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GWAR Frontman Dave Brockie Dead at 50

Oderus Urungus, David Brockie, GWAR, dead, 50

Oderus Urungus, a.k.a. Dave Brockie, the founder and frontman for Richmond, Virginia metal band GWAR, has died at age 50. The Richmond police department confirmed on Twitter that Brockie was found dead in his home. GWAR’s manager, Jack Flanagan, has since corroborated the news.

“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 Eastern [on] Sunday, March 23, 2014,” Flanagan said in a statement. “His body was found Sunday by his bandmate 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.”

Flanagan added: “My main focus right now is to look after my bandmates and his family. More information regarding his death shall be released as the details are confirmed.”

The cause of Brockie’s death is still unclear. Richmond police told hometown publication Style Weekly they didn’t currently suspect foul play.

“Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I’ve known,” former Gwar bassist Mike Bishop told Style. “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.”

Bishop continued: “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 frontman, 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.”

Randy Blythe, frontman for fellow Richmond metal band Lamb of God, wrote on Instagram (via Blabbermouth): “Dave TRULY WAS ONE OF A KIND. I can’t think of ANYONE even remotely like him. That’s VERY HARD TO SAY.” Blythe continued: “My band learned how to become a real touring band from GWAR. They gave us our first shot at this thing.”

Brockie’s passing comes three years after GWAR guitarist Flattus Maximus, a.k.a. Cory Smoot, was discovered dead at age 34. GWAR were set to hold their fourth annual GWAR-B-Q in Richmond on August 17, with Municipal Waste, Corrosion of Conformity, Pig Destroyer, Cannabis Corpse, Loincloth, Kung-Fu Dykes, and more. GWAR, founded 30 years ago, released their 13th album in 2013.

Read SPIN’s 1990 Profile of GWAR, ‘Guerilla GWARfare’
Read SPIN’s 2009 ‘In My Room’ Feature on GWAR’s Oderus Urungus