6/7/18 UPDATE – We regret to inform that Ralph Santolla has passed away… Fellow guitarist and friend Bill Hudson II reported his death following a number of updates by stating:

“NOW It is official: I (and many other people) just lost my best friend, as well as one of the most underrated guitarists in all history. He passed away peacefully with about 10 of his closest friends and family around him (myself included). Please keep his mother Sue Santolla-Rocha, his son Dorian Angelo Santolla and all the rest of us in your thoughts… Rest in peace, my brother, Ralph Santolla… You will be missed by A LOT of people… I love you, bro.”

R.I.P. Ralph Santolla

5/31/18 – Unfortunately, Ralph Santolla is currently in a coma following a heart attack. Ralph’s mother, Sue Santolla-Rocha, had the following to say of the situation and his condition:

“Ralph thought he had a spider bite on Saturday. Went to the hospital. It was not a spider bite; it was a blood clot. Tuesday night he fell and he had a heart attack. John Rocha gave him CPR until EMT arrived. His heart had stopped but they got him back. His visuals are stable but he is in a coma. He is on a ventilator, but he is breathing around it. He could breathe on his own, but they do not want to add additional strain to his body. He is in a coma. That is the main concern at this moment. They can fix everything else.

“We are having as many of his friends as he can come and talk to him and play music. There has been a minimal movement, but some. It is ICU, but he is in a private room and they are letting anyone in and they can stay as long as they want. So please pray as he has people all over the world praying and if you can come and spend time with him. Please… he needs to get back from the place that he is in. I love you all… Let’s just work on getting him out of the coma if we can.”

The 48 year old is a veteran of the Death Metal world. He’s made his mark on multiple Deicide and Obituary albums, and Iced Earth album, and even toured with Death. We’re wishing nothing but the best for him, his family, and friends.