GWAR Plotting Tour, New Music
We already knew that GWAR would be playing their first Oderus-less show at GWAR-B-Q later this month (with the original Beefacke the Mighty, Mike Bishop, handling vocal duties), but it now appears that the surviving members of the band are planning to do a full tour, too. Reveals drummer Jizmak Da Gusha (né Brad Roberts) in a new interview with Metal Insider…
“Yeah, there will be a fall US/Canadian tour from GWAR this year, and it will address the mythos of what happened to Oderus Urungus and give the fans, the GWAR fans that we love so much, a way to come pay their last respects and see the band that they love. It’s an exciting time, and it’s also scary because it’s a daunting task, but GWAR is always up to the challenge. We gotta saw off a couple heads to get there, no problem.”
And it doesn’t sound like this gonna be a one-off tribute to the late Dave Brockie, either. When asked if the band had any new material in the world, Mr. Da Gusha replied:
“Well actually there is. We’re approaching 30 year anniversary, there’s talk of boxed products that will come from GWAR, and with Mike Bishop coming back in, we’re definitely writing some new songs and we’ll have something to show that GWAR is moving forward, and it’s not stopping. Of course we’re in very much support of Battle Maximus record, which we’re all proud of and still need to bring that show to a lot of towns in the country, but I would say you will see some new stuff from GWAR coming up. Absolutely, especially because it’s the 30 year anniversary, we’re gonna blow that thing out. What other bands are out there and not old men drooling and pooping in their pants that can say they have been around for 30 years.”
So it sounds like the band plans to keep to going full-tilt, with Bishop serving as the new vocalist. Which — not gonna lie! — feels a little weird! Dave Brockie was very much the lifesblood of GWAR, and as many musicians have come and gone from the band’s line-up over the years, continuing without him sounds like an iffy proposition, especially without some kind of re-branding (that is, not calling the band “GWAR” anymore).
But it could totally work! Once upon a time I couldn’t have imagined Alice in Chains with Layne Staley, and they made that work. I would be delighted to eat crow on this one.
What do you think? Can GWAR soldier on without their beloved leader? Or should they just move on? Discuss in the comments section below.
