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.
He was a riot on Red Eye...RIP.
This news breaks my heart. At 61, I’m probably the oldest GWAR fan alive. LOL! They played in a couple of clubs in the Raleigh area when I lived there and I never missed a show. Last time I got to experience a show was in Nashville in the ‘90s. I was always right up front and covered in “spew” when I left.
Now I’m going to have to break out one of my GWAR videos to watch.
RIP Dave/Oderus. You were definitely a unique dude and I loved ya for it.
Makes sense, but there has to be some talent in this genre too.
Don’t things pickled in alcohol resist bacteriological attack better than un pickled organisms?
A spot on caricature.
hell yeah, spoofing axle with the whistling/bandanna and all the other hair farmers back when Slymenstra was still with the band
Only saw them once. My wife’s friend was dating the (substitute) guitar player. GWAR hung out a lot with Ministry. I hear they did heroin a lot. Not saying that’s what happened but who knows.
RIP.
He was the friend of a friend. She isn’t one to like that kind of music, but she is beside herself today - he was apparently a very kind, funny, nice man in person.
Rest in Peace, Gwar guy.
GWAR!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again!
GWAR!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
GWAR!
It’s nothing but a heartbreaker
GWAR!
Friend only to the undertaker
GWAR is the enemy of all mankind
The thought of GWAR blows my mind
Handed down from generation to generation
Induction destruction
Who wants to die
I think this was the first time I saw Gwar anywhere (on a Shimmydisc compilation video in 1987). At 4:00 minutes in, there is footage of the band on a Raleigh local television newscast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGbkgWk7s9E
I saw Keef Richards 30+ years ago doing a side tour with Ron Wood and others as The New Barbarians. We were right on the wall in the days of festival seating, and he was 10’-12’ away for most of the show.
He looked like death warmed over *then*!
damn, that is just toooo funny...
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