Morbid Angel Drummer Mike Browning Dies at 62

Morbid Angel drummer and founding member Mike Browning has died aged 62.

The band confirmed the sad news in an emotional statement on Wednesday writing: 'R.I.P Mike, thanks for helping making all this happen. 

Our condolences to his family & especially his daughter.'

No further details about the cause of death were given.

His daughter Bela thanked fans for their well wishes and called her dad 'an amazing person and an even better father.'

And Megadeth's Dirk Verbeuren paid tribue to Mike, calling him 'a musical legend and truly the nicest guy.'

Mike, who was born in Tampa, Florida, was an influential drummer, vocalist, and songwriter best known as one of the founding figures of the Florida death metal scene. 

He played a significant role in shaping the early sound of death metal during the 1980s.

He co-founded Morbid Angel with guitarist Trey Azagthoth and the band was originally called Ice and then Heretic.

Mike served as both drummer and vocalist during the band's earliest years and performed on the recording of Abominations of Desolation, which was recorded in 1986 and later released as a demo album in 1991.

After leaving the band following a fall out with Trey, he later formed Nocturnus, a pioneering band that blended technical death metal with science fiction themes and keyboards.

Their 1990 debut album, The Key, is widely regarded as a landmark in progressive death metal.

Mike revived the band as Nocturnus A.D. in 2013 and remained active, releasing albums including Paradox (2019) and Unicursal (2024). They last performed in 2024.

He also worked with bands such as Incubus (the Florida death metal band, not the later alternative rock band), After Death, Acheron, and several other projects.

Tributes for the star rolled in, as Profound Lore Records wrote: 'RIP death metal legend/visionary and sci-fi death metal godfather Mike Browning of Nocturnus/Nocturnus AD.

'It has been an honour good sir. Now journey beyond the gateway to the outer void!'

Guitarist Michael Amott wrote: 'Damn, that's a shock. True DM legend. Still have the letters and tapes we traded in the late 80s, met him in FL in 1990 and he was very cool. R.I.P.'

Nike is survived by his daughter Bela, who thanked fans for their messages as she branded him 'an amazing person and an even better father'.

In another comment, she added: 'Thank you for this beautiful post, he was an amazing man and loved his work in music so very much.'