As a writer, I have an affinity for words- adjectives specifically. So it is a pure delight for me to have the opportunity to describe GWAR here for you, in all of their obscene and chaotic glory. Taboo, obnoxious, and satirical- GWAR is (was?) a crude and utterly ridiculous thrash-metal band who toured for about three decades. They started off as “Death Piggy” in 1984, but GWAR simply caught on.
Incase you live under a rock, the reason for this post stems from the fact that Dave Brockie, aka Oderus Urungus, the lead singer and mastermind of GWAR, was found dead in his Virginia home this week at the age of 50.
No matter what they decided to call themselves, GWAR was never really going to be remembered for their lyrical genius or their melodic tunes. Their rambunctious and gruesome live performances were an intergalactic force to be reckoned with, however. GWAR’s monstrous and complex latex costumes and gory theatricals captivated crowds (and showered them in fake blood).
With names like Balsac the Jaws of Death, Pustulus Maximus, Beefcake the Mighty, Jizmak da Gusha, and Oderus Urungus, and costumes that depicted mythical, demonic sci-fi villains, GWAR’s over-the-top cartoonish smut will forever go down in musical history as one of the greatest three ring metal freak shows to ever exist.
And for that we thank them.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbnm-0r3suM#t=10]Even Beavis and Butthead love GWAR, especially when they “spray blood and urine into the audience“:
Remember when Marc (with a “C”) ate that pot brownie in Empire Records and got to join the band and then they sacrificed him?
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLHoq0hXxn8]Or how about that time when Jerry Springer highlighted “Shock Rock” bands and featured GWAR:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzuRYOgLts4]