Reports have surfaced that
David Brockie, known to fans as
Oderus Urungus, the boastful, sardonic frontman of Richmond, Virginia satirical thrash metal outfit
GWAR, has died. The news broke via Richmond outlet
Style Weekly, with no word yet from the band or Brockie?s management.
Brockie?s roommates reportedly found the 50-year-old frontman?s body at his home on Sunday evening. ?I wish it was a joke. Everyone is in shock,? said
Chris Bopst, former band member and music writer for
Style. Brockie had just finished a tour of Japan following
Soundwave 2014.
Music Feeds has contacted Soundwave PR, who were unable to confirm the news of Brockie?s death, but indicated that an official statement is expected around 4:00am AEDT. Maric Media, the band?s Australian promoter, has attempted to get in touch with the band?s management in the US.
?Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I?ve known. 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,? former bandmate
Mike Bishop told
Style.
?His penchant for scatological humour 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.?
The band toured Australia in a year in which they marked their 30th anniversary, stirring controversy by including an
effigy of Tony Abbott in their infamous stage show, whose trademarks include horror-style stage spectacles including beheadings, as was bestowed upon Mr Abbott.
Speaking to Music Feeds at Soundwave in Sydney, Brockie, in pure GWAR fashion, described the PM as a ?
necrotic, vampyritic, thing-like beast,? later
releasing a statement explaining that Mr Abbott wandered onto the stage mid-performance, ?so naturally I removed his head.?
GWAR formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984. Describing themselves as the ?Scumdogs of the Universe,? the band are renowned for their messy live shows, outlandish space-monster costumes and personas, and satirical theatrics. Brockie as Oderus served as frontman and spokesperson.
In 2011, the splatter-thrash icons suffered the loss of guitarist
Cory Smoot, who went by the moniker
Flattus Maximus for over ten years. The 34-year-old Smoot was discovered dead on the band?s tour bus.
This story is unconfirmed and currently developing. We will update you as details come to hand.
http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/report-gwar-frontman-dave-brockie-found-dead/
Very sad news.
