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.
U Ain't Shit
GWAR Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need a good kick in the butt!
My mind meets the hand of Doom
Dontcha know, he's in this room!!!
You-ain't-shit-until!!
You learn how to rock!!!
Where's my fuckin' axe?
Don't need no shit playin' sax!
Get the fuck outta my face!
Cause tonight there's meat on the menu!
You ain't shit until you learn how to rock!!!
The song U Ain't Shit by GWAR is a classic rock song that depicts the life of somebody who is stuck in a rut and needs to find a way out. The lyrics suggest that the key to overcoming this sense of stagnation is through learning how to rock. The singer describes their mind as meeting the hand of Doom, which suggests that they are in a dark place and need some sort of release or escape. The phrase "You ain't shit until you learn how to rock" is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of music and self-expression as a means of finding purpose and meaning in life.
The lyrics of U Ain't Shit are powerful in their simplicity, conveying a sense of frustration and desperation that is common to many people who feel trapped in their current circumstances. The use of profanity and aggressive language underscores the intensity of the emotions being expressed. The imagery of "meat on the menu" indicates a desire for something more substantial and satisfying than what the singer currently has in their life. Overall, the song is a testament to the transformative power of music and the importance of finding one's voice and unique expression.
Line by Line Meaning
My life is in a rut,
I am stuck in a stagnant phase of life and need something to change.
I need a good kick in the butt!
I need a motivator or someone to push me to improve my situation.
My mind meets the hand of Doom
I am struggling with inner demons and negative thoughts.
Dontcha know, he's in this room!!!
These negative thoughts are constantly present and affecting me.
You-ain't-shit-until!!
You are insignificant until you prove yourself.
You learn how to rock!!!
You need to find and pursue your passion in order to succeed.
Where's my fuckin' axe?
I need my instrument in order to pursue my passion.
Don't need no shit playin' sax!
I need to focus on my own strengths and not be distracted by what others are doing.
Get the fuck
Leave me alone or get out of my way.
Get the fuck outta my face!
You are annoying me and I need you to leave me alone.
Cause tonight there's meat on the menu!
There is an opportunity for success that I need to pursue.
You ain't shit until you learn how to rock!!!
You are unimportant until you find and pursue your passion.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GWAR GWAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind