Gwar Frontman’s Death Ruled Heroin Overdose
Gwar frontman Dave Brockie, who played the group’s “scumdog” character Oderus Urungus, died of an accidental heroin overdose, the Virginia State Medical Examiner’s Office has said. On March 23rd, the singer was found dead in his home, where police found evidence of heroin use, according to Richmond’s WTVR.
See Rare Photos of Dave Brockie
The TV station said that friends of Brockie’s had told its reporters that they were worried the singer’s marijuana use had escalated into harder drugs.
Since Brockie’s death, Gwar have attempted to keep their momentum going. In April, they launched the Davie Brockie Foundation in his honor with the hopes of promoting “music, images, letters and performances in the arts.” They also said that they planned on going through with their planned annual “Gwar-B-Q” in August, “as Dave and Oderus would have wanted,” their manager said.
They also hope to open its own “Gwar Bar” in Richmond. Saying that Brockie’s death has made them “more determined than ever,” the members of Gwar launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $50,000 so they can serve “gourmet junk food.” Part of their plans for the money were to build a smokehouse on their prospective site, so they can make “Gwar-B-Q” on premises and to open an adjoining beer garden. Indiegogo funding rewards include a free entrée at the restaurant (for $100), a cooking class with the group’s metal-jawed member BalSac ($750) and a patron’s very own, name-plated bar stool so he or she can “feel like Norm” (for $1,000). So far, they have raised close to $13,000, or about 25 percent of their goal.