 |
Darkseid has declared that this article requires immediate Cleanup in order to meet a higher standard. Help improve this article by improving formatting, spelling and general layout - lest it fall victim to an Omega Effect |
  |
This article's content is marked as Mature The page contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, strong drug use, extremely traumatic themes, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature pages are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | Cuz we are GWAR! And we'll go far! |
„ |
| ~ "Gwar Theme Song" |
Gwar, often stylized as GWAR, is a heavy metal/shock rock band from outer space, with human elements from Richmond, Virginia, formed in 1984, composed of and operated by a frequently rotating line-up of musicians, artists and filmmakers collectively known as "Slave Pit Inc".
Behind the Scenes
The band's thematic and visual concept revolves around an elaborate sci-fi mythology which portrays the band members as a gang of barbaric alien warriors with a hedonistic lust for sex, drugs, violence, and heavy metal. Members of GWAR dress in elaborate and grotesque costumes on stage, and bring out other costumed characters (usually famous celebrities and political figures) whom they fight and murder during each song, usually resulting in the audience getting sprayed with copious amounts of fake blood, urine, semen, and other bodily fluids.
The band's origins were originally two projects merged into one- the founder and former lead singer, David Brockie, was originally the vocalist and bassist for a punk rock band named "Death Piggy", and would put on mini-plays with cardboard props to go along with the music. During one of their earlier performances, Brockie got the idea to open up Death Piggy's performance with a fake band named "Gwaaarrrgghhlllgh", depicted as a gang of barbarians from Antarctica who would play nonsense songs, beat each other up, and sacrifice rubber chickens to dark gods. After a while, the band began to notice more people in the audience came for Gwaaarrrgghhlllgh but left immediately afterwards. Thus, Death Piggy was phased out and "Gwaaarrrgghhlllgh" was refined and re-tooled into GWAR, which continues to evolve to this day.
Mythos
GWAR's story begins at the beginning of time when the Master, a giant planet-sized mass of flesh and cybernetics, shat out the entire universe. After viewing his creation, he decided it needed wiping. Thus, the Master created the Scumdogs of the Universe, an army of intergalactic pirates, warriors, and psychos who did his evil bidding, the most loyal of them being known as "The Scumdogs of the Universe". Members of the Scumdogs included Techno Destructo, Oderus Urungus, Beefcake the Mighty, Balsac the Jaws of Death, Jizmak Da Gusha, and Flattus Maximus. At the behest of The Master, the Scumdogs of the Universe delivered chaos and bloodshed across the universe, but then Oderus and his team invoked the Master's ire by blowing up the wrong planet (Flarv Quarv 7, rather than Flarv Quarv 6 as they were instructed).
Oderus and his gang attempted to overthrow the Master, but were immediately defeated in combat, and the Scumdogs (save for Techno Destructo, who was still loyal to The Master) were exiled to the backwards mud-ball planet Earth for eternity. But even in exile, they still managed to enjoy themselves- invented rock music by stretching dinosaur guts across the grand canyon, killed the dinosaurs, and accidentally created humanity after raping a bunch of gorillas and various other animals. From there, they would go about wrecking human civilizations, destroying cities and eating babies until the Master found out about their activities on Earth, and thus he froze them in ice and locked them away in a temple in Antarctica.
Thousands of years later in 1984, music mogul Sleazy P. Martini stumbled upon their hidden temple after fleeing from the U.S. for drug trafficking and crashing his helicopter in the Antarctic. A combination of global warming and sunlight reflecting off his gold chains melted their icy prison. They attempt to kill Sleazy, but he quickly wins their favor by hooking them on crack and convincing them to form a band, with Sleazy as their manager. Thus, GWAR was born. Shortly afterwards, they discovered the band Death Piggy and convinced the band members to join them as their personal slaves and/or butt-boys, and decided to continue this tradition, while at the same time kidnapping and mutating other humans to become their slaves and minions.
They would then go on to become one of the most renowned rock bands ever, and would attempt to either escape, conquer, or destroy the earth multiple times, facing deadly enemies such as Techno Destructo, Jewcifer, Dr. Skulhedface, Cardinal Syn, and many others.
Members
Leaders
- Michael Bishop (Blothar) – vocals (2014–present), (previously Beefcake the Mighty) - bass (1987–1993, 1998–1999)
- Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus) (died 2014) - guitars (1984-1986), vocals (1986-2014)
- Joe Annaruma (Joey Slutman) - vocals (1985-1986)
- Ben Eubanks (Johnny Slutman) - vocals (1984)
- Danielle Stampe (Slymenstra Hymen) vocals, fire breathing, fire dancer (1988 - 2000)
Current
- Balsac the Jaws of Death – rhythm guitar, background vocals (1988–present)
- Jizmak Da Gusha – drums, percussion (1989–present)
- Bonesnapper the Cave Troll - backing vocals (1995-1996, 2014–present)
- Beefcake the Mighty – bass, background vocals (2011–present)
- Pustulus Maximus – lead guitar, background vocals (2012–present)
- Sawborg Destructo - Backing vocals (1995-1996,2007–present)
- Sleazy P. Martini (1985–present)
Past/Former
- Steve Douglas (Balsac the Jaws of Death) - guitars (1987-1988)
- Dewey Rowell (Flattus Maximus - guitars (1987–1991)
- Pete Lee (Flattus Maximus) - guitars (1992–1998)
- Tim Harriss (Flattus Maximus) - guitars (1998–1999)
- Zach Blair (Flattus Maximus) - guitars (1999–2002)
- Cory Smoot (Flattus Maximus) (died 2011) - guitars (2002–2011)
- Russ Bahorsky (Mr. Magico) - guitars (1984)
- Ron Curry (Stephen Sphincter) - guitars (1985-1986)
- Greg Ottinger (Cornelius Carnage) - guitars (1986-1987)
- Todd Evans (Beefcake the Mighty) - bass (2002-2008)
- Casey Orr (Beefcake the Mighty) - bass (1994-1997, 1999-2002, 2008–2011)
- Chris Bopst (Balsac) - bass (1984-1987)
- Steve Hainesworth (Smegstak) - bass (1987)
- Sean Sumner (died 1996) - drums (1984)
- Jim Thomson (Hans Sphincter / Hans Orifice) - drums (1985-1987, 1989)
- Rob Mosby (Nippleus Erectus) - drums (1987-1988)
- Pete Luchter (Lee Beato) - drums (1989)
- Kim Dylla (Vulvatron) vocals (Fall Tour 2014)
Live and Session Members
- Barry Ward (Balsac the Jaws of Death) - guitars (1991)
- Brian Fechino (Flattus Maximus) - guitars (1992)
- John Cobbett (Testa Sickles) - guitars
- Nick Hawkins (Shredda "Ball" Cheeze) (died 2005) - guitars, keyboards
- Dave Musel (Müsel) - keyboards (1986-1999)
- Mike Delaney (Sexecutioner) - backing vocals (1985-1986)
- Chuck Varga (Sexecutioner) - backing vocals (1989-1995, 2001)
- Michael D. Moore (Sluggo P. Martini) - backing vocals
- Michael D. Moore (Sluggo P. Martini) - backing vocals
- Hunter Jackson (Techno Destructo / Scroda Moon) - backing vocals (1984-2000)
- Don Drakulich (Sleazy P. Martini) - backing vocals (1987-1995, 2007-2009)
- Heather Broom (The Temptress) - dancer (1986)
- Lisa Harrelson (Gwar Woman) - dancer (1987-1988)
- Colette Miller (Amazina) - dancer (1986 - '87)
GWAR Slaves
GWAR Slaves are members of the group that are involved in various non-musical aspects (though at least four of the slaves have sung in GWAR or GWAR-related projects) of the group such as prop/costume fabrication, writing, illustrating, and more. The slaves are the ones that play GWAR's enemies such as Gor-Gor and Cardinal Syn on stage. They also perform various prop work in the background during performances, ushering victims on and off stage and managing the hoses through which they fire fake blood into the audience. Aside from named enemy characters, they also wear their own costumes, though not nearly as elaborate as the musicians in the band, often little more than a mask, gloves, boots, and briefs. The longest serving slaves in GWAR are Scott Krahl, Bob Gorman, and Matt Maguire. Mike Bonner and Hunter Jackson were also long-term members but have since left the group.
Current
- Matt Maguire
- Bob Gorman
- Scott Krahl
Line-Ups
| 1984 | 1985-1986 | 1986 |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Slutman (Ben Eubanks) – vocals Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – guitar Mr. Magico (Russ Bahorsky) – guitar Jaws of Death (Steve Douglas) – guitar Balsac (Chris Bopst) – bass Sean Sumner – drums |
Joey Slutman (Joe Annaruma) – vocals Stephen Sphincter (Ron Curry) – guitar Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – guitar Balsac (Chris Bopst) – bass Hans Sphincter (Jim Thomson) – drums |
Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – vocals Tim Harriss – guitar Balsac (Chris Bopst) – bass Hans Sphincter (Jim Thomson) – drums |
| 1986-1987 | 1987–1988 | 1989 |
| Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – vocals Cornelius Carnage (Greg Ottinger) – guitar Balsac (Chris Bopst) – bass Hans Orifice (Jim Thomson) – drums |
Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – vocals Flattus Maximus (Dewey Rowell) – guitar Balsac the Jaws of Death (Steve Douglas) – guitar Beefcake the Mighty (Michael Bishop) – bass Nippleus Erectus (Rob Mosby) – drums |
Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – vocals Flattus Maximus (Dewey Rowell) – guitar Balsac the Jaws of Death (Mike Derks) – guitar Beefcake the Mighty (Michael Bishop) – bass Lee Beato (Pete Luchter) – drums Hans Orifice (Jim Thomson) – drums |
| 1990-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012–2014 |
| Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – vocals Flattus Maximus (Dewey Rowell) – guitar Balsac the Jaws of Death (Mike Derks) – guitar Beefcake the Mighty (Michael Bishop) – bass Jizmak Da Gusha (Brad Roberts) – drums |
Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – vocals Balsac the Jaws of Death (Mike Derks) – guitar Beefcake the Mighty (Jamison Land) – bass Jizmak Da Gusha (Brad Roberts) – drums |
Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) – vocals Balsac the Jaws of Death (Mike Derks) – guitar Beefcake the Mighty (Jamison Land) – bass Jizmak Da Gusha (Brad Roberts) – drums Pustulus Maximus (Brent Purgason) - guitar |
| 2014 | 2015–2019 | 2019 - Present |
| Blöthar (Michael Bishop) – vocals Vulvatron (Kim Dylla) – vocals Balsac the Jaws of Death (Mike Derks) – guitar Beefcake the Mighty (Jamison Land) – bass Jizmak Da Gusha (Brad Roberts) – drums Pustulus Maximus (Brent Purgason) - guitar |
Blöthar (Michael Bishop) – vocals Balsac the Jaws of Death (Mike Derks) – guitar Beefcake the Mighty (Jamison Land) – bass Jizmak Da Gusha (Brad Roberts) – drums Pustulus Maximus (Brent Purgason) - guitar |
Blöthar (Michael Bishop) – vocals Balsac the Jaws of Death (Mike Derks) – guitar Beefcake the Mighty (Casey Orr) – bass Jizmak Da Gusha (Brad Roberts) – drums Pustulus Maximus (Brent Purgason) - guitar |
Trivia
- Due to the band name being written in all caps, some have speculated that "GWAR" was an acronym for "God What an Awful Racket". This is, of course, untrue.
- Victims of GWAR have included Elon Musk, Justin Bieber, Adolf Hitler, the Pope, Jesus, Marilyn Manson, Queen Elizabeth, Lady Gaga, Tony Abbott, Kanye West, Elvis Presley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and every U.S. President since Ronald Reagan.
Gallery
