GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot - known by his stage namer Flattus Maximus - was found dead by his bandmates Thursday as the wildly costumed metal band prepared to cross the border into Canada.

The cause of death has not yet been determined.

Smoot, who produced a number of the group's albums, joined GWAR in 2002 and was the latest in a long line of guitarists in the nearly 30-year-old act's history. He was distinguished by a red face, dinosaur-head shoulder pads and reptile feet.

"It is with a sense of profound loss and tragedy that the members of GWAR must announce the passing of their longtime guitarist and beloved friend Cory Smoot, also known to the thousands of metal fans worldwide as Flattus Maximus," band leader Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) said in a statement. "Cory was found deceased this morning as the band prepared for a border crossing. There is no word as to the cause of death and the members of GWAR are completely shocked and devastated that this has occurred."

The stage manager at Minneapolis' First Avenue club, Conrad Svekerson, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that there was nothing unusual about the show on Wednesday. He said GWAR's tour bus left the club around 1:45 a.m.

"They're actually not the kind of guys known as partiers; they're really solid guys," Svekerson said of the band, who have been playing the venue for more than 20 years.

Brockie said there are no plans at this point regarding the rest of the North American tour or the band's long-term plans for a possible replacement. "At this point we are just dealing with the loss of our dear friend and brother, on of the most talented guitar players in metal today."