GWAR is a band/artist group that formed in 1982 as Death Piggy and changed the name to Gwar in 1984. The group of art students from Richmond, Virginia has played a variety of musical styles including punk, hard rock, thrash and heavy metal. They also design and create their own elaborate costumes, props, sets and characters to go along with their stage shows and movies.
Current band lineup:
Michael Bishop (2) a.k.a. Blothar The Berserker - Vocals (2014-present) - formerly Beefcake The Mighty (2) bass (1987-1993, 1998–1999)
Michael Derks a.k.a. Balsac The Jaws Of Death - Guitar (1988-present)
Brad Roberts (3) a.k.a. Jizmak Da Gusha - Drums (1989-present)
Brent Purgason a.k.a. Pustulus Maximus - Guitar (2012-present)
Casey Orr a.k.a. Beefcake the Mighty - Bass (1994–1997, 1999–2002, 2008–2011, 2019-present)
Other characters/vocalists
Don Drakulich a.k.a. Sleazy P. Martini, Techno Destructo (only on "Hell-O") - Vocals, manager, sculpting, film making (1985-present)
Bob Gorman a.k.a. Bonesnapper - Vocals (2014-present)
Matt Maguire (2) a.k.a. Sawborg Destructo - vocals (1995-1996, 2009-present)
Rebecca Danyell Stampe a.k.a. Slymenstra Hymen - Vocals, dancer, art (1988-2000)
Chuck Varga a.k.a. Sexecutioner - Vocals, sculpting (1989-1996, 2000, still present behind the scenes)
Anthony Florez a.k.a. Bozo Destructo - vocals
Mike Delaney a.k.a. Sexecutioner - Vocals (pre-1989)
Colette Miller a.k.a. GWAR-woman/Amazina - Vocals, artist (1986-1987)
Lisa Harrelson a.k.a. GWAR-woman - Vocals (1987-1988)
Heather Broome a.k.a. GWAR-woman/The Temptress - Vocals (1985-1986)
Joe Annaruma a.k.a. Joey Slutman - Vocals (1985-1986)
Slaves:
Matt Maguire (2) a.k.a. Mattron/MX2 (1995-1996, 2009-present)
Bob Gorman a.k.a. Muzzle Slave (1995-1996)
Scott Krahl a.k.a. Cock & Balls Slave
Nathan Krishna a.k.a. SlaveDizzle
Joey Douglas a.k.a. Spewie
Slaves play a variety of instruments, write, illustrate fabricate sets and props and have a heavy stage presence.
Former Members:
Jamison Land a.k.a. Beefcake The Mighty (3) - Bass (2011-2019)
Dave Brockie a.k.a. Oderus Urungus - Vocals (1984-2014) RIP 3/24/14
Cory Smoot a.k.a. Flattus Maximus (3) - Guitar (2002-2011) RIP 11/3/11
Kim Dylla a.k.a. Vulvatron - Vocals (2014-2015)
Hunter Jackson a.k.a. Techno Destructo, Scroda Moon, Edna P. Granbo, Corporal Punishment, Cardinal Syn - Vocals (1984-2000)
Ben Eubanks a.k.a. Johnny Slutman - vocals (1984)
Joe Annaruma a.k.a. Joey Slutman - vocals (1985-1986)
Steve Douglas (2) - guitar (1984 as Jaws of Death, 1987-1988 as Balsac Jaws of Death)
Barry Dalive Ward a.k.a. Balsac the Jaws of Death - guitar (1991)
Chris Oranger a.k.a. Stephen Sphincter - guitar (1987)
Zach Blair a.k.a. Flattus Maximus - guitar (1999–2002)
Tim Harris a.k.a. Flattus Maximus (2) - guitar (1986, 1998–1999)
Peter Lee (2) a.k.a. Flattus Maximus - guitar (1991-1997)
Dewey Rowell a.k.a. Flattus Maximus (4) - guitar (1987-1991)
Russ Bahorsky a.k.a. Mr. Magico - guitar (1984)
Greg Ottinger a.k.a. Cornelius Carnage - guitar (1986-1987)
Chris Bopst a.k.a. BalSac - bass (1984-1987)
Ron Curry a.k.a. Stephen Sphincter - bass (1985-1986)
Todd Evans a.k.a. Beefcake the Mighty - bass (2002-2008)
Jim Thomson (2) a.k.a. Hans Sphincter/Hans Orifice - drums (1985-1987)
Rob Mosby a.k.a. Nippleus Erecticus - drums (1987-1988)
Sean Sumner - drums (1984)
Pete Lucchter a.k.a. Lee Baeto - drums (1989)
David Musel a.k.a. Müsel - Keyboards, samples, prop/set manufacturer (1986-1999)
The bands fictional back story is:
For millions of years, the mythical galactic monsters of GWAR lay frozen in an iceberg in Antarctica. But in the 1980, glam rock was at its peak, groups like Poison and Whitesnake were dominating the airwaves. They inspired a whole slew of new "hair spray" bands. But little did they know, all of that hair spray put a hole in the ozone - right above Antarctica! Soon the unfiltered gamma rays melted the iceberg and GWAR was free.
Meanwhile, manager Sleazy P. Martini was fleeing the country on drug charges, flying over the former tomb of GWAR. He picked them up and brought them back to America. He taught them how to use instruments and they learned the language from watching midget wrestling and MTV. Soon GWAR was known as the greatest band in the Universe...