Sonny Mayo, the guitarist known for his time with groove metal outfit SEVENDUST and Los Angeles hard rock band SNOT, has survived a heart attack and undergone emergency triple bypass surgery. He is currently recovering at home, according to a Meal Train fundraiser established by friend and organizer Megan Wright to help Mayo and his wife Lara during the recovery period.
Wright's post confirmed that Mayo "suffered a heart attack and had a life-saving triple bypass surgery," emphasizing that community support in the form of meal deliveries would significantly aid his recovery. The metal community's response to such calls has historically been swift and generous, and the establishment of the Meal Train reflects an effort to make practical support as accessible as possible.
This is not Mayo's first significant cardiac episode. In 2018, he was diagnosed with genetic coronary artery disease following multiple heart attacks. His 2019 search for treatment led him to Panama for stem cell therapy after experiencing adverse side effects from conventional medication — a decision that spoke to both the severity of his condition and his determination to find solutions.
Mayo's career featured two prominent chapters. His tenure with SEVENDUST spanned three studio albums between 2005 and 2008, including "Alpha," "Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow," and "Cold Day Memory," during which he replaced founding guitarist Clint Lowery. His departure from SEVENDUST came just one week before the release of "Chapter VII" in 2008. More recently, he had joined the SNOT reunion, only to depart in April 2025, three months after the band's reunion performance — replaced by Doc Coyle of GOD FORBID and BAD WOLVES.
SNOT was formed in Santa Barbara in 1995 and is best remembered for their vocalist Lynn Strait, who died in a car accident in December 1998. The band's revival carries enormous emotional weight for fans of late-1990s alternative metal.
The metal community sends its full support to Sonny Mayo and his family. Those wishing to contribute to his recovery can do so through the Meal Train established in his name.