News: Steve Rowe Explains His Absence as Mortification Returns for ‘Scrolls of the Megilloth’ Celebration Tour
For longtime fans of Mortification, the announcement almost felt unreal. A commemorative Latin American tour celebrating the 35th anniversary of the legendary Scrolls of the Megilloth album. Former members from multiple eras of the band reuniting on stage. Songs that helped define Christian death metal returning to live audiences after years of silence.
Then came the question many fans immediately asked:
Where is Steve Rowe?
After growing speculation online surrounding the lineup announcement, Rowe himself appeared in a recent video update alongside his son Leighton to address both his health and his decision to support the upcoming tour.
“My health is reasonably good,” Rowe explained in the video. “I had a bone marrow transplant 30 years ago and 11 years ago I had a stroke, which means I haven’t played bass for 11 years. So that means that Mortification just stopped.”
The statement brings clarity to years of uncertainty surrounding the iconic frontman, whose unmistakable bass tone, vocals, and spiritual conviction shaped Mortification from its earliest days. Rowe confirmed that while he will not perform on the tour, he fully supports the lineup and the vision behind the event.
“The idea of someone else was to put Mortification together to tour Brazil and I was supportive of that,” Rowe shared. “Hopefully we’ll go ahead as planned with Mick Jelinic, Lincoln, Jason Sherlock, and Guy from America.”
The touring lineup represents multiple eras of Mortification’s history, including drummer Jayson Sherlock, guitarist Lincoln Bowen, guitarist Mick Jelinic, and Luke Renno of Crimson Thorn handling bass and vocal duties.
According to a recent feature published by Argentine metal outlet Del Otro Lado Metal, Jelinic confirmed that Rowe remains deeply connected to the tour despite his physical limitations.
“Steve had a stroke, which he has never really recovered from,” Jelinic explained. “He is now in a wheelchair and has lost the ability to play bass and to also sing.”
Even so, Jelinic emphasized that Rowe’s spirit and faith remain intact.
“With all he has been through he is still strong in faith, a true inspiration.”
That spirit appears central to why this tour exists at all.
While many reunion tours lean heavily into nostalgia, Rowe framed this event around the original mission that fueled Mortification from the beginning.
“The thing with Mortification was that it’s always been about just proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and people knowing that,” Rowe said. “I think that in touring Brazil, Lincoln will definitely go ahead and talk about salvation through Christ and that’s important.”
Rowe also made it clear that fans should view this as a singular event rather than the rebirth of the band as an ongoing touring entity.
“No, Brazil will be it,” he stated plainly. “It won’t be anymore.”
Mortification never operated like a conventional metal band. From the earliest days of underground tape trading and controversy surrounding Christian extreme metal, the band carried an almost confrontational sense of conviction. Albums like Scrolls of the Megilloth, Post Momentary Affliction, and Blood World carved out a sound that stood shoulder-to-shoulder with secular death and thrash metal while openly proclaiming Christian faith.
The upcoming tour appears positioned less as a commercial reunion and more as a celebration of legacy, survival, and proclamation.
“It happened so quick,” Jelinic told Del Otro Lado Metal regarding the formation of the tour. “Before we knew it, the tour was happening.”
The Latin American run begins February 4, 2027 in Santiago, Chile before moving through Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil. Support acts include Brazilian Christian extreme metal veterans Antidemon along with Jelinic’s own band Terraphobia.
For many fans, the emotional center of the story remains Steve Rowe himself. A survivor of leukemia, a bone marrow transplant, and a debilitating stroke, Rowe still speaks about Mortification through the lens of faith and purpose rather than personal tragedy.
“I’m glad that the guys got together and did this,” he said near the end of the interview.
This is going to be an epic tour, so if you can make it, you definitely should.
Source: Del Otro Lado Metal
https://www.delotroladometal.com.ar/2026/05/07/mortification-in-argentina-and-latin-america/
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