guitarist and founder Jason Rainey passed away last Monday, the 16th, at the age of 53. According to his wife, Renee Novak , the musician suffered a heart attack, but tests will be conducted to confirm the cause of death.
“My husband passed away an hour ago,” Novak said Monday night. “He possibly suffered a heart attack. They [the paramedics] spent half an hour trying to save him, but they couldn’t.”.
Later, Sacred Reich posted a message to the guitarist on social media: “It is with great sadness and broken hearts that we announce that our friend, guitarist and founding member of Sacred Reich, Jason Rainey, has passed away. He was 53 years old. Jason, we wish you peace and love.”
Rainey founded Sacred Reich in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona, and played with the band until 2000, when they announced their breakup. Six years later, they reunited, and the guitarist remained with the group until 2019, when Joey Radziwill replaced him.
Last year, the group released Awakening , their first album in 23 years. Sacred Reich's last studio album with Jason Rainey was Heal , from 1996. The guitarist also participated in the live album Live at Wacken in 2012.
