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More Metal Celebrities Pay Tribute to Dave Brockie (Also: Oderus Reads Goodnight Moon!)

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Brockie

The outpouring of love for Dave Brockie from around the metalsphere over the past 24 hours has been tremendous, and, frankly, heartwarming. So much positivity. Several anecdotes appeared on my personal Facebook page from random fans about how Brockie snuck them into a Gwar show as a kid, or hung out with them after the show drinking beers. For many of my generation, it seems, Gwar served as an entry to extreme metal after their appearance on Beavis and Butthead, perhaps a slightly embarrassing admission for some but reality nonetheless. I sincerely hope Dave’s family and close friends are reading all this stuff so they can fully understand just how many lives he touched in a meaningful way beyond just “entertainer in the funny mask who spewed fake cum and blood upon the crowd.”

Yesterday we heard from members of Lamb of God, Machine Head, Periphery, Municipal Waste, TesseracT and at least a dozen others about their thoughts on Dave’s passing, and today a whole new crop of bands and their members has weighed in via Facebook and Twitter.

But first, Metal Insider reminds us of this modern classic video of Oderus reading the childrens’ classic book Goodnight Moon. Gold!

Ben Falgoust (Goatwhore, via Facebook):

Right now my heart is wedged in my throat and I have this overwhelmed feeling of loss. My words can’t, and never will describe this. We have lost someone that has been a mentor, a great friend, an inspiration and an overall down to earth incredible person. Our good friend Dave Brockie has left us behind and it pains us as we offer our condolences to his family, friends, bandmates and the masses of people that have adored him. It is an honor to have been a part of his life in music.

Hail the Legions Of GWAR! Long Live Oderus!! Dave will forever be with everyone that has crossed his path.

Alex Wade (Whitechapel):

After hearing the tragic news today of Dave Brockie passing, I remembered I had this picture of me cutting his hair on tour in my phone. One of the nicest, most genuine and life loving people I’ve ever met. Touring with Gwar was a blast and I’m grateful to have got to meet Dave.

Doc Coyle (God Forbid, via Facebook):

Dave Brockie is dead and I’m pissed off. I’m pissed off because I’m selfish and I don’t want him to not be around anymore. Gwar isn’t just a band. They are an institution, and Dave was more than a frontman. He was an artist. He had something to say and he lived the artist’s life, which is to say by his own accord.

I had the fortune to tour with Gwar twice. First when I was 21 during the time that God Forbid was still getting it’s road legs. January of 2002, we started the longest single tour we had done at the time, and the biggest tour we had done at the time. That tour taught us how actually perform and win over an audience that didn’t want to like us. We had to earn it. It taught us how to connect with the people in the back of the room. Stop looking at your fretboard and fucking connect. A Gwar show was bigger than music.

They were kind to us. Treated us as equals and we got to see their work ethic. Many people don’t know this, but everyone in Gwar loads in the gear, sets up the stage, helps repair their costumes and props. They might have been rockstars at showtime, but it was blue collar as it gets because that band lived on the road and would do 2 month tours like it was nothing.

The 2nd time I toured with them was when I was playing with Lamb of God with Gwar opening in 2009. The 1st time ever saw Lamb of God after they changed from Burn the Priest was opening for Gwar at the Birch Hill Nite Club in Old Bridge, NJ in 2000. And that’s what they did. They brought Richmond, VA with them wherever they went. I feel the worst for that community because RVA is as pure as it gets when it comes to art, music, and family.

I last saw Dave in November 2013 when I was filling for Unearth when we played the South By So What Fest in Texas. I spoke with my friend. He said he was keeping tabs on me, rooting for me. They say you can’t make “new” old friends. Ain’t that the truth. I will miss Dave dearly and our music family will never be the same.

Tool:

Hiran Deraniyagala (Battlecross, via Facebook):

I was fortunate enough to spend three days with Dave Brockie when we did a little run with them in late December. Usually three days isn’t enough to get to know your tour mates especially when you’re the new guy joining the group. As soon as I met him he was friendly and very welcoming. By the end of our little run it felt like we had been touring for about a month. We all wanted to keep going and talked about touring together again soon. I’m at loss for words on the passing of Dave. He was a great , kind and insanely talented individual. My condolences and deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and all the fans. R.I.P Dave Brockie

Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance):

In Flames (via Facebook):

Struck by the sad news today about the passing of Dave Brockie. Our thoughts goes out to Dave’s family and friends. #GWAR

Mike “Gunfance” McKenzie (The Red Chord):

 

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