Punk rock musician Jock McDonald, lead singer of The Bollock Brothers, died July 26, 2025, in what his bandmate described as a freak swimming accident at Bundoran Beach in County Donegal, Ireland. He was 69 years old.
The tragic news was confirmed by Pat Pattyn, the band’s drummer, who shared the information on social media at the request of McDonald’s children. “It is with great sadness in my heart, I have to bring you this terrible news,” Pattyn wrote, explaining that McDonald had died in Ireland in an apparent freak swimming accident.
According to reports from Donegal Live, local RNLI volunteer lifeguards responded to an emergency call and pulled McDonald from the water around 5:20 PM on Saturday. He was found near the diving boards at Bundoran Beach and was immediately transported to Sligo University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
McDonald, whose birth name was Patrick Joseph O’Donnell, was born in 1956 and spent his early years in Scotland before later moving to London, where he worked as a promoter, DJ, and manager. He had returned to Donegal in advance of a forthcoming tour when the fatal incident occurred.
In 1979, McDonald founded The Bollock Brothers, a British-Irish punk band that would go on to achieve cult status throughout Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The band released nine studio albums, four live albums, and 28 singles during their career, building a reputation for bold, subversive creativity.
The band gained particular recognition for their English-language cover of French musician Serge Gainsbourg’s song “Harley David (Son of a B***h),” which became their most widely known track. They also performed a notable version of Alex Harvey’s “Faith Healer” and released original hits including “Horror Movies,” “The Bunker,” “The Legend of the Snake,” and “The Slow Removal of the Left Ear of Vincent van Gogh,” the latter created in collaboration with Killing Joke’s Martin Glover.
Beyond their original material, The Bollock Brothers covered songs by major rock acts including Led Zeppelin, Steppenwolf, David Bowie, and Vangelis, showcasing their versatility within the punk genre.
Pattyn indicated in his social media announcement that McDonald’s family and all band members were in shock following the sudden loss. He requested privacy during the difficult time, asking people not to call and to give them space to process the tragedy. The drummer expressed his personal grief, stating he would miss his friend.
Tributes poured in from across the music community following news of McDonald’s death. Longtime bandmate Keith Bradshaw remembered McDonald as his best friend of 45 years and described him as a true legend. McDonald’s brother, Gerry O’Donnell, mourned the loss, reflecting on the irony of his brother’s return to Donegal, the place of his earliest roots, just as his life was cut short.
The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival, which had welcomed McDonald in previous years, issued a statement affirming that the music world would not be the same without him, calling him one of the great characters in punk’s global story.
Charly Records expressed their sadness over McDonald’s passing, extending thoughts to his family and friends during the difficult time. Multiple fans and fellow musicians shared memories and condolences on social media, remembering McDonald as a complete original who would be missed by the punk community.
At the time of his death, McDonald had been actively working on new material, including a new single and album that will now remain unfinished. His sudden passing marks the end of a singular career defined by iconoclastic energy and international reach within punk rock circles.
The incident represents a significant loss for the punk rock community, particularly in the UK and European scenes where The Bollock Brothers had maintained a devoted following throughout their decades-long career. McDonald’s influence extended beyond his musical contributions, as he was remembered by peers as both a creative force and a distinctive personality within the genre.
