GWAR singer dead: Dave Brockie, who is better known under his stage name  Oderus Urungus, the founder and lead singer of the renowned metal band GWAR, died. GWAR,  a Richmond, Virginia metal band that was known for its onstage makeup and effects. GWAR recently celebrated their 30th anniversary.

According to police 50-year-old GWAR singer's roommates found Dave Brockie's body at his home on Sunday evening, March 23.

Police told TMZ the GWAR singer died sitting upright in a chair. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that investigators did not find any drugs inside the home.

Chris Bopst, the former bassist for GWAR, said "I wish it was a joke." Chris Bopst is now a music writer for Style Weekly.

The police said they do not immediately suspect foul play. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine a cause of death.

In a statement, a Richmond Police spokeswoman said "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. When officers arrived, they found David M. Brockie, 50, deceased inside the home. Detectives do not suspect foul play at this time and the Medical Examiner's Office will determine cause of death."

GWAR bassist Mike Bishop told Style Weekly "Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I've known. 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. His penchant for scatological humors belied a lucid wit. He was a criminally underrated lyricist and hard rock vocalist, one of the best, ever! A great frontman, a great painter, writer, he was also a hell of a bass guitarist. I loved him. He was capable of great empathy and had a real sense of justice."

According to band manager Jack Flanagan, Brockie found by a band member. In a statement, Flanagan said "My main focus right now is to look after my band mates and (Brockie's) family."

In a statement, GWAR's manager Jack Flanagan said "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 PM EST Sunday March 23, 2014. His body was found Sunday by his band mate at his home in Richmond, VA. Richmond authorities have confirmed his death and next of kin has been notified. A full autopsy will be performed. He was 50 years old, born August 30, 1963."

Brockie formed the monster metal outfit GWAR in Richmond in 1984. GWAR wore costumes and heavy makeup onstage, used special effects, gore effects. GWAR pulled stunts. They did everything with a sense of humor. They were a deranged group of comic book characters who played hard.

According to their own mythology GWAR were aliens who came to Earth to destroy it, or at least shake it up. Their most recent album, Battle Maximus, came out last year.