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.
The Salaminizer
GWAR Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never should of been let out the fucking microwave!
We're on this planet and we're running a muck,
I should give a shit but I don't give a fuck!
Ever since I was a scumdog, I blew a cum-wad.
I need a mother-fucking suckadickalickalong!
Burning a mall or two, blowing the load I spew.
You don't want to fucking fuck me? I'll Fuck you!
My man sexy will fuck you up in a minuet.
With an axe, sword, mace, pike your limbless.
Then I'll fuck your ass till its rimless!
[Chorus:]
Oh! You humans always screaming!
Oh! As you suckle on my semen!
Oh! And the shit is always steamin'
A drunk, a pervert, a junkie and a sodimizer.
But you can call me the salaminizer
Give unto give unto give unto give unto
My life is a luxury, so filled with hate.
I got fifty slaves heaping maggots on my plate.
From my fortress in Antarctica I watch the world die
On my Sony Trinitron that's switched to channel 5.
Back on the road, its no lie....
Stupid fucking humans pay money to die!
Crushed in the pit, nailed to the stage
I only suck the souls that are underage.
[Repeat Chorus]
The song "Salaminizer" by GWAR might come across as a random series of vulgar and violent statements at first glance, but it actually carries a deeper meaning of rebellion and anti-establishment sentiment. The lyrics present an outsider (a scumdog, a slave) who has been released from confinement (the microwave), and now roams the earth with a lack of empathy towards the humans. The lyrics suggest that the humans are weak and pitiful creatures, and the singer revels in the fact that he is superior to them. He is a morally corrupt being who enjoys destruction, sex, and violence.
The chorus of the song expresses the singer's disdain for humanity, and how they scream and beg for mercy as he does unspeakable things to them. The line "give unto give unto" might suggest that he takes pleasure in receiving submissions from others, in a sadomasochistic sense. Throughout the song, the singer talks about burning malls, spewing cum, and raping humans, all as an act of rebellion against society's norms and expectations.
Overall, "Salaminizer" can be seen as a satirical critique of the values and norms of society, presented in a crude and violent manner. It challenges the listener to question their own views on morality and what it means to be human.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a little something from a God to a slave,
I, a God, am addressing a slave with this message:
I never should of been let out the fucking microwave!
I should not have been brought to life.
We're on this planet and we're running a muck,
We're causing chaos on this planet.
I should give a shit but I don't give a fuck!
I should care, but I really don't.
Ever since I was a scumdog, I blew a cum-wad.
I have been ejaculating since I was a young alien.
I need a mother-fucking suckadickalickalong!
I desire oral sex from a willing partner.
Burning a mall or two, blowing the load I spew.
I enjoy destruction while also exhibiting my sexual prowess.
You don't want to fucking fuck me? I'll Fuck you!
If you decline my advances, I'll retaliate with violence.
This is your ass, and I'm in it.
I am in control of the situation and you are helpless.
My man sexy will fuck you up in a minuet.
My partner will harm you quickly.
With an axe, sword, mace, pike your limbless.
We will use these weapons to dismember you.
Then I'll fuck your ass till its rimless!
After we have physically harmed you, I will engage in anal sex with you.
[Chorus:] Oh! You humans always screaming! Oh! As you suckle on my semen! Oh! And the shit is always steamin'
Chorus emphasizing the depravity of humanity and their pain and degradation at my hands.
A drunk, a pervert, a junkie and a sodomizer.
These are undesirable traits, but they all describe me accurately.
But you can call me the salaminizer
This is my chosen nickname.
Give unto give unto give unto give unto
A meaningless, repetitive chant.
My life is a luxury, so filled with hate.
Even though I have a luxurious lifestyle, I still feel a lot of anger.
I got fifty slaves heaping maggots on my plate.
I have enslaved fifty individuals and they are responsible for my disgusting meal.
From my fortress in Antarctica I watch the world die
I have a base in Antarctica that I use to observe the world's destruction.
On my Sony Trinitron that's switched to channel 5.
I am watching this destruction on my television set.
Back on the road, its no lie....
I am now back on tour again.
Stupid fucking humans pay money to die!
People are willing to pay to see me perform and potentially be harmed in the process, which is foolish.
Crushed in the pit, nailed to the stage
Describing the violence and harm that happens at my shows.
I only suck the souls that are underage.
Sexual innuendo about my desire to engage with younger partners.
[Repeat Chorus]
Reiteration of the chorus to drive home the depravity of humanity and my brutality.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GWAR GWAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind