David Patrick Roach

David Patrick Roach, December 10, 1965 – August 2, 2025

David Patrick Roach passed away peacefully at home in the early hours of August 2, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska, after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of cancer. He was 59 years old.

Born on December 10, 1965, in Dallas, Texas, to Mike and Connie Roach, David discovered his love for music and art early in life. In 1972, his family moved to Austin, where he spent his formative years and began his journey as a musician. While still in high school, he co-founded his first punk rock band, The Pagans, later forming The Strappados, a punk outfit that further honed his unique voice and raw talent.

In 1986, David moved to Los Angeles, where he found not just a music scene but a brotherhood. There, he helped form Junkyard, a hard rock band known for their gritty, streetwise sound infused with Southern and punk influences—and their iconic battle vests. Junkyard’s authentic energy and refusal to conform to the glam rock trends of the time earned them a devoted fanbase around the world.

Signed to Geffen Records in 1987, the group released its self-titled debut on the Geffen label in 1989 and the follow-up "Sixes, Sevens & Nines" in 1991. During this time period, the band released two Geffen records, four music videos featured prominently on MTV, and toured the USA and the UK, leaving an enduring mark on the rock landscape.

The group would be dropped by Geffen soon after, and they split in 1993, with their unreleased third album later being issued independently in 1998.

Junkyard would reform in 1999, performing regularly and issuing a handful of releases ahead of a new studio album in 2017 called High Water. Their final record reached the top 25 of Billboard’s Hard Rock Album Sales Chart and put an end to years of requests from fans for new music. They toured extensively across the U.S., the U.K., Japan, and Spain from 2009 to 2023, spreading their sound wherever they went.

David was more than a musician—he was a true artist. Whether on stage, on canvas, or in conversation, he brought creativity, intelligence, a lightning-fast wit, and a huge heart. He was deeply loved by his family, his bandmates Pat, Tim, Todd, and Jimmy, and by fans across the globe who saw and felt his passion.

David is survived by his beloved wife, Jennifer, whom he married just two weeks before his passing in a tender hospital sanctuary ceremony that brought him peace. The ceremony was officiated by his sister Courtenay. He also leaves behind his son Ray, his siblings Megan, Pat, and Courtenay, and a cherished group of nieces and nephews.

Though he wrestled with inner battles—as many gifted, creative souls do—David’s life was rich with love, friendship, art, and purpose. He found profound joy in his final days, surrounded by those who knew his heart.

David Roach lived loudly, honestly, and with a style all his own. His legacy will echo through the music he created, the art he loved, and the lives he touched.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

**Select discography for David Roach:**

Junkyard — Junkyard (1989)

Junkyard — Sixes, Sevens & Nines (1991)

Junkyard — Joker (1998)

Junkyard — XXX (1998)

Junkyard — Shut Up – We’re Trying To Practice! (live album) (2000)

Junkyard — Tried and True EP (2003)

Junkyard — Put It On Ten and Pull The Knobs Off! (2008)

Junkyard — High Water (2017)

Junkyard — Old Habits Die Hard (2019)

Junkyard — Rome Is Burning EP (2020)

Junkyard — Lifer / Last of a Dying Breed "Single" (2021)