Armando joined the group in 1979 when they were known as Tyrant. He was replaced in 2009 by the band\'s current drummer, Henry Vasquez.

Armando Acosta and Saint Vitus parted ways due to the drummer\'s major health problems that restricted his playing.

An official statement from guitarist Dave Chandler and Saint Vitus reads as follows:

\"It is with great regret that we announce a great loss to the world of heavy metal with the passing of our former drummer Armando Acosta. (...) Armando had been struggling with health issues over the years but came back into the Vitus fold for one last hurrah by headlining Roadburn Festival [in Tilburg, Netherlands] in 2009 and playing a handful of European dates directly after the festival.\"

Armando\'s last show with Saint Vitus was April 29, 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany.