Evile were mere days into their European tour with
Amon Amarth when bassist Michael Alexander took ill. Reports say he had complained of feeling ill after Evile's Sunday performance in Oulu, Sweden. Alexander collapsed the next morning (October 5) at the Theatra Hus club in Lulea. He was rushed to Sunderby Hospital but passed away shortly after. A blood clot is suspected to have ended his life. Alexander was just 32 years old.
Shortly after their bandmate's tragic death, Matt Drake, Ol Drake and Ben Carter 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, family and friends at this tragic, difficult time.
"Mike is much loved and is sorely missed. Rest in peace, brother."
Metal Assault Radio's DJ Shredder recently sat down with Ol Drake - guitarist for British thrash band Evile. The interview was conducted in Sayreville, New Jersey when the band made a scheduled stop for a performance with Overkill. The chat can be streamed via Blabbermouth.net.
