Dave Brockie, founder and lead singer of metal band Gwar, died of an accidental heroin overdose, according to the Associated Press.
In March, Brockie, who went by the stage name Oderus Urungus, was found dead by his bandmate at his home in Richmond, Virginia. Jack Flanagan, the band's manager, released a statement on the group's website informing fans of the rock star's death at the age of 50.
Arkuie Williams, an administrator at the chief medical examiner's office, said Tuesday that Brockie died of a heroin overdose. During the time of his death police reported that no foul play was suspected.
"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," Richmond Police spokeswoman Dionne Waugh wrote in an email, according to the Style Weekly. "When officers arrived, they found David M. Brockie, 50, deceased inside the home."
GWAR was founded in 1984 and billed itself as "Earth's only openly extra-terrestrial rock band." The Grammy-nominated group "is known for its comically grotesque costumes, stage antics and vulgar lyrics," according to AP.
"Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I've known," former Gwar bassist Mike Bishop told Style Weekly. "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."
In 2011, GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot was found dead on the band's tour bus after suffering a heart attack.
