RIP - Ralph Santolla

[Crazysam]

Ralph Santolla, guitarist for bands such as Millenium, Monarch, Iced Earth, Deicide, and Obituary was taken off life support yesterday and passed away at age 48.  

From Blabbermouth http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-deicide-and-obituary-guitarist-ralph-santolla-dies-at-51/

Former DEATH, ICED EARTH, DEICIDE and OBITUARY guitarist Ralph Santolla died Wednesday night (June 6) at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida.

The musician fell into a coma after suffering a heart attack on May 30 and was taken off life support last night around 11:00 p.m. He was 51 48 years old.

Santolla's friend, fellow guitarist Bill Hudson, confirmed Ralph's passing in a Facebook post, writing: "NOW It is official: I (and many other people) just lost my best friend, as well as one of the most underrated guitarists in all history.  "He passed away peacefully with about 10 of his closest friends and family around him (myself included).  "Please keep his mother Sue Santolla-Rocha, his son Dorian Angelo Santolla and all the rest of us in your thoughts... "Rest in peace, my brother, Ralph Santolla...  

Santolla's family members said that they would uphold his legacy by donating his organs to patients in need. "Those recipients don't know what they are getting until they suddenly become sarcastic, funny, get tattoos, start playing guitar," Santolla-Rocha joked in a Facebook post.

Although Santolla never recorded with DEATH, he toured with the legendary death metal act in 1993 and appeared in the group's "The Philosopher" video.  Santolla played on and off with DEICIDE between 2005 and 2011 and appeared on three of the band's albums: "The Stench Of Redemption" (2006), "Till Death Do Us Part" (2008) and "To Hell With God" (2011).  Ralph joined OBITUARY in 2007 as the replacement for Allen West. He recorded with the band on the "Xecutioner's Return" (2007) and "Darkest Day" (2009) albums as well as the "Left To Die" EP (2008).

Santolla also played with MILLENIUM, ICED EARTH and Sebastian Bach. In addition, he was involved with DEVIL'S HIGHWAY, a project he formed several years ago with singer Kyle Thomas (TROUBLE, EXHORDER), bassist Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, SADUS), guitarist Matt Brunson (CROWBAR, KINGDOM OF SORROW) and drummer Tony Laureano (DIMMU BORGIR, NILE).

Bach wrote in a Facebook post: "Rest in peace, Ralph Santolla. Thanks for the music and the fun times. My condolences to the Santolla family."

Norwegian singer Jørn Lande, who played with Santolla in MILLENIUM, wrote: "My dear friend and former bandmate Ralph Santolla has passed away, and I can't believe he is gone. The kindest, most caring and compassionate man you could ever know. He had the most hilarious sarcastic humor, and played guitar like no one else!  "There's a hole in the heart of the world without you, Ralph, and I am sorry I wasn't there when you left.  "All my love to Sue Santolla-Rocha, Dorian Angelo Santolla and the rest of the family.  "So long, my friend!"

Edited June 8, 2018 by Crazysam
Correction

[heavyharmonies]

Damn. He was younger than I am. R.I.P.

[Stefan]

R.I.P.

Actually he was half a month younger than me. He was born in December 1969 which made him 48 years old. Not 51.

[kourosofsteel3]

Already missing the shred master! ?

[Geoff]

Holy shit. Very young, very sad. I had no idea he had such a heavy past, but I love his Monarch and early Millenium albums. Great heavy guitar sound. Rest in peace, and thanks for the great tunes.