TheAge.com.au reports:

Two members of Australian heavy metal band THE RED SHORE have died in a road crash as they drove between gigs 1,000 kilometres apart.

The band's minibus left the Pacific Highway and slammed into a tree at Moonee Beach, near Coffs Harbour, in NSW, about 7 AM (AEDT), police said.

The band's 27-year-old lead singer, known to fans as Damo, died at the crash site, their Geelong studio said.

The band's 22-year-old driver and merchandiser, referred to on the band's website as Andy, died in hospital after being trapped in the wreck for an hour.

Six others, all men aged between 19 and 26, suffered non-life threatening injuries in the single vehicle crash and were taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital.

The Geelong-based band was headed for Sydney for a performance on Wednesday night at Sydney University, after playing in Brisbane on Tuesday night.

The band were supporting US death metal outfit ALL SHALL PERISH on their "Christmas Carnage" tour.

The tour's promoter, Destroy All Lines, expressed its sympathies and condolences over the crash.

But it said the US band would continue its tour.

"After extensive consultation with all concerned parties, Destroy All Lines is now in a position to announce that this evening's performance by All Shall Perish at Hermann's Bar in Sydney shall continue as planned," the statement said.

Australia's heavy metal music community was mourning the deaths of Damo and Andy.

Tributes started appearing on the band's MySpace website soon after news of the crash broke.

"2 day is a sad day 4 Aussie Metal - RIP Damo and Andy," one of the hundreds of website tributes said.

Another message said: "The Red Shore were one of Australia's best ever metal bands with such a promising future".

While acknowledging the sadness of the crash, NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Owens reminded drivers about the dangers of driver fatigue.

The tragedy was felt especially hard in the band's Victorian home town of Geelong.

Jarrod, a barman at The National Hotel in Geelong, where the band has played, described lead singer Damo as quiet and "chilled out".

"He was a nice, quiet guy, contrary to the band's music," Jarrod said.

Sally Laver, the owner of Pan Studios, said The Red Shore's musical career had just started to take off and it had attracted interest in Europe.

"They're one of our bigger bands," she said.

Venue agent for The National Hotel, Al O'Neill, said Damo was a cyclone on stage, but quiet offstage.

"He had this great persona about him, as do all the The Red Shore guys," he said.

"He will be deeply missed at The Nash, we will be having a beer for him tonight, that's for sure."

Police said the men's families asked their names not be published.