On November 3, 2011, hours after a performance at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Smoot was found dead by his fellow band members in the band's tour bus as they prepared to cross the border into Manitoba, Canada from North Dakota.[1] At the time of the announcement, no formal statement concerning the circumstances of his demise nor of the future of the band had been made.[2] On November 4, Dave Brockie officially announced that the character of Flattus Maximus would be retired out of respect to Smoot.