David Roach, the frontman and co-founder of Los Angeles-based rock band Junkyard, died at age 59 on August 2, 2025, following a battle with aggressive squamous cell carcinoma. His death occurred just two weeks after marrying his wife Jennifer in July 2025.
The band announced Roach’s passing in a statement posted to social media on August 3. According to the statement, Roach “passed away peacefully last night at home, in the loving arms of his wife.” The band described him as a gifted artist, performer, songwriter and singer, but above all, a devoted father, husband and brother.
Roach was diagnosed with the aggressive form of skin cancer in February 2025 after initially experiencing fever and cough symptoms. The squamous cell carcinoma affected his head, neck and throat. His wife Jennifer Michael-Roach and close friends established a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover medical expenses, which raised approximately $35,000 of the $50,000 goal.
The musician married Jennifer in an intimate ceremony in July 2025, with his Junkyard bandmates in attendance. Photos from the July 20 wedding showed Roach in a wheelchair surrounded by band members, as well as exchanging rings with his bride at the altar. The band congratulated the couple in a social media post, referring to them as “Mr. and Mrs. David Patrick Roach.”
Roach co-founded Junkyard in 1987 in Los Angeles with members from other notable acts including Minor Threat, Big Boys and Dag Nasty. The band’s core lineup featured Roach on vocals, Chris Gates and Brian Baker on guitar, Clay Anthony on bass, and Patrick Muzingo on drums. They quickly became recognizable in the city’s Sunset Strip music scene, known for their blues-based sound and biker aesthetic rather than the typical glam rock appearance of the era.
The band signed with Geffen Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1989, which reached number 105 on the Billboard 200. The album included singles such as “Blooze,” “Hollywood” and “Simple Man.” Their second 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,” which featured country-rock musician Steve Earle on harmony vocals.
Geffen Records dropped the band in 1992 following the changing music landscape brought about by grunge music’s rise to prominence. Junkyard disbanded that same year after completing recording on their third album, which was eventually released independently in 1998. The band reunited in 1999 and continued to tour periodically, adding Tim Mosher on guitar and Todd Muscat on bass to the lineup.
In 2017, Junkyard released “High Water,” their first new studio album in more than 25 years, which reached the top 25 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Album Sales Chart. The band released a standalone single titled “Lifer” in 2021. Despite limited mainstream commercial success, their first two albums are considered cult classics among hard rock and glam metal enthusiasts.
Former bandmate Chris Gates, who performed with Junkyard from 1987 to 2009, paid tribute to Roach on social media. Gates indicated that he loved Roach like a little brother despite their ups and downs, and that while he would miss playing music with him, Roach would always remain an important part of him. Gates noted that when he moved to Los Angeles, he spent weeks tracking down Roach’s phone number to suggest they start a band together.
The band’s current members include Brian Baker, Chris Gates, Patrick Muzingo, Tim Mosher, Jimmy James and Todd Muscat. Roach’s death came at a time when Jennifer had been providing updates on his condition through the GoFundMe page, expressing optimism about his treatment and noting that he maintained his sense of humor throughout his illness.
Various musicians from the Los Angeles rock scene paid tribute to Roach following news of his death. Riki Rachtman, former host of MTV’s “Headbangers Ball,” remembered him as the singer of a true rock and roll band. L.A. Guns rocker Ace Von Johnson also offered condolences to the entire Junkyard family.
Roach, originally from Dallas, Texas, was known for his raspy vocal style that combined Southern influences with rock attitude. Junkyard stood out from other Sunset Strip bands of the late 1980s with their harder, blues-influenced approach that aligned more closely with early Guns N’ Roses and the Black Crowes than with the makeup and hairspray aesthetic of groups like Poison or Warrant.
