CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist Erik Rutan has left the band’s European headlining tour following “catastrophic damage” to his home in St. Petersburg, Florida, caused by Hurricane Helene.
The hurricane struck the Southeast on Friday, September 27, resulting in severe flooding across Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. St. Petersburg, particularly hard hit, experienced over six feet of storm surge and more than 100 miles of flooded roads, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Earlier today, CANNIBAL CORPSE shared a statement on social media: “Due to catastrophic damage to his home from Hurricane Helene, Erik Rutan has left the tour to be present with his family at this time. Our hearts go out to Erik and his wife as they deal with this situation.”
The band’s European tour, featuring MUNICIPAL WASTE, IMMOLATION, and SCHIZOPHRENIA, began on September 20 in Oberhausen, Germany, and is set to conclude on October 20 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Rutan became a permanent member of CANNIBAL CORPSE in 2021, taking over from longtime guitarist Pat O’Brien. A highly regarded figure in death metal, Rutan is known for his work with MORBID ANGEL in the 1990s and early 2000s and for his role as vocalist and guitarist for HATE ETERNAL. He is also a noted producer, operating primarily out of his Mana Recording facility in St. Petersburg.
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