According to a posting on Ross “The Boss” Friedman‘s Facebook page, ex-MANOWAR drummer Scott Columbus died earlier today (Monday, April 4) at the age of 54. This information was corroborated by Scott‘s girlfriend of almost four years, Nancy, who wrote on the drummer’s Facebook page:

“For all you to know, this is Scott Columbus‘s girlfriend of over 3 1/3 years… and I cannot get the words out, but he died today… Please send your thoughts and prayers. I can’t believe he is gone. He was the absolute love of my life.”

MANOWAR has released the following statement regarding the passing of the band’s former drummer, Scott Columbus:

“With great sorrow we announce the passing of our brother Scott. A rare talent, equally a rare individual, a father, friend and a brother of metal.
“All the great moments we spent together are burnished in our hearts and memories forever. We know he is in a good place and at peace. He will never be forgotten.”

In the months prior to this death, Columbus was working on an instrumental project called INSTRUMETAL. He described it as “very heavy, very rhythmically driven. I call it heavy metal elevator music; you pop the CD in your car and before you know it, you’re driving 125 miles an hour!”
Scott Columbus was only 54 years old.