Dave Brockie’s death was a shock to his fans, but now those who knew him best finally have some answers.
GWAR fans were left in mourning after the band’s lead singer Dave Brockie died in March, and now they have some answers. According to the Virginia State Medical Examiner’s office, Brockie died of a heroin overdose.
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According to Reuters, the medical examiner said Brockie’s death was caused by “acute heroin toxicity and the manner of death is accident.”
Brockie died March 23 at his home in Richmond, just after the band had returned from a tour in Japan. After his death, the band’s manager told USA Today, “It is with a saddened heart that I confirm my dear friend Dave Brockie, artist, musician, and lead singer of GWAR passed away. My main focus right now is to look after his bandmates and his family. More information regarding his death shall be released as the details are confirmed.”
Brockie had never made any secret of his substance abuse problems. Earlier this year, he told an Australian TV station, “For me, being wasted is not being wasted. When I’m sober, that’s being wasted, literally.”
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GWAR was founded by Brockie and his bandmates as “Earth’s only openly extra-terrestrial rock band.” The members, all art students, had met at Virginia Commonwealth University back in the 1980s. Since then, they have come a long way — they have fans all over the world and have been nominated for two Grammys. Back in 2007, the band was described by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as “the mutant child of early ’80s hair music.”
Back in 2011, they also lost their guitarist Cory Smoot at the age of 34. Smoot was found dead on the band’s tour bus.
The band’s manager and other members have not yet commented on Brockie’s cause of death.
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