Dave Brockie, punk artist of GWAR fame, has died. Here's video of the first GWAR show ever.

GWAR creator Dave Brockie has died. He was found in his home, and no cause of death has been released. He was 50 years old.

I knew Dave in the mid-1980s, and crashed at punk/art houses where he and co-creatives practiced and built props for GWAR, and before it, Death Piggy.


Dave Brockie, from the era of "Death Piggy," the pre-GWAR band. For a time, I went to every show. —XJ

RVA Magazine has extensive coverage of his life and death, and a statement from GWAR's manager. Style Weekly broke the sad news. Here's an earlier interview with Brockie from RVA Mag. My old friend from that era, Doug Dobey, wrote a beautiful homage on Facebook.

As Gareth Branwyn said on Facebook today, the comment seen about Brockie so far: "He was a great space Barbarian, and an even better human."

Above, the very first GWAR show. I was there.

A statement by Jack Flanagan, GWAR's manager:

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 PM EST Sunday March 23,2014. His body was found Sunday by his band mate 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. He was 50 years old, born August 30, 1963.


Dave Brockie in character as Oderus Urungus in GWAR, in 1986. Photographer unknown.


An ad for GWAR from Thrash Metal zine, (US) November, 1990

Below, scans from the Death Piggy EP.

Dave Brockie as Current TV's tour guide of Richmond, probably some time in the mid-2000s?


Photo, Trish Henry Hotchkizz: "October 1984, Death Piggy, or GWAR the formative years."


Photo, Trish Henry Hotchkizz: "October 1984, Death Piggy, or GWAR the formative years."