GWAR

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Template:Cleanup-date Template:Infobox band GWAR is a thrash metal/punk band formed in 1985 by a collective of artists and musicians at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. The band is best known for their elaborate sci-fi/horror film inspired costumes, raunchy lyrics, and graphic stage performances, which consist of humorous re-enactments of scatology, sadomasochism, necrophilia, pedophilia, bestiality, fire dancing pagan rituals, executions, and other controversial violent and political themes. GWAR has been on the leading edge of shock rock since their formation.

Contents

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Origins

The origin and meaning of the band's name has been disputed by fans, although the most widely accepted explanation is that GWAR is an acronym for "God What an Awful Racket!" Another rumor states that the name may have come from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' graphic novel, Watchmen, in which a sign reads "Pink Triangle LIVE at the Gay Women Against Rape Benefit Concert." Band members have insisted from their inception that the letters in their name do not stand for anything. Lead singer and founding member Dave Brockie has been quoted as saying "GWAR doesn't really mean anything. GWAR is just GWAR."

The band was the result of two separate projects that eventually combined into one. Dave Brockie was the vocalist for a punk band named Death Piggy, that often staged mini-plays and used crude props to punctuate their often ridiculous music. Death Piggy would occasionally practice in a room at the Richmond Dairy, a deserted bottling plant that had been taken over by hippies. The hippies would rent out interior areas to various artists and musicians. It was at the Richmond Dairy that Death Piggy would meet Hunter Jackson and Chuck Varga, both attendees of Virginia Commonwealth University who had set up "The Slave Pit", a production space for Scumdogs of the Universe, a movie they intended to make. A friendship was forged, and Jackson would create props for Death Piggy to use on stage. On occasion, Death Piggy would wear costumes Jackson and Varga had created for their movie in order to open up for themselves under the name GWAR. Eventually, GWAR would eclipse and later absorb Death Piggy.

Their costumes are generally made of foam latex, styrofoam, and hardened rubber. It should be noted that the costumes cover very little, with the rest of their bodies accentuated with makeup. They further their production in concert by dousing, spraying, and at times nearly drowning their audiences with imitation blood, semen, gore, and other bodily fluids. All the fluids are made of water and dye that washes out easily. It is rumored that corn syrup or a similar product has been used as a thickener.

Another trademark of GWAR's live show is their mutilations of celebrities and figures in current events. Victims of GWAR's antics have included O.J. Simpson, George W. Bush, Paris Hilton, and many others. The band also makes frequent references to political and historical figures, fantasy literature, and mythology. For instance, the song "Whargoul" makes reference to Minas Morgul, a setting in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and the title of their sixth album Ragnarok comes from Norse mythology.

GWAR has not enjoyed as much mainstream recognition as many other bands. Around the time of their third album (America Must Be Destroyed), they enjoyed a fair deal of success, due in part to Beavis and Butt-head. GWAR's music video 'The Road Behind' was featured on the show and Beavis and Butt-head proclaimed GWAR to be the greatest band of all time. After that, GWAR's popularity waned and they were even featured on the VH1 program Where Are They Now. Though not at the peak of their popularity, GWAR was recently invited to play on the Sounds of the Underground tour [1].

GWAR was at one time banned from performing in their home city of Richmond, Virginia due to their raucous stage performances. During that time, they would appear in their home town under the pseudonym Rawg and play sans costumes. The ban was later lifted and the band can now play in Richmond again in full gory attire. GWAR was banned earlier in North Carolina for obscenity reasons (Brockie was arrested for wearing his "Cuttlefish of Cthulu" prosthetic penis; this incident was the inspiration for GWAR's America Must Be Destroyed album). Band members and associates often have cookouts at their house, dubbed "Gwar-BQ's." The video for "Saddam a Go-Go" and the song "Vlad the Impaler" from This Toilet Earth appeared in the hit movie Empire Records as part of a daydream sequence. The song Saddam A Go-Go also appeared in the 1999 Film Universal Soldier: The Return. GWAR appeared as themselves in the Film Mystery Date Starring Ethan Hawke in 1991. The band can also be seen on a t.v. screen in the movie "Hardware" although the music playing is actually from the band Ministry. They appeared on the MTV show Viva la Bam Season 5 episode 4 in 2005 and on The Jerry Springer Show in 1997. GWAR was and is primarily a band of former art students, and this is reflected in the obscure references made in some of their songs. GWAR fans are known as Bohabs or Scumdogs.

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Current GWAR issues

Template:Future album GWAR was set to begin working on their new album in January 2006, as stated by vocalist Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie). In January 2006, GWAR also opened a gallery show called "The Art of GWAR" at Art Space gallery in Richmond to display the many props, costumes, cartoons, paintings produced by The Slave Pit, GWAR's art and effects studio. In February 23, 2006, GWAR's official website and Oderus Urungus' official page announced a new album, titled Go to Hell!, which is set to be released sometime in 2006. Due for release in July of 2006 GWAR will be getting 7" action figures made of themselves by toy manufacturer Shocker Toys LLP.

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Line-up

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Current

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Retired members

  • Sexicutioner (Vocals - Chuck Varga) Varga is still involved with the band, but the character Sexicutioner no longer appears in GWAR's stage shows.
  • Sleazy P. Martini ("Manager" - Don Drakulich) Like Varga, Drakulich is still involved with the band. He directs the band's videos, and helps with sculpting. And, along with Varga, he started a sculpting and fabrication company, Hypereal Productions.
  • Slymenstra Hymen (Vocals, fire-dance - Danielle Stampe) Stampe "still performs with GWAR whenever her busy schedule permits," though hasn't been present on any tour since 2002 (and likely will not be in the future).
  • Musel (Keyboards - Dave Musel; Musel was seen on stage as a slave very early on, and then moved behind-the-scenes and handled keyboards and samples; he was also a wood and metal sculptor at the Slave Pit shop, which the other members were not)
  • Techno-Destructo (GWAR Enemy - Hunter Jackson) Jackson founded Slave Pit, Inc. in 1984, and formed GWAR with Brockie in 1985. He stopped touring in 2000, and left to pursue his own work in 2002. Jackson was also a slave, Edna Granbo, Scroda Moon and other characters throughout the years.
  • Nippleus Erectus (An old drummer character. He did all the drumming on Hell-O. He was credited for the drums on Scumdogs of the Universe, although Brad Roberts played them - Rob Mosby)
  • Jonny Slutman (Original lead singer of GWAR, he was only in the band for a few shows before Annaruma took over - Ben Eubanks)
  • Joey Slutman (Second lead singer of GWAR, he is the first to record any material available - Joe Annaruma)
  • Mr. Magico (Original guitarist of GWAR, along with Brockie, he was in the band prior to Hell-O and appeared in quite a few shows in the late 80s-Russ Bahorsky)
  • Lee Baeto (GWAR drummer before Jizmak, after Hans Orifice. Played after Hell-O to shortly before Scumdogs. Only played 5 shows-Pete (surname unknown)
  • Stephen Sphincter (Original GWAR bassist, played quite a few shows in 1987 before leaving-Ron Curry)
  • Cornealius Carnage (One of the original GWAR guitarists, his character wore a Beefcake-type helmet - Chris Oranger) Cornealius Carnage reappeared in 1998 to help with the guitars on "Jagermonsta," though this time he was portrayed by Greg Ottinger (another former member of the band).
  • Hans Orifice (Played in an early GWAR line-up (1986-87), doing 1 or 2 gigs. In September 1996, however, he committed suicide. - Sean Sumner)

This does not account for all of the characters GWAR has in their elaborate stage shows, however. GWAR has a plethora of members, most of which are referred to simply as "slaves." The GWAR slaves are involved in many other aspects of the band, including costume design, music mixing and editing, running Slave Pit Records, the record label owned by the members of GWAR, and the creation of the now defunct GWAR comic book, Slave Pit Funnies.

Retired Slaves:

  • Danny Black (the first slave/roadie/crew member)
  • Mike Bonner (the first slave with a recognizeable form - a large, uncircumsised penis and a goatee)
  • Davis Bradley III (still with the band, but doesn't go on stage due to a spinal injury - he designed the Biledriver - a cannon used to shoot red and blue or green fluid at the audience during the song of the same name)
  • Hunter Jackson (also Techno Destructo, Scroda Moon, and Edna P. Granbo, among others; founded the band, as well as the chief prosthetics manufacturer)
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Discography

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Videography

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RAWGWAR (1989)

This was GWAR's first video release. It compiles early TV appearances and live performance footage. The tape features the band in early versions of their costumes, as well as characters, such as Cardinal Syn and Techno Destructo. The video was only available on VHS and is now out of print.

The track list includes: 1. Black And Huge 2. World 'O' Filth 3. Slutman City 4. Bone Meal/Ollie North 5. I'm In Love (With A Dead Dog) 6. Americanized 7. The Years Without Light 8. Pure As The Arctic Snow 9. Techno's Song 10. Ham On The Bone 11. World 'O' Filth 12. Captain Crunch 13. Bone Meal 14. Ollie North 15. Death Pod 16. I'm In Love (With A Dead Dog) 17. Time For Death 18. Horror Of Yig 19. Slaughterama 20. Sexecutioner 21. Techno's Song 22. U Ain't Sh** 23. Vlad The Impaler 24. Cardinal Syn Theme 25. U Ain't Shit 26. GWAR Theme 27. Captain Crunch 28. Cool Place To Park

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The Next Mutation (1989)

Also known as RAWGWAR: The Next Mutation. This was sold, exclusively, by the band, through their catalog, and not available in stores.

1. Americanized 2. Vlad The Impaler 3. Pure As The Arctic Snow 4. World 'O' Filth 5. Sexecutioner 6. Cool Place To Park 7. Slutman City 8. I'm In Love (With A Dead Dog) 9. Bone Meal 10. Ollie North 11. Time For Death 12. King Queen 13. Horror Of Yig 14. Captain Crunch 15. Death Pod 16. Techno's Song 17. U Ain't Sh** 18. Black And Huge


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Return of Techno-Destructo (1991)

This is GWAR's, self-released, first movie. Techno-Destructo has been brainwashed and stripped of his armor. When Techno drives a group of girls to a GWAR show, he regains his memory. He attempts to recruit Cardinal Syn, for help against GWAR, but his plans are foiled by Cardinal Syn instead. This film was only released on VHS and is currently out-of-print.

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Phallus in Wonderland (1992)

This was GWAR's first at a commercially released, long-form movie. The story follows the story of GWAR's conflict with the Morality Squad, after the theft of Oderus' "Cuttlefish". Meanwhile, the giant T-Rex, Gor-Gor is born and helps GWAR defeat the Morality Squad. The video was nominated for a Grammy in 1993. This video remains in print.

1. Crack In The Egg 2. Have You Seen Me? 3. The Road Behind 4. The Morality Squad 5. Gor-Gor 6. Ham On The Bone

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Tour De Scum (1992)

This video is a collection of live footage from the 'Scumdogs of the Universe' tour. This video is available in the "GWAR DVD Box Set."

1. The Salaminizer 2. Crack In The Egg 3. Love Surgery 4. Maggots 5. Horror Of Yig 6. Have You Seen Me? 7. Sexecutioner 8. The Morality Squad 9. GWAR Theme 10. Slaughterama 11. Gor-Gor

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Skulhedface (1994)

The third GWAR movie, Skulhedface is about an organization called GLOMCO trying to stop GWAR. After a battle with GLOMCO, the organization's leader is revealed to be Skulhedface, an alien sent by Cardinal Syn to harvest Jizmogloben (a fictional mineral) from earth. Skulhedface uses defeats GWAR using the Flesh Column and the band are turned into babies. GWAR tricks Skulhedface into restoring before killing him. This video remains in print.

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Rendezvous with RagNaRok (1997)

This time, gray aliens land on earth and create a mutant GWAR hybrid. This attracts the attention of Cardinal Syn, and the video finishes with a giant fight between GWAR and Cardinal Syn's minions. This video contains music videos for "Surf of Syn," "Meat Sandwich" and "Saddam-a-go-go." This video is available in the "GWAR DVD Box Set."

1. Saddam A Go-Go (video) 2. RagNaRok 3. Sonderkommando 4. Whargoul 5. Meat Sandwich (video) 6. Think You Outta Know This 7. Knife In Yer Guts 8. Fire In The Loins 9. S.F.W. 10. Crush, Kill, Destroy 11. Surf of Syn (video)

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Dawn of the Day of the Night of the Penguins (1998)

One of the more popular GWAR films, this video follows the struggle between GWAR and Techno Destructo. Mixed in the story is an attack of mutant penguins, an appearance of Gor-Gor, BalSac playing the piano, and the bloody death of Techno-Destructo. It was filmed during the Carnival of GWAR tour. It also contains a video for "Penguin Attack." This video is in the "GWAR DVD Box Set".

1. Je M'Appelle J. Cousteau 2. Back To Iraq 3. Crack In The Egg 4. Sammy 5. If I Could Be That 6. Horror Of Yig 7. Hate Love Songs 8. The Private Pain Of Techno Destructo 9. Gor-Gor 10. Don't Need A Man

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It's Sleazy (2000)

In GWAR's fifth movie, the band appears on Sleazy P. Martini's talk show. Lots of gore and splatter, this video also includes a doomsday prophecy by an ex-GWAR member. This movie is included in the "GWAR DVD Box Set".

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The Gwarnage Campaign (2002)

This is a document of GWAR's 2002 tour. This DVD was sold, exclusively, at live performances. It is currently unknown if the band has kept this title in print.

1. Black And Huge 2. Ham On The Bone 3. Sexecutioner 4. The Salaminizer 5. Think You Outta Know This 6. Babyraper 7. Death Pod 8. I'm In Love (With A Dead Dog) 9. Nitro Burnin' Funny Bong 10. Penguin Attack 11. Have You Seen Me? 12. War Toy 13. Jagermonsta 14. Saddam A Go-Go 15. The Private Pain Of Techno Destructo 16. Crush, Kill, Destroy 17. Sick Of You 18. Maggots 19. Slaughterama

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The Ultimate Video Gwarchive (2002)

A collection of all the GWAR videos to date, plus the video made for the DVD Immortal Corruptor. This DVD is currently still in print and available through the band, label, and/or various retail stores.

1. Immortal Corrupter 2. Nitro-Burnin' Funny Bong 3. F***in' An Animal 4. Don't Need A Man 5. Penguin Attack 6. Surf Of Syn 7. Meat Sandwich 8. Saddam A Go-Go 9. Jack The World 10. The Insidious Soliloquy Of Dr. Mr. Mrs. Prof. Skulhedface 11. Have You Seen Me? 12. Crack In The Egg 13. Gor-Gor 14. The Road Behind 15. Sick Of You 16. Cool Place To Park


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Blood Bath and Beyond (2006)

As of yet unreleased but according to the band's website it is expected some time in 2006. It will apparently include brand new videos, rare old stuff, and some live footage. The only specific footage confirmed for the DVD is a pornographic movie featuring Oderus Urungus and Sexecutioner. Also mentioned for inclusion is a video for the song 'Poor Ole Tom' which had only been seen at live shows during the America Must Be Destroyed tour. There will also be some commentary by Oderus and Sleazy P. Martini.

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Appearances

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Jerry Springer Show

GWAR received a large dose of publicity from their appearance on The Jerry Springer Show, exposing the world of shock rock. Early on in the show, Jerry brought out El Duce, lead singer for The Mentors, a rock group known for their extremely vile lyrical and visual themes. El Duce spoke at length about his stage show in which women have claimed to be raped, displaying his mysogynistic personality, and even claiming that he "probably has some bastard kids around the country."

Jerry later brought out GWAR, full costumed and in character, as a ballast to El Duce. GWAR slowly won over the audience (who initially booed them) with their sense of humor, showing that they felt that their goal was giving the audience the same kind of fun they would get from a horror movie or funhouse. Springer was applauded for a clip he showed in which GWAR brought him out on stage, pretending to kick and scream, introduced him to the crowd, and fed him to one of their monster stage props, the World Maggot.

Next, Springer brought out a mother and son to sit with GWAR, the son in disgst stating his favorite band was Slipknot. The mother was angry and accused GWAR of promoting violence as cartoony and inconsequential, and told them that after her son had seen them live he went home and punched his little sister. Though he was not anywhere as offensive or acidic as El Duce, Oderus Urungus stood up to the mother, accusing her of shifting the guilt over having a troublesome child, and pointed out that it would be much better for her son to be at a show full of puppets and fake blood than seeing The Mentors assault women live on stage.

El Duce was struck and killed by a train two weeks after the filming.

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Joan Rivers Show

Oderus Urungus and Beefcake the Mighty were interviewed on The Joan Rivers Show in 1990. Like their Jerry Springer appearance, it was mainly on the topic of shock rock. Oderus and Beefcake were greeted with a warm response but won the audience over quickly with a combination of their costumes, joke, and mannerisms. Oderus and Beefcake also spoke with a foreign accent throughout the interview.

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Kids Next Door

GWAR also did the music for the show Kids Next Door. They played both Gor-Gor and The Private Pain of Techno Destructo. They went under the name of RAWG for this show.

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Viva La Bam

GWAR appeared on an episode of Viva la Bam, where they performed during a dirt bike and monster truck show put together by Bam and his friends. Vito, Bam's uncle, tries to become a member of the Metal Mulisha.

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Richmond Lucha Libre

GWAR made an appearance at the professional wrestling event for the promotion Richmond Lucha Libre. The show entitled "Back at Last to Beat Your Ass" took place on July 24, 2004. GWAR acted as ringside enforcers for a six man Steel Cage Massacre. Their appearance is featured on the Richmond Lucha 2 disc "Greatest Hits" video release.


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Related bands

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External links

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