GWAR Viking Funeral: Oderus Urungus Gets Sent Out In Flames [WATCH]

Two days ago, Lamb of God member D. Randall Blythe posted a startling image on Instagram.

The picture was of a funeral pyre for the late Oderus Urungus, who passed away after a heroin overdose earlier this year. Given a traditional Viking ceremony, Urungus' pyre was lit by an archer's flaming arrow, and the small boat—which bore the frontman's concert attire, among other objects—was quickly enveloped in flames before a large audience at the annual Gwar-B-Q.

Here is Blythe's message from the event:

"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. 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. I spoke at both of them, as GWAR asked me to, & both times as I spoke I was sad.

"But watching his alter-ego burn tore me up way more than the first memorial, maybe because there was Dave, the human who was my friend who just "left us"- I never saw his body- & then there was Oderus, who was something entirely else. 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. It was just a super-intense moment. Very beautiful, but overwhelming. Fly free, Oderus- you are missed."

Watch how it all started here (thanks, Rolling Stone):

The event was the fifth installment of the Gwar-B-Q, which features "Beer, Bands, BBQ, Skate Park, Events, Water Park, Raffles, Giveaways, Guest Celebrities, and More" according to the band's website.

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