THE NEWS
Mike Milford was the voice screaming over Orange County metalcore in the early 2000s, and then he was the guy quietly signing and managing the bands that came after. He has died following a battle with cancer, news his Scars of Tomorrow bandmates shared on social media August 8th *†.
THE LEGACY
- Helped start Scars of Tomorrow in October 2000, building a West Coast take on East Coast hardcore alongside OC peers Throwdown and Bleeding Through *
- Signed to Victory Records in 2003; toured with Atreyu, Norma Jean, Unearth and Bury Your Dead *
- Band broke up in 2007, reunited in 2010, and has played shows and released music sporadically since *
- More than 20 years on the business side of heavy music *
- Central figure at The Artery Foundation and Artery Recordings, signing Chelsea Grin and Vanna *
- Later launched Modern Empire Music and managed Attila and Sworn In *
- A father, per tributes from his bandmates *†
WHY IT MATTERS
Founding bassist Bob Bradley called him a "Father, musician, music industry wizard and all around amazing guy" * — and that stacking is the point. Two decades of the scene ran through Milford, on stage and on paper.