Earlier this year, the world of film lost acclaimed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman to a tragic heroin overdose. Now it appears the drug is also responsible for the demise of one of metal’s most beloved figures. Dave Brockie, popularly known as Oderus Urungus, died on March 23, but it wasn’t until yesterday that officials ruled that his death was due to acute heroin toxicity. It’s unknown how long he struggled with the addiction. He was 50.
Brockie had a long and storied history with this magazine. He appeared on our cover to bring some Christmas cheer, participated in an oral history of his band GWAR, had many words to say about the Washington Redskins in our NFL previews, and even reviewed a Hellyeah record for us. Our June issue contains more remembrances.
There will be a public funeral for him in Richmond on August 15, followed by a Viking funeral at this year’s GWAR-BQ the following day.
