GWAR’s Oderus Urungus Set Ablaze During Viking Funeral Tribute

By Greg Moskovitch

Friends and family of GWAR‘s Dave Brockie paid a very special tribute to the late frontman, who went by the stage name Oderus Urungus, in the lead-up to the 2014 GWAR-B-Q event. After paying their respects, Brockie’s loved ones set Oderus Urungus ablaze as part of a Viking funeral.

Those in attendance included former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra and Lamb Of God vocalist Randy Blythe, who spoke before the flaming arrow that set Urungus’ funeral pyre ablaze was launched. Blythe later paid a heartfelt tribute to Brockie in a post to his Instagram account.

“Tonight we sent Oderus home in a fitting manner at the public memorial for Dave Brockie. A blazing Viking ship with Oderus laid out in it, the cuttlefish pointing proudly straight up,” Blythe recounted. “Watching my friend Dave’s costume go up in flames in front of a thousand fans was so much more intense for me than the private memorial for friends & family we had April Fool’s Day.”

“Watching his alter-ego burn tore me up way more than the first memorial,” the frontman continued. “To watch his stage gear burn was like watching part of my life literally go up in flames. I was sobbing my eyes out as I took this photo [see below]. It was just a super-intense moment.”

Brockie was found dead in his Virginia home back in March of what was later determined to be an accidental heroin overdose. Shortly after his death, the remaining members of GWAR launched the Dave Brockie Foundation to promote advancement of music, performance, and the arts.

GWAR drummer Brad Roberts recently revealed that the band would be carrying on without Brockie and intend to return to the original roots of the band. “We’re kind of going back to the old format, embracing it. The stage shows will be wilder, and more chaos probably,” Roberts explained.

Watch: Oderus Urungus’ Viking Funeral

Watch: Oderus Urungus Sent Home

Watch: Oderus Urungus Viking Funeral Flaming Arrow Shot

Greg Moskovitch
Greg Moskovitch

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