to stick together and look after one another. After playing with Evile a few times, Mike instantly made you feel like you had been friends for years and I can …

German thrash titans DESTRUCTION will dedicate their set at Damnation festival in Leeds, U.K. to EVILE bassist Mike Alexander, who tragically passed away on October 5, 2009 while on tour in Sweden.

The festival will take place at Leeds University Union this Saturday, October 24.

EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake will make a guest appearance on guitar with DESTRUCTION, to play some of Mike‘s favoriteDESTRUCTION tracks with the band.

Ol Drake recently filled in on guitar for DESTRUCTION at Portugal’s Caos Emergentefestival.

Ol Drake comments: “Mike was a huge DESTRUCTION fan. It’ll be a great way to pay tribute to him by jamming some of his favoriteDESTRUCTION songs with Schmier, Marc and Mike.

“Throughout playing with EVILE, Mike was always cautiously calm about exciting things. ‘Mike, we’re touring with MEGADETH!’ ‘Oh, cool’. ‘Mike, we’re touring with EXODUS!’ ‘Oh, cool’. I just knew he jumped around like a child when he got home, but when I called him to say I’m playing a show with DESTRUCTION in Portugal he went ‘OH MY GOD!!!!!!! WHOAAAA, you bastard! Wow!'”

“I got to pass on one of Schmier‘s picks from him to Mike before the last tour and it made his day.

“Thank you to DESTRUCTION for wanting to dedicate their next set to Mike and for letting me jam some songs in his honor.”

DESTRUCTION bassist and vocalist Schmier comments: “Ol Drake became a very close friend to the band since he helped us out after the broken finger affair.

“When I heard that Mike Alexander died, I was speechless and shocked. I had to sit down.

“The world never was a fair place. This again was a situation that shows how fast everything can …

EVILE have announced two special memorial shows in the UK to honour their late bassist, MIKE ALEXANDER, who tragically passed away while on tour in Sweden on October 5th, 2009.

The two memorial shows take place on December 7th, 2009 at Rio’s in Leeds and December 8th, 2009 at the Underworld in London, and will feature live performances from Irish thrashers GAMA BOMB plus special guests MUTANT and SEREGON. Tickets for the show are only available directly from the venue (IN PERSON FOR CASH) for £8 in advance, or for £10 on the door.

A huge raffle will also take place at the memorial shows, with loads of awesome prizes, limited edition and signed goods to be won, all of which have been generously donated by various bands and artists. All money raised will go to MIKE ALEXANDER’s family.

To view the prizes, head to https://www.mikealexander.co.uk/raffle/

EVILE lead guitarist OL DRAKE comments:

“These two nights are for all the friends and fans of Mike who haven’t had a real chance to say goodbye, and also for us to hold something a lot more appropriate than any funeral could be. Mike wasn’t religious, and his beliefs were solely based in music, so there is no better way to say goodbye. He lived for music and metal. We picked a few bands who Mike liked and we’ll no doubt be playing a few covers on the night. We’re holding a raffle with LOTS of items kindly donated by some amazing people and bands from around the world. Keep an eye on our sites for details of these – please come along and grab a raffle ticket – all money is going to the family.”

GAMA BOMB frontman PHILLY BYRNE adds:

“It’s a real honour to play these shows for Mike. …

In October 2009 Evile’s bassist, Mike Alexander, passed away whilst on tour in Sweden. He died of a pulmonary embolism, he was 32.  Two months after the tragedy, in December 2009, Evile arranged two memorial shows (Leeds & London) to honour the memory of Mike and to raise money for his family. While Mutant and Seregon played the show by request, Matt, Ol and Ben got together with members of the other bands and Nick Barker to play some covers by some of Mike’s favourite bands including Sepultura, Testament, Metallica, Pantera and Slayer. Below are videos of the entire covers set, including messages read out from Mike’s family and Earache Records, at the Mike Alexander Memorial Show in London on December 8th, 2009.

Evile lead guitarist, Ol Drake, had the following to say: “The two nights we did in December meant so much to us all. It was our own way of saying goodbye to our friend, Mike. We attended his funeral with his family and friends, and it was a good ceremony, but we wanted something we know Mike would have loved; two nights of Metal. It was tough to get back on stage again without looking over and seeing him there, as that’s what we’d all seen on stage for the past 10/11 years. I don’t think people realise how long we all played together. We still miss Mike dearly and can’t believe he’s gone. Thank you to everyone involved in helping us make these nights happen, and thanky ou to everyone for coming and paying your respects. I hope you enjoy these videos!”

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