Dave Brockie, the lead singer of legendary Richmond band GWAR, died of an accidental heroin overdose, the Richmond Medical Examiner’s Office told RVA Magazine today in a phone interview.
Dave Brockie, the lead singer of legendary Richmond band GWAR, died of an accidental heroin overdose, the Richmond Medical Examiner’s Office told RVA Magazine today in a phone interview.
Brockie was found dead in his West Seminary Avenue home on March 23. He was 50 years old.
Going by the name Oderus Urungus, Brockie led GWAR for 32 years, gaining two Grammy nominations and a worldwide following.
From our original story on Brockie’s death:
Richmond has lost a legend. Dave Brockie, founder and frontman of GWAR, died at his home in Richmond yesterday. He was 50. Brockie’s death was confirmed by Richmond Police spokesperson Dionne Waugh. In an email to WTVR channel 6, she wrote: “At approximately 6:53 p.m. on Sunday, Richmond Police were called to a residence in the 4800 block of West Seminary Avenue for a report of a deceased individual. When officers arrived, they found David M. Brockie, 50, deceased inside the home.”
An outpouring of shock and grief greeted the news, as such Richmond metal and punk luminaries as Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe and former GWAR members Chris Bopst and Michael Bishop offered praise for Brockie’s one-of-a-kind creativity and larger-than-life personality. Speaking to Style Weekly, Bishop said, “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.”
Check out a photo retrospective of Brockie’s career with GWAR here.
