UPDATE: 11:55 a.m. EST: GWAR’s manager Jack Flanagan has confirmed the news. Our hearts go out to the band, their family, and fans.
It is with a saddened heart that I confirm my dear friend Dave Brockie, artist, musician, and lead singer of GWAR passed away at approximately 6:50 PM EST Sunday March 23, 2014. His body was found Sunday by his band mate at his home in Richmond, VA. Richmond authorities have confirmed his death and next of kin has been notified. A full autopsy will be performed. He was 50 years old, born August 30, 1963.
My main focus right now is to look after my band mates and his family. More information regarding his death shall be released as the details are confirmed.
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Rumors are swirling this morning that David Brockie, best known as GWAR frontman Oderus Urungus, has been found dead. He was 50 years old.
The infamous satirical metal band had just completed a tour of Australia. The Richmond, Virginia-born GWAR was in the news last year after a petition demanding they play the 2015 Super Bowl generated more than 50,000 signatures.
Blabbermouth quoted Style Weekly, of all places, and wrote: “Roommates reportedly found Brockie’s body at his home Sunday evening (March 23). “I wish it was a joke,” former GWAR bassist Chris Bopst, a music writer for Style Weekly, tells the site. “Everyone is in shock.”
Many are taking to Brockie’s Facebook profile to pay tribute.
Randy Blythe from Lamb of God also tweeted out the news (read his full statement below):
I got a very sad call tonight from my buddy Chris Bopst, who was one of the original members of GWAR- my frie… http://t.co/Xyv0JY3RAm
— D. Randall Blythe (@lambvox) March 24, 2014
[See update above] We’re about a week from April Fool’s Day, so we’re holding out for official confirmation on this. A music site from Australia says an statement from management is coming later today. From themusic.com.au :
In response to recent unconfirmed rumours circulating online, the management of popular thrash metal band Gwar will be making an official announcement at 4am AEDT Tuesday morning, theMusic.com.au has learned.
Rumours are circulating that the band’s frontman David Brockie – who performs as Oderus Urungus – has passed away, though we stress there is no confirmation at this stage.
Brockie and Gwar had just completed a huge tour of Australia where they were, without a doubt, the talk of the Soundwave Festival. Their show this time around featured the frontman decapitating an effigy of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, which stirred up some fairly passionate disapproval from some groups.
We hope this isn’t true. If so, we’ll see you on the road behind, brother Oderus.
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Here is Blythe’s full statement from 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. He was 50 years old.
I do not know details of why he died yet, just that he passed away at home & his roommates found him. When someone dies, a lot of the time people will say “Oh, he was a unique person, really one of a kind, a true original”- most of these people no idea of what they are talking about- they obviously had never met Dave.
Dave TRULY WAS ONE OF A KIND- I can’t think of ANYONE even remotely like him. That’s VERY HARD TO SAY. My band learned how to become a real touring band from GWAR- they gave us out first shot at this thing. I learned many things from Dave, many of which I am eternally grateful for, and some of which I am deeply ashamed of. I took this picture at his birthday party a few months ago- Dave kissing his Oderous birthday cake.
Right now, if I were to truly honor Dave in the way HE would do it if it were ME that had died, I would make a completely tasteless joke about his death. But I do not have the stomach for that- Dave would, but not me. He never put much stock in “limits”.
Richmond, VA has lost one of its most creative people. This is a crying shame to me. Thank you Brockie, for all the crazy shit you did- thank God you existed, so you could do it and I didn’t have to. It was an honor to know you, to be your Shaky Slave, to serve in the Blood Vomits along side you (let’s ride!), and to be soaked by your sweet cuttlefish. RIP Dave Brockie. Oderous, enjoy your trip back home.