Founding Sacred Reich Guitarist Jason Rainey Dead at Age 53

Guitarist Jason Rainey, a founding member of Sacred Reich, has died. He was 53-years-old. The cause of death was a heart attack.

The band broke the news via the following statement on social media:

“It is with deep sadness and broken hearts that we must announce that our friend, guitarist and founding member of Sacred Reich, Jason Rainey has passed away.

“Jason started the band after only playing guitar for six months. With sheer determination and will, he lead us through the early years of the band. He worked tirelessly. Sacred Reich was his life.

“In recent years he faced some serious medical issues. He ultimately succembed to a heart attack on Monday, March 16. He was 53 years old.

“Jason, we wish you peace and love. ❤️

“Jason Wesley Rainey
“February 14, 1967 – March 16, 2020”

Rainey appeared on all of Sacred Reich’s albums save for last year’s Awakening, on which he was replaced by Joey Radziwill. In a 2019 interview with Sonic Perspectives, bassist/vocalist Phil Rind implied that Rainey’s absence was, indeed, due to illness, and that that there were no hard feelings between Rainey and the rest of the band:

“Unfortunately, Jason just physically… there’s some stuff going on with him.

“He just wasn’t going to be able to do it. We tried everything we could. We all tried. It just became apparent he wasn’t going to be able to be up to it and be able to come through for us. It’s really sad. It’s a real heartbreaking thing. 

“Jason started the band. He and I did so much together, and I’m probably closer to him than anybody else on the whole planet. When it became apparent, I cried for two days straight. It was heartbreaking.”

MetalSucks sends its deepest condolences to Rainey’s loved ones. Everyone should make sure to honor him today by blasting some of his work with Sacred Reich as loudly as your speakers will possibly allow.