Gwar: Frontman Dave Brockie found dead at his home, aged 50

Gwar frontman Dave Brockie, better known to his fans as Oderus Urungus, has been found dead at the age of 50.

The star of the Virginian satirical thrash band was apparently discovered by his roommate at his home yesterday evening.

“Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I've known,” ex-GWAR bassist Mike Bishop told Richmond publication 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.”

Richmond Police Department spokeswoman Dionne Waugh said that they “do not suspect foul play at this time”.

Gwar’s management are expected to make an official statement about his death at 5pm today.

Meanwhile, the metal world have paid tribute to the flamboyant frontman.

Former Gwar guitarist Steve Douglas took to Facebook to tell his followers: “I have had a few bad days in my life but this one truly ranks right up there.

“Dave Brockie, I do not know what happened to you yet, but I know you are gone and it is hurting very badly!”

Taking to Instagram, Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe wrote: “I got a very sad call tonight from my buddy Chris Bopst, who was one of the original members of GWAR- my friend Dave Brockie, AKA Oderus Urungus, the singer of GWAR, has left the building & taken off back to his home planet.

“He was 50 years old. I do not know details of why he died yet, just that he passed away at home & his roommates found him.

“When someone dies, a lot of the time people will say, 'Oh, he was a unique person, really one of a kind, a true original' - most of these people no idea of what they are talking about- they obviously had never met Dave.

“Dave TRULY WAS ONE OF A KIND - I can't think of ANYONE even remotely like him. That's VERY HARD TO SAY.”

Brockie founded the tongue-in-cheek band in 1984. Gwar released their 13th studio album, Battle Maximus, last year.

The group were set to play their fifth GWAR-B-Q at Hadad's Water Park in Richmond on 16 August.