Suicide Silence saved by Lucker tragedy

Suicide Silence guitarist Mark Heylmun says the death of Mitch Lucker in 2012 brought the rest of the band back from the brink of destruction.

He admits their drink and drug abuse was completely out of control – and only the frontman’s fatal motorcycle crash forced them to face the danger they were in.

Haylmun tells AltPress: “There was a whole hell of a lot going on prior to Mitch’s passing. We couldn’t have been more unprepared. The lines had blurred between our lives on tour and at home.

“Somewhere inside I knew we’d all gone over the line. We were all doing crazy shit. I was concerned for other people in my band – but I didn’t feel like I could confront anyone without being a hypocrite.”

He describes his bandmate’s death as “super-traumatic” and says he was still in shock while putting Lucker’s memorial show together.

“I hardly even remember playing,” he reflects. “I was all over the place; I had no idea what I was going to do. I was trying to sober up – all I knew was I’d had a monkey on my back for three years straight.”

The band eventually regrouped behind former All Shall Perish frontman Eddie Hermida, and released fourth album You Can’t Stop Me in July.

Heylmun reports he’s lost 70lbs in weight and now eats healthily, drinks far less and feels much better. And although he accepts the band’s success will always be tinged with sadness, he says: “It took us a long while to see how something so tragic could turn out to be a good thing on any level. We came out of it as stronger people.”

Suicide Silence tour the UK in November:

Nov 14: Birmingham Asylum

Nov 15: Newcastle Riverside

Nov 16: Glasgow Cathouse

Nov 17: Manchester Academy 2

Nov 18: Leeds Cockpit

Nov 19: Southampton Mo Club

Nov 20: Cardiff Solus 2

Nov 21: London Koko

Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.