Rock singer David Roach, from the Eighties heavy metal band Junkyard, has died aged 59, just weeks after getting married.
According to a GoFundMe page, the US musician had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer – squamous cell carcinoma – that affected his head, neck and throat.
The diagnosis was described as a “devastating blow” to Roach “especially after he finally found happiness” with his wife, Jennifer, who stepped away from full-time employment to care for him.
On Sunday (3 August), a statement from the band revealed that Roach had died.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of David Roach,” the band’s surviving members said.
“After a courageous battle with cancer, David passed away peacefully last night at home, in the loving arms of his wife.”
The statement described him as a “gifted artist, performer, songwriter and singer – but above all, a devoted father, husband and brother”.
“Our thoughts are with the entire Roach family and everyone who loved him,” the band said.
Roach rose to fame after co-founding Junkyard in 1987 in Los Angeles, with bandmates from other acts including Minor Threat, Big Boys and Dag Nasty.
They signed to Geffen Records the following year and released their self-titled debut in 1989. A follow-up, Sixes, Sevens & Nines, was produced by Ed Stasium (Ramones, Talking Heads, Motörhead), while country-rock legend Steve Earle co-wrote and provided backing vocals for the song “Slippin’ Away”.
Junkyard split in 1992 after being dropped by Geffen shortly after recording their third album. Roach went on to form the band Borracho before later reuniting with bandmates Patrick Muzingo, Todd Muscat and Brian Baker, with the addition of Tim Mosher on guitar and vocals.
They released further albums including 2017’s High Water and 2019’s Old Habits Die Hard, which was originally recorded in 1992.
Roach’s former bandmate Chris Gates, who played with the band from their formation in 1987 to 2009, was among those to pay tribute.
“I'm saddened to hear the news that David Roach has passed, but I'm grateful that he's no longer suffering,” he wrote on Instagram.
“We first met when he was 16 and I was 20 and our girlfriends lived in the same apartment complex. I had seen him around the scene, and I think his band the Pagans has played with the Big Boys by then. His girlfriend was the one ‘Hands Off’ was written about.”
Gates continued: “When I moved to LA, no one wanted to play with the fat guy from Texas. Then I heard David was moving out and I spent a couple of weeks tracking down a phone number for him. I called and told him we should start a band when he got to town. The rest is history.
“I loved him like a little brother. We had our ups and downs, but that never changed. My condolences to his brother and sisters, v and to [all] the people who loved him or were touched by his/or songs. I'll miss playing music with him, but he'll always be an important part of me.”
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