Dave Brockie, the founder and lead singer of metal band GWAR, was discovered dead yesterday according to Style Weekly and several people close to the band.
A member of the Richmond Police Department confirmed to Style Weekly that the 50-year-old musician was found dead in his home between 3 PM and 7 PM by his roommate. The cause of death has not been reported.
GWAR — the self-described “Scumdogs of the Universe” — was celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The band’s official website has yet to confirm the news, but former members of the band are already chiming in:
“Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I’ve known,” former Gwar bassist Mike Bishop says. “He was brash sometimes, always crass, irreverent, he was hilarious in every way. But he was also deeply intelligent and interested in life, history, politics and art.”
“His penchant for scatological humors belied a lucid wit. He was a criminally underrated lyricist and hard rock vocalist, one of the best, ever! A great front man, a great painter, writer, he was also a hell of a bass guitarist. I loved him. He was capable of great empathy and had a real sense of justice.” […]
“I wish it was a joke,” says former band member Chris Bopst, a music writer for Style. “Everyone is in shock.”
Randy Blyth, of fellow Richmond metal band Lamb of God, confirmed the news on Instagram:
I got a very sad call tonight from my buddy Chris Bopst, who was one of the original members of GWAR- my friend Dave Brockie, AKA Oderus Urungus, the singer of GWAR, has left the building & taken off back to his home planet.
Sad news for many reasons, not the least of which is the potential GWAR Super Bowl halftime show was going to be incredible.