Was Fred Phelps #1? Or is this is third and was Phelps #2?
Posted on 03/24/2014 4:13:53 PM PDT by a fool in paradise
Dave Brockie, founder and lead singer of outlandish metal band Gwar, died Sunday at the age of 50. The news was first reported by Richmond outlet Style Weekly and confirmed by the band's manager Jack Flanagan.
"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 p.m. EST Sunday, March 23, 2014," Flanagan said. "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. 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."
Police were called to the singer's Richmond home Sunday night after responding to a call by Brockie's roommate. Brockie had already died by the time police arrived. Foul play is not suspected at this time, but a cause of death has yet to be determined.
"Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I've known," former Gwar bassist Mike Bishop told the paper. "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."
"I wish it was a joke," added former band member Chris Bopst. "Everyone is in shock."
Brockie had been in a punk band named Death Piggy that staged crude plays when he founded Gwar in 1984. After meeting band member Hunter Jackson, who had created props for Death Piggy and began work on the film Scumdogs of the Universe, Brockie used the outlandish costumes created for the film to form the joke group Gwaaarrrgghhlllgh. After numerous lineup changes and the shortening of the band name, Brockie dissolved Death Piggy and led Gwar, who released their debut album Hell-O in 1988.
The satirical metal band quickly earned a following for its macabre, over-the-top costumes and scatological, offensive lyrics, fashioning themselves interplanetary warriors descended from aliens who arrived on Earth to enslave and slaughter the human race. The band celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2014, having released their 13th album, Battle Maximus, last year.
"His penchant for scatological humors belied a lucid wit," said Bishop. "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."
In 2011, Cory Smoot, the Gwar guitarist known as Flattus Maximus, was found dead by his bandmates as they prepared to cross the border into Canada. Smoot, who joined the long-running band in 2002, had the longest tenure in the Maximus role and co-produced 2006's Beyond Hell and 2009's Lust in Space.
Was Fred Phelps #1? Or is this is third and was Phelps #2?
“He was a criminally underrated “
Hmmm...
Easy to believe if you realize how many pop stars are criminally overrated.
Oh God, Gwar put on one HELL of a show! I wasn’t a fan of their music, per se, but the crap they did on stage was nothing I’d ever seen.
If nothing else, I learned of Gwar from Beavis and Butt-head. And before anyone jumps on my back about it, remember that Beavis and Butt-head was meant as a satire of modern youth by Mike Judge, who is an unabashed Texas conservative.
Never heard of him.... But RIP anyway
This shouldn’t slow the band down at all. As I recall, when the previous guitarist died they didn’t even cancel the ongoing tour. There isn’t all that much in the way of musical/vocal talent here, just a blood and guts stage show. There are probably 10,000 people that could quickly fill this role and the show can roll right along.
“Now that’s a damn good show right there.”
Dude, given my musical tastes you think I’m going to criticize you? ; )
Still love that show. We got some new episodes a few years back and it was still awesome.
.........I don't like video's that suck
Based on OP’s post, I thought he might’ve been equating him to Phelps, who was scum. Gwar made it a point to note that they should not be taken seriously. Like I said, I never went out of my way to listen to their music, but their shows were a lot of fun.
I never heard of him he looks a crazy bastard but RIP the same.
What a shame. He was pretty good.
You and me both. RIP Dave.
To some people (and I don't have any albums of theirs and never saw them in concert) maybe. But he wrote the songs and did the artwork.
Then again Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jefferson Starship, Canned Heat, and others keep making dough on the road.
I wasn’t equating Dave to Mr. Phelps. Famous people die in threes. That’s the only connection. Trying to figure out where in the cycle of 3 we are.
That is easily done because GWAR is really more of a performance art ensemble than a band.
You don’t have to defend yourself for watching Beavis and Butthead .... at least not to me.
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