Benjamin Scott McMillan, legendary vocalist for Gruntruck and Skin Yard, died in his hometown of Seattle, Washington at age 47 after an eight-year battle with diabetes.
Roadrunner Records released two albums from Seattle-based Gruntruck: 1991's 'Inside Yours' and their 1992 follow up 'Push'. The latter was, up to that point, Roadrunner's highest-selling non-metal album due to the track 'Crazy Love' being featured on MTV's Beavis & Butthead.
Roadrunner's Monte Conner (A&R) had the following to say in response to Ben's passing.
Monte Conner:
All of us here at Roadrunner are very saddened to learn of Ben McMillan's passing. Gruntruck's second album “Push” is still one of my all-time favorite Roadrunner releases, and it still sounds as great today as it did back in 1992. Songs like the swaggerig riff-fest 'Tribe,' 'Crazy Love' (a Beavis and Butthead mainstay back in 1993) and the epic 'Above Me' (which really featured Ben's unique voice) are three of the strongest songs Ben and the band ever wrote. “Push” was quite a trailblazing record for Roadrunner as it was our biggest selling non-metal record to date in 1993. This is not to say that Gruntruck didn't haul a very large amount of ass, but they were one of our first forays into something more mainstream. Let's all crank this ass-kicking MP3 of 'Tribe' while we remember Ben McMillan and the great music he made.
Our deepest sympathies go out to all of Ben's family and friends at this time.
Head HERE to download the 'TRIBE' MP3.