incoming! extraterrestrial rockers

By Megan Carneal
mcarneal@mscd.edu

Warning! This is not a test. Thrash-metal aliens have come to enslave the planet and ravish our women.

GWAR, an acronym for "God, What an Awful Racket," has been offending people for 20 years. Their perverted hedonistic style of thrash-metal is matched only by the absurdity of their live performances. They are headed out to bring more shock-rock to the masses this year for their 20th anniversary tour

There are two stories on the origin of GWAR. The first story entails a group of interplanetary alien warriors who became stranded in Antarctica after coming to earth with slaughter as their top priority. Oderus Urungus (vocals), Balsac the Jaws of Death (guitar), Flattus Maximus (guitar), Beefcake the Mighty (bass), and Jizmak the Gusher (drums) formed a band and began reeking havoc on the world of metal.

The second story is about a group of art students and musicians experimenting in marketing. Twenty years ago, David Brockie (Oderus Urungus), Steve Douglas (Balsac the Jaws of Death), Peter Lee (Flattus Maximus), Michael Bishop (Beefcake the Mighty), and Brad Roberts (Jizmak the Gusher) schemed an elaborate story. They designed intricate stage costumes and produced what are some of the most gruesome and theatrical live shows to date.

Wherever they came from, they now have nine albums under their belt, from Metal Blade to a new album, their 10th, War Party, from DRT Entertainment.

Live shows can include anything from mock pagan rituals, including human sacrifices, to beheadings, murders, and enough fake blood to drench the entire audience. One particular attraction that has always drawn spectators to GWAR shows is the giant human-eating maggot.