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<p>As GWAR's annual GWAR B-Q carried on over the weekend, it was with a somber note of remembrance to band leader Oderus Urungus who died of a heroin overdose in March.</p> <p>Though friends and family of David Brockie (the man behind the gnarly thrash metal monster mask) laid him to rest on April 1 at a private April Fool's Day service, as Consequence of Sound reports, his alter ego had not yet received a send off. So, in a tribute true to form for the outlandish band and its fervent fans, the Oderus costume was laid out and lit aflame Friday on a small viking ship floating amid Hadads Lake at the Richmond, Va. event.</p>

David Brockie, frontman for the Grammy nominated "extraterrestrial" metal band Gwar, died of an accidental heroin overdose in March, the Virginia State Medical Examiner's Office said on Tuesday. Brockie, 50, who gained an international fan base performing as a 43bn-year-old alien vocalist for the satirical band, was found by his roommate on 23 March dead in his Richmond home. Brockie died from "acute heroin toxicity and the manner of death is accident," Arkuie Williams, administrator of the medical examiner's office, said in an email. US deaths from heroin have soared as prescription painkiller abusers turn to the drug because it...

Dave Brockie, founder and lead singer of outlandish metal band Gwar, died Sunday at the age of 50. The news was first reported by Richmond outlet Style Weekly and confirmed by the band's manager Jack Flanagan. "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 p.m. EST Sunday, March 23, 2014," Flanagan said. "His body was found Sunday by his bandmate at his home in Richmond, VA. Richmond authorities have confirmed his death and next of kin has been notified. A full autopsy...

The day after playing in a Minneapolis concert, Cory Smoot - also known as Flattus Maximus, the guitarist for metal band GWAR - was found dead on the band's tour bus Thursday. GWAR frontman Dave Brockie released a statement Thursday to Brooklyn, N.Y.-based MetalSucks, an online site featuring posts on heavy metal music. "Cory was found deceased this morning as the band prepared for a border crossing. There is no word as to the cause of death and the members of GWAR are completely shocked and devastated that this has occurred. At this point there is no word on arrangements...