Dave Blood

Here is a refined, comprehensive biography of Dave Blood (David Schulthise), his life, career, and legacy:

Dave Blood – Life, Career, and Legacy

Learn about Dave Blood (David Schulthise), bassist and founding member of punk band The Dead Milkmen. Explore his early life, musical journey, personal struggles, and enduring influence.

Introduction

Dave Blood (born David Schulthise, September 16, 1956 – March 10, 2004) was an American musician best known as the original bass guitarist of the punk / indie rock group The Dead Milkmen.

In his lifetime, he combined musical creativity with intellectual curiosity—studying economics, learning Serbo-Croatian, and relocating to Serbia. His path was marked by intense passion but also by inner turmoil. In this article, we’ll look at his background, career, challenges, philosophy, and how he is remembered.

Early Life and Education

David Schulthise was born on September 16, 1956.

He was drawn to both art and academia early on. He studied economics at Temple University and later pursued doctoral studies in economics at Purdue University.

This dual interest in music and intellectual disciplines would shape much of his later life and choices.

Musical Career

Founding The Dead Milkmen

In 1983, David Schulthise (as Dave Blood) co-founded The Dead Milkmen together with Joe Genaro (“Joe Jack Talcum”), Rodney Linderman (“Rodney Anonymous”), and Dean Sabatino (“Dean Clean”).

The band formed in Philadelphia and carved a distinct niche in punk / indie rock with comedic, satirical, and socially aware lyrics.

One of their most famous songs is “Punk Rock Girl”, from Beelzebubba (1988), which got MTV airplay and increased the band’s visibility.

Activity and Output

The Dead Milkmen remained active through the 1980s and early 1990s, releasing albums such as Big Lizard in My Backyard, Eat Your Paisley!, Bucky Fellini, Beelzebubba, Metaphysical Graffiti, Soul Rotation, Not Richard, But Dick, and Stoney’s Extra Stout (Pig).

Dave Blood was the bass player and contributed backing vocals, percussion, and occasional sampling and channeling.

Health Issues and Departure

By the mid-1990s, Dave Blood developed tendinitis in both hands, which severely impeded his ability to play.

In 1995, the band’s original run ended, and though reunions occurred later, Blood did not participate in them after his departure.

Personal Life, Interests & Later Years

Connection to Serbia & Linguistic Pursuits

One of the most striking chapters in Dave Blood’s life was his fascination with Serbia and the Serbo-Croatian language and culture.

After the band’s breakup, he enrolled at Indiana University to study Serbo-Croatian language, literature, and history.

However, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (1999), conditions became unsafe. He left Serbia and returned to the U.S.

He had a deep regard for Serbia—its people, history, and spirituality. For instance, even though he was not of Orthodox Christian background, he kept an icon of Saint Sava above his bed.

Struggles & Death

Dave Blood’s life was marked by intense internal conflict and mental health struggles, although public documentation of them is limited. When he died on March 10, 2004, it was by suicide (drug overdose).

In a statement posted by his sister Kathy, she remarked:

“Inner peace has seemed to elude him for the last many years. … Sometime last night David chose to end his life.”

His mother’s passing earlier that year (January 2004) was also suggested as a factor in his emotional state.

Legacy & Influence

Dave Blood’s legacy is both musical and symbolic.

• Musical contribution: As the original bassist for The Dead Milkmen, he helped shape a distinct, irreverent, and literate strain of punk / indie rock that inspired many underground and college radio artists.

• Cultural bridge: His immersion in Serbian culture and language adds a human dimension of cross-cultural engagement rarely seen in rock narratives.

• Quiet strength and struggle: His story is also a reminder of the mental health challenges artists may face, even amid fame or promise.

• Posthumous respect: The surviving members of The Dead Milkmen and fans often commemorate him in anniversaries, interviews, and tribute shows.

For example, in Big Questions with the Dead Milkmen (a band-focused video conversation), members recall Dave Blood’s personality, wit, and the ways he influenced their music.

Reflections & Lessons

1. Art and intellect can coexist
   Dave Blood did not confine himself to music alone—he pursued serious scholarship and language study, showing that a creative person may have multiple passions.

2. Obscure pathways can be meaningful
   His move to Serbia, interest in Eastern European culture, and spiritual sensibilities were off the beaten path but deeply meaningful to him.

3. Mental health matters
   His tragic end underscores that external success or talent does not shield one from inner pain. It reminds us to watch, care, and support mental well-being in creative communities.

4. Legacy beyond metrics
   Though he never achieved blockbuster stardom, his influence lives on in the band’s lasting songs, in the emotional memories of fans, and in the personal journeys he undertook.

Conclusion

Dave Blood’s life was one of contrasts: punk energy and intellectual rigor; outward musical expression and inward struggle; American roots and Serbian infatuation. He may not have lived to see all the reverberations of his work, but his presence persists in The Dead Milkmen’s music, in fan memory, and in the story of a man who reached beyond boundaries—culturally, emotionally, artistically.

Exploring his music, his writings, and recollections by bandmates offers a window into a sensitive, restless spirit whose life reminds us of art’s power and its costs.