Martin Kearns, the longtime drummer of UK death metal band Bolt Thrower has died at the age of 38. Details are scarce on what the cause of death was, but he passed away in his sleep on the eve of an Australian tour that was to have kicked off at the end of the month. The tour has been canceled and tickets will be refunded. The band have released a statement.

“With the heaviest of hearts, and still numb from shock, we have to share the very sad news that on Monday 14th September Bolt Thrower lost our powerhouse drummer, Martin ‘Kiddie’ Kearns. After the first rehearsal for our upcoming tour of Australia, Kiddie suddenly felt unwell which continued throughout the night, and the next day he passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was a fantastic Dad, husband, son, friend, but to us he was always ‘Kiddie’, the same 17 year old Coventry kid whose drumming style and personality blew us away when he first walked into our rehearsal room 20+ years ago. Kiddie enriched our lives, and the Bolt Thrower sound. He leaves a massive hole in the lives of everyone who knew him and will be very sorely missed by many.”

Kiddie had been the band’s second drummer, from 1994-1997. He rejoined the band in 2000 and had been in it since. 38 is just way too young to die, and our thoughts are with his bandmates, family and friends.

[via Metal Hammer]