Written by: Alex Green

Kent Stax, who played drums with the legendary Virginia hardcore outfit Scream, has died.

Stax, who was born Bennett Kent Stacks, died from metastatic cancer.

The drummer joined the band in 1981, replacing their original drummer Steve Atton, shortly after their formation in 1981. Stax played on the band’s first three albums, departing after 1986’s Banging The Drum.

He was replaced by a 17-year-old Dave Grohl.

“Kent is the original heartbeat of Scream,” the band wrote on Instagram. “Though we have had to continue on without him before, we have always known Kent is irreplaceable. He was one of a kind. In addition to being a truly unique drummer, Kent was also an accomplished fisherman, skilled carpenter, and avid train enthusiast.”

Ironically, the news of Stax’s death comes a day after Scream revealed they would be releasing their first new album in almost 30 years in November.