No sadder than some actress waiting tables for 10 years doing bit parts and trying to get a sitcom who decides to pack it in....
Performing artists go down the tubes all the time. It's part of the deal. If you don't have the incredibly rare combination of hard work, talent and LUCK, you're out!
And honestly, there are probably a handful of bands playing that style of music that are making a dime... If making a decent living is your intent, death metal is probably not the wisest choice of genre.
What's even more sad is you can play in a cover band in my area and make a lot of money as long as you jump around on stage like an idiot and play the same crap songs the same college crowd has wanted to hear for the past 15-20 years.