She Bop / Blitzkrieg Bop (Live)GWAR

GWAR

Formed in 1985, GWAR is a thrash metal/shock rock group known for their elaborate costumes and theatrical concerts, which feature mock slaughters of monsters and celebrities as the crowd is sprayed with fake blood, semen, and urine. GWAR’s brand also includes films, comic books, a restaurant, and numerous other tie-in products.

For the majority of their run, GWAR consisted of lead singer Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie), lead guitarist Flattus Maximus (Dewey Rowell, Pete Lee, Zach Blair, Cory Smoot), rhythm guitarist Balsac The Jaws Of Death (Steve Douglas, Mike Derks), bassist Beefcake The Mighty (Mike Bishop, Casey Orr, Todd Evans, Jamison Land), and drummer Jizmak Da Gusha (Brad Roberts). Alongside the main band members were manager Sleazy P. Martini (Don Drakulich), backing vocalist and fire dancer Slymenstra Hymen (Danielle Stampe), onstage member Sexecutioner (Chuck Varga), and nemesis Techno Destructo (Hunter Jackson).

The original concept of GWAR came from artist Hunter Jackson, who was working on a sci-fi movie called Scumdogs of the Universe about a group of alien invaders crashing on Earth and indulging in sex, drugs, and rock and roll. While working on this film, Jackson lived at The Richmond Dairy, which was a squatter commune for artists at the time. Coincidentally, the members of Death Piggy were also living at the Dairy. Singer/bassist Dave Brockie asked Jackson if he could borrow his costumes for a few concerts, to which Jackson agreed. At these concerts, Death Piggy performed as the alien band from Jackson’s film, screaming madly and acting like lunatics. When asked the name of this new band, Brockie bellowed “GWAARGGGH!!!” Intended as a parody of the rise of “serious” heavy metal bands at the time, GWAARGGGH!!! (later shortened to just GWAR) recruited several new members and used blood-spraying props made by artist Don Drakulich to accentuate their larger-than-life personas. After a few shows opening for Death Piggy, the band noticed that the audience would come to see GWAR and leave before Death Piggy took the stage. Taking this as a sign of success, GWAR moved forward. Death Piggy would play their last show in December 1993.