Fans ‘Shocked' and ‘Devastated' by Tragic Death of ‘80s Punk Rock Legend, age 69
In 1979, he formed a band so alternative that its very name had labels refusing to sign them.
Just a few short years later that verboten band, The Bollock Brothers, would take the punk rock scene by storm, recording nine studio albums, four live records, and 28 singles, touring worldwide, and rocking a loyal fanbase.
Those fans were rocked in a whole new way, though, on Sunday, when Bollock Brothers band member Pat Pattyn took to Facebook to announce frontman and founder Jock McDonald's death at age 69. 'It is with great sadness in my heart, I have to bring you this terrible news…...sadly, our singer Jock McDonald has died last night in Ireland,' Pattyn wrote. 'His family and all the Bollock Brothers are in shock.'
The visionary singer was in his beloved Donegal, Ireland, when he died in a 'freak swimming accident,' according to Pattyn's Facebook post and Donegal Live. McDonald, who was born Patrick O'Donnell, grew up splitting his time between Donegal and Clydebank, Scotland and, according to The Independent, was reportedly working on new music just before his death.
Fans from all over the world paid tribute to the punk superstar in photos and written replies to Pattyn's Facebook announcement. 'Oh no, Jock Mcdonald the hero of my youth!' Wrote one distressed fan, 'my heart is broken for this sad news.' Another fan struggling to come to grips with the loss wrote, 'let me try to digest….my heart and love go out to you and the family....lost for words....implosion.'
The Bollock Brothers rise in fame began with an English language cover of iconic French musicianSerge Gainsbourg's song 'Harley David (Son of a Bitch).' Other top songs include a 1983 cover of The Sex Pistols album Never Mind the Bollocks and the Bollock Brothers beloved original 'The Slow Removal of the Left Ear of Vincent van Gogh,' which featured Martin Glover from the band Killing Joke.
Despite his 'enfante terrible' performance persona, McDonald was known and will be remembered for his 'eternal kindness and sympathy,' as well as for being a man of deep faith. In a 2014 interview with Dump Magazinetranslated from Dutch, McDonald discussed his Catholic upbringing and described himself as 'very religious.'
'Age makes us put things into perspective and accept everything more,' McDonald told Dump Magazine in the same interview. Then he stepped on stage to perform his set, dedicating fan-favorite song 'Faith Healer' to the interviewer he had just met and was already calling a friend.
Fans 'Shocked' and 'Devastated' by Tragic Death of '80s Punk Rock Legend, age 69 first appeared on Parade on Jul 29, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
8 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Rescue Dog Obsessed With Laundry Baskets Wins Pet of the Week
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A week of pet videos carried us into a new month, which just so happens to be National Dog Month. And what better way to honor these furry companions than by highlighting pets from our readers? These dogs, while sometimes getting into trouble, bring a smile to their owners' face daily. They are a crucial piece to their family tree. If you wish to feature your pet in Newsweek's Pet of the Week, follow the instructions at the end of this article to get involved. Winner Photos of Laina resting in a basket; and looking up at the camera through a trolley. Photos of Laina resting in a basket; and looking up at the camera through a trolley. Patti Generale Laina, a rescue hound, instantly captured our hearts with her silly habits that helped brighten her owner's day, earning her spot as this week's winner. Owner Patti Generale told Newsweek via email that Laina is obsessed with laundry baskets. There is no rhyme or reason for it, but you can almost always find her sitting in one. Otherwise, you might see her cozying up next to you if you have food. She is a "very food-motivated" dog. Generale said: "She brought us a lot of joy." Finalists Photos of two 7-year-old Cavachons dogs at home. Photos of two 7-year-old Cavachons dogs at home. Vicki Peacock Our first finalist for this week comes from owner Vicki Peacock's two Cavachons—a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and the bichon frisé mix. Peacock originally wanted a boy dog, but after seeing one female pup, she couldn't resist getting her, she told Newsweek via email. Now, she has Harvey and Coco, who are from the same litter. These two 7-year-old dogs are sweet-natured; however, they tend to get into mischief. "Harvey is the leader and thinks he is much bigger than he is, but they are very sweet and gentle and love to make friends," Peacock said. Otherwise, they enjoy cuddle sessions and their quiet time. They have been nothing but great company for Peacock, who lives alone, making her laugh every day, she said. Photos of Daisy, a 1-year-old rottsky dog, resting at home. Photos of Daisy, a 1-year-old rottsky dog, resting at home. Karen Garcia Next up, we have a 1-year-old dog named Daisy, whom owner Karen Garcia likes to call a "Rotten Rottsky" due to her mischievous personality. This rottsky and Siberian husky mix came from an unexpected litter, Garcia told Newsweek. "She has a unique, dominating, mischievous personality that's humorous at times," she said. Photos of a 1-year-old French bulldog named Pierre playing outside. Photos of a 1-year-old French bulldog named Pierre playing outside. Jamie High Last, but not least, is a French bulldog named Pierre, whom the owner cannot thank enough for bringing joy into every day. The owner, Jamie High, told Newsweek that Pierre is nearing 1 year old. And as a pup, he is constantly getting into something. He can be a "handful," but that's what makes Pierre, Pierre. "He helped me through a very tough time in my life, and I'm grateful every day," High said. "I wouldn't change a thing about him!" If you think your pet could be next week's Newsweek "Pet of the Week," send us your funny and heartwarming videos and pictures of your pet, along with a bit about them, to life@ and they could appear in our "Pet of the Week" lineup.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dolly Parton Unveils New Project With 'Dearest Friends'
Dolly Parton Unveils New Project With 'Dearest Friends' originally appeared on Parade. Country legend has announced an exciting new project — a dedicated iHeartRadio station called iHeartRadio made the announcement on Monday, July 7, which also marks the first day the radio station is streaming for listeners. The station will "feature music from Parton's legendary catalog, along with songs from her favorite artists across country, bluegrass, and gospel genres," according to the press release. 'Dolly Parton is a living legend, and now her music, the music she loves, and the fun of her Dollywood theme park all have a dedicated home on iHeart's Dollywood Radio, hosted by Dolly herself,' said Jon Zellner, President of Programming Operations & Digital Music for iHeartMedia, in a statement. 'This new station captures the heart and soul of the Smoky Mountains, featuring a handpicked blend of country classics, bluegrass, folk, and songs by some of Dolly's dearest friends in music.''The partnership with iHeartMedia to develop Dollywood Radio is exciting for us because it means our loyal fans can enjoy the sounds and excitement of a day at Dollywood even if they aren't able to be here,' added Pete Owens, Dollywood's Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. 'We know our guests are going to enjoy being able to take a little bit of Dollywood home with them.' The radio station was developed as part of Dollywood celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. Dollywood is Parton's theme park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It has become one of the nation's premier theme parks. The station will also include tracks that play in Dollywood, plus special shout-outs from Parton herself. Parton sure has been busy lately. In the last few months, she has launched a signature collection at Dollar General, opened up an exhibition called Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, launched a line of frozen meals, and the musical based on her life, DOLLY: A True Original Musical, makes its world premiere in Nashville on July 18. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Dolly Parton Unveils New Project With 'Dearest Friends' first appeared on Parade on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Country Music Legend Calls Meeting Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Team 'Absolute Dream'
Country Music Legend Calls Meeting Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Team 'Absolute Dream' originally appeared on Parade. Country legend Wynonna Judd, 61, made a surprise visit to the Indiana Fever before Sunday's (July 27) game against the Chicago Sky — and she was as excited to meet the Fever players as they were to meet her. "The squad got to meet Grammy award-winner Wynonna Judd before today's game in Chicago ❤️🎶," captioned the Fever's Instagram post on a series of photos and video of Judd posing with stars Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull. In the video, Cunningham gives Judd a huge hug and exclaims, "You are such a star, you are awesome! How are you? Oh, don't cry!" Then Judd can be heard saying, "No, I'm serious. I don't get excited about a lot, but this is my absolute dream." She also got to hug and say hello to head coach Stephanie White, who can be heard saying, "Great to meet you!"On Judd's Instagram stories, she reposted the Fever's photos and wrote, "The quartet you didn't know you needed," on the photo of her alongside Clark, Cunningham and Hull. In the comments, fans can't believe how Judd is dwarfed by the WNBA players. "I thought Wynonna's as tall as them. She looks tiny!" wrote one fan, to which another fan replied, " I thought the same thing. Players look like giants next to her. I googled it… Wynonna is 5'5'." "Smooth voice and splash sisters! Love to see it," wrote a third fan. A fourth fan, "SWEET!!!! My favorite Redhead with my favorite ballers in the world!!!!! Love this!!!!!" "This is SO AWESOME!! Four amazing, talented women right there! Go Fever and have a blast Wy !!," wrote a fifth fan. The Fever beat the Sky 93-78 on the back of Kelsey Mitchell's 35 points and six assists; Mitchell has been stepping way up in Clark's absence as Clark battles injuries this season. The Fever have improved to 14-12 on the year. 🎬 🎬 Country Music Legend Calls Meeting Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Team 'Absolute Dream' first appeared on Parade on Jul 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
