The band was the result of the collaboration between Hunter Jackson and Dave Brockie, then the singer for a punk band called Death Piggy. Jackson was working on a movie at the time the two met. The movie, entitled Scumdogs of the Universe, featured a plot involving terrifying intergalactic barbarians. Jackson and Brockie combined their ideas, re-named the band Gwar, and have been performing as ghoulish intergalactic warriors ever since. Their costumes are generally made of foam latex, styrofoam, and hardened rubber. It should be noted that the costumes they are wearing actually cover very little with the rest of their bodies being accentuated with makeup. They further their production in concert by dousing, spraying, and at times nearly drowning their audiences with imitation blood, semen, gore, and other bodily fluids. All the fluids are made of water and dye that washes out easily. It is rumored that corn syrup or a similar product has been used as a thickener.
Another trademark of GWAR's live show is their mutilations of celebrities and figures in current events. Victims of GWAR's antics have included O.J. Simpson, George W. Bush, Paris Hilton, and many others. The band also makes frequent references to political and historical figures, fantasy literature, and mythology. For instance, the song "Whargoul" makes reference to Minas Morgul, a setting in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books; and the title of their sixth album, Ragnarok, comes from Norse mythology.
GWAR, though by no means a small-time band, have not enjoyed as much mainstream recognition as many other bands. Around the time of their second album (Scumdogs of the Universe), they enjoyed a fair deal of success, due in part to Beavis and Butt-head. After that, however, GWAR's popularity waned and they were even featured on the VH1 program "Where Are They Now." Though not at the peak of their popularity, GWAR was recently invited to play on the Sounds of the Underground tour, which was very well received.
Gwar were, at one time, banned from performing in their home city of Richmond, Virginia due to their raucous stage performances. During that time they would appear in their home town under the pseudonym Rawg and play sans costumes. The ban was later lifted and the band can now play in Richmond again in full gory attire. GWAR was banned earlier in North Carolina for obscenity reasons (Brockie was arrested for wearing his "Cuttlefish of Cthulu" prosthetic penis; this incident was the inspiration for GWAR's America Must Be Destroyed album). Band members and associates often have cookouts at their house, dubbed "Gwar-BQ's." The video for "Saddam a Go-Go" from This Toilet Earth appeared in the hit movie Empire Records. Gwar was/is primarily a band of former art students, and this is reflected in the obscure references made in some of their songs. Gwar fans are known as Bohabs or Scumdogs.
The origin and meaning of the band's name has been left intentionally vague by its members, although the most widely accepted explanation (though false and denied by the band members) is that GWAR is an acronym for "God What an Awful Racket!" One rumor states that the name may have come from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' graphic novel Watchmen, in which a poster reads, "Pink Triangle LIVE at the Gay Women Against Rape Benefit Concert." Other unsubstantiated rumors state that GWAR! is the sound monsters make in old horror movies, or that a fan at a club yelled "You should call your band..." and vomited before he could finish, making a sound close to the word GWAR. A final possibility, and the most viable as of yet, coming from sources close to the band suggests strongly that the name comes from the answer David Brockie gave to Hunter Jackson when asked what the band should be called. David Brockie simply responded with a mostly unintelligble word and isolated a single sound out of the rubble therefore creating GWAR.
On Sunday March 23, 2014, Brockie was found dead in his apartment by a band member. According to police, Brockie was found deceased and sitting upright in a chair.
Gwar's management confirmed the reports of Brockie's death on the official Gwar website at 4am on March 24, 2014. In an official statement released later that day, Gwar's manager Jack Flanagan said "It is with a saddened heart, that I confirm my dear friend Dave Brockie, artist, musician, and lead singer of GWAR passed away at approximately 6:50 PM EST Sunday March 23, 2014. His body was found Sunday by his band mate at his home in Richmond, VA. Richmond authorities have confirmed his death and next of kin has been notified. A full autopsy will be performed. He was 50 years old, born August 30, 1963. My main focus right now is to look after my band mates and his family. More information regarding his death shall be released as the details are confirmed." News of Brockie's death spread quickly with many of his fellow musical peers and bandmates responding through social media.
Mike Bishop, former member of Gwar, was one of the first to confirm Brockie's death. Bishop said "Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I've known. He was brash sometimes, always crass, irreverent, he was hilarious in every way. But he was also deeply intelligent and interested in life, history, politics and art. His penchant for scatological humors belied a lucid wit. He was a criminally underrated lyricist and hard rock vocalist, one of the best, ever! A great front man, a great painter, writer, he was also a hell of a bass guitarist. I loved him. He was capable of great empathy and had a real sense of justice.”
The Virginia State Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Dave Brockie's death was caused by an accidental heroin overdose on Tuesday, June 3 2014.
After the death of Dave Brockie, the character of Oderus Urungus was given a Viking funeral at the 2014 Gwar-B-Q, held at Hadad's Lake park. Concurrently, Michael Bishop formally rejoined Gwar and assumed lead vocal duties in the persona of Blöthar the Berserker. The band resumed touring, and on October 20, 2017 released the first album
sans founding members, The Blood Of Gods.
Bring Back the Bomb
GWAR Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nagasaki, naked baby melts alive
Burnt flesh and rubble from sea to dead shore
Such a hideous theater of war
But that was the end, why?
There are so many more that must die
Is that not part of the plan?
I must use the nukes
Hydrogen bomb, new signs of doom
Thermo-nuclear, neutron bomb too
You say these devices must never be used
I say you're mistaken, let's get to the fuse
Bring!
Bring back the bomb
This is state policy, by other means
Your life ends in terror, this is now decreed
This is the blasting of bloody steel beams
The bomb blows air backwards, there's no time to scream
When they tested the A-bomb, they had a real fear
The blast will destroy your sweet atmosphere
But far more important as power increases
Was wasting the planet in well-ordered pieces
Bring!
Bring back the bomb
Bring! Bring! Bring!
Bring back the bomb
Bring back the bomb, it's been far too long
Summon the brazen war chariot
Bring back the bomb, what makes it so wrong?
Release the beast, you can't bury it
Ha!
Ha!
Ha!
Ha!
Ha!
Ha!
Hrah!
Haaa
Why should the fire be shared with so few?
Let bombs explode, 'cause that's what they do
Nuke Mecca, New York, the Vatican too
Give me a bomb, I'll drop it on you
Why stop at only two?
You showed the world just what they can do
What a waste not to destroy
Come play at war, man, and bring your best toy
Who gives a fuck about a nuclear war?
Let bombs explode, 'cause that's what they're for
Last minute warning, the sirens they sing
Chaos, the reason, death, what we bring
Humans now look to the sky
You worship missiles, yet they know no side
I guess it was all a lie
So grab ass with both hands, it's your turn to die
Die! It's your turn to die
Die! It's your turn to die
Lies! They killed you with lies
Die, human, die!
And while we're at it, let's go nuke Tibet
Let's vaporize the oceans with glee
Saving the whales, an agenda for some
Nuking them sits well with me
Bring!
Bring back the bomb
They know not what they do!
Bring!
Bring back the bomb
Bring back the bomb, it's been far too long
Summon the brazen war chariot
Bring back the bomb, what makes it so wrong?
Crucify Judas Iscariot
Bring!
Bring back the bomb
They know not what they do
Bring!
Bring back the bomb
What makes it so wrong?
Gwar's song "Bring Back the Bomb" is a controversial piece that describes the horrors of nuclear warfare while also advocating for its use. The song's lyrics reference the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and describe the devastation and loss of life caused by these events. The lyrics also criticize the idea that nuclear weapons should never be used, arguing that they are necessary for the preservation of state policy and as a means to win wars.
The song's chorus, "Bring back the bomb," is a haunting and eerie call to arms. It asks listeners to consider the use of nuclear weapons as a means of achieving power and control. The song's final verse takes this message to its most extreme point, suggesting that even sacred sites like Mecca and the Vatican should not be spared from a nuclear attack.
Overall, "Bring Back the Bomb" is a powerful critique of the logic of nuclear deterrence, arguing that the "rationality" of mutual assured destruction is nothing more than blind faith in the possibility of total annihilation. Through its depictions of the horrors of nuclear war and its unflinching advocacy for its use, the song exposes the true costs of the nuclear arms race.
Line by Line Meaning
Hiroshima, a shadow burned in time
The after-effect of the bomb left a permanent shadow upon the city, leaving it as a reminder for years to come.
Nagasaki, naked baby melts alive
The impact of the bomb was such that it destroyed everything in its path, including innocent lives, melting them alive.
Burnt flesh and rubble from sea to dead shore
The aftermath of the nuclear weapon left the city in ruins with scorched land and burnt human remains, from the shoreline to the city center.
Such a hideous theater of war
The devastation caused by the bomb was nothing short of disturbing and barbaric.
But that was the end, why?
The war was declared over, so why wouldn't they use more nuclear bombs?
There are so many more that must die
There are still many more people who need to die for their twisted agendas to be fulfilled.
Is that not part of the plan?
The use of nuclear weapons is part of their larger plan to put an end to what they see as a problem for their society.
I must use the nukes
Using nuclear weapons is the only way to achieve their destructive goals.
I can't kill you all with my hands
Killing people in large numbers is not possible with their bare hands, hence the need for weapons of mass destruction.
Hydrogen bomb, new signs of doom
The hydrogen bomb is capable of even more destruction, leading to more catastrophic events.
Thermo-nuclear, neutron bomb too
Other types of bombs, such as the neutron bomb, can cause even more devastation than the previous ones.
You say these devices must never be used
Some people believe that these weapons should never be used under any circumstances.
I say you're mistaken, let's get to the fuse
The singer disagrees with such people, believing the bombs should be used and is eager to detonate them.
Bring! Bring back the bomb
The singer is calling for the return of the bomb, suggesting that it's an urgent and necessary course of action.
This is state policy, by other means
Using nuclear weapons is part of their state policy, even if it means causing destruction and death.
Your life ends in terror, this is now decreed
Their agenda and the use of nuclear weapons will bring terror and destruction, and such a decree has already been made.
This is the blasting of bloody steel beams
The impact of nuclear weapons on buildings and infrastructure is equivalent to, or greater than, blasting steel beams.
The bomb blows air backwards, there's no time to scream
The force of the bomb is so intense that it blows air in the opposite direction without allowing any time for screaming or reaction.
When they tested the A-bomb, they had a real fear
When atomic bombs were first tested, there was a real threat of it causing irreparable damage to the environment, but such concerns were ignored in favor of more destructive weapons.
The blast will destroy your sweet atmosphere
The force of the explosion has the potential to affect and even destroy the surrounding atmosphere of the explosion.
But far more important as power increases
As the destructive power of weapons increases, the more important it becomes to flaunt it and use it without any regard for the consequences.
Was wasting the planet in well-ordered pieces
The destruction of the world, in effect, is the primary objective even if it's done systematically through the use of nuclear weapons.
Humans now look to the sky
People now live in constant fear of nuclear war or attack, always looking to the sky to see if anything is approaching.
You worship missiles, yet they know no side
People seem to be in awe of these missiles and nuclear weapons without realizing the indiscriminate and destructive nature of such weapons.
I guess it was all a lie
All the propaganda and promise of a war-free world was nothing but a lie as nations continue to stockpile and use nuclear weapons.
So grab ass with both hands, it's your turn to die
People should hold onto their dear lives as anyone could be the next victim to fall prey to the destructive force of nuclear bombs.
They know not what they do!
People have no idea what they're getting into by supporting the use of these weapons.
Crucify Judas Iscariot
Judas, who betrayed Jesus, is used as a reference to someone who has gone against humanity and should be punished.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gwar Gwar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brandenfreddy2559
It kills me when people think they are just a joke band they are GREAT musicians
@iraplikeyoubreathe
Your so right dude.
@seanb447
Probably the most underrated band ever. And they kind of did it on purpose. Nice to see someone who appreciates them for the musicians they are.
@microfighterz
Solid music and a spoonful of political/social commentary. How can you not love them?
@NutritiousDeath
But they are funny too best shows I've been too. Still not sure about the new singer though. It's real hard to fill the shoes if the late great Dave Brockie
@GrandpaRust
And make political statements.
@lymb3914
I know Gwar is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but there are some standouts lyrically, and musically they've always rocked!
RIP Oderus Urungus, you were too evil for this not-cruel-enough world!
@1isaacmusic
Saw these guys play in their underwear on the back of a flatbed truck once
RIP , Sir Dave
@shreddykrueger7641
Definitely sounds like something they would do lmao. RIP. So mad I didnt see him live
@donnamoncrief9563
Thats fuckin awesome