David Roach, the gravelly-voiced frontman of 1980s hard rock band Junkyard, died at age 59 after a battle with aggressive squamous cell carcinoma. The musician passed away peacefully at his home on August 2, 2025, just two weeks after marrying his wife Jennifer in an intimate ceremony attended by his bandmates.
The band confirmed Roach’s death in a statement posted to social media on August 3. According to E! Online, the band wrote that “he was a gifted artist, performer, songwriter, and singer—but above all, a devoted father, husband, and brother.”
Roach had been diagnosed with the aggressive skin cancer in February 2025 after experiencing an ongoing fever and cough that led to his admission to the emergency room. The cancer affected his head, neck, and throat, according to a GoFundMe page established to help with mounting medical expenses. The fundraising campaign raised more than $35,000 of its $50,000 goal.
The Los Angeles-based band announced Roach’s wedding to Jennifer on July 20, sharing photos of the ceremony on social media. One image showed the couple exchanging rings at the altar, while another featured Roach in a wheelchair surrounded by his bandmates. The band congratulated the newlyweds, referring to them as “Mr. and Mrs. David Patrick Roach.”
Roach co-founded Junkyard in 1987 after moving from his native Dallas, Texas, to Los Angeles. The band’s original lineup included Chris Gates on guitar, and briefly featured skateboarding pioneer Tony Alva on bass. Guitarist Brian Baker, known for his work with Minor Threat and Bad Religion, joined the group in 1989.
The band stood out from the typical Sunset Strip hair metal scene with their blues-based sound and biker aesthetic. They were signed by Geffen Records, which released their self-titled debut album in 1989. The album peaked at number 105 on the Billboard 200 and spawned singles including “Hollywood,” “Blooze,” and “Simple Man.” Their video for “Hollywood” gained traction on MTV’s Headbangers Ball.
Junkyard’s follow-up album, “Sixes, Sevens & Nines,” was released in 1991 and produced by Ed Stasium, who had worked with the Ramones and Living Colour. The album featured the single “All the Time in the World” and included “Slippin’ Away,” an acoustic track with harmony vocals by country songwriter Steve Earle. The band also opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd on their 1991 headlining tour.
The changing music landscape following the rise of grunge led to Junkyard being dropped by Geffen in 1992, and the band subsequently split. Their unreleased third album was independently issued in 1998. The group reunited in 2000 and released a live album titled “Shut Up – We’re Tryin’ to Practice!” featuring recordings from a 1989 performance at the Hollywood Palace.
After sporadic touring for years, Junkyard released their comeback studio album “High Water” in 2017, their first new studio recording in more than 25 years. The album reached the top 25 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Album Sales Chart. They followed with “Old Habits Die Hard” in 2019, which was actually their original third album recorded in 1992.
Former bandmate Chris Gates, who played with Junkyard from 1987 to 2009, shared a tribute on social media following Roach’s death. Gates revealed that he and Roach first met when Roach was 16 and Gates was 20, with their girlfriends living in the same apartment complex. Gates noted that when he moved to Los Angeles, he tracked down Roach’s phone number and suggested they start a band together.
Gates expressed that he loved Roach like a little brother and indicated that, despite their ups and downs over the years, that feeling never changed. He stated he would miss playing music with Roach, but that the singer would always remain an important part of him.
The current Junkyard lineup includes Brian Baker, Chris Gates, Patrick Muzingo, Tim Mosher, Jimmy James, and Todd Muscat.
Riki Rachtman, former host of MTV’s Headbangers Ball, remembered Roach on social media, describing Junkyard as a true rock and roll band and encouraging fans to listen to their music.
