I never imagined I would feel sentimental towards a gorey shock-rocker band, but after living with two metal kids who busted their bodies moshing every weekend, I developed a fondness for GWAR. Founded in my home state's capital of Richmond, Virginia, I always loved hearing about the GWAR houses deemed "slave pits" just blocks away from friends' houses. I never had the metaphorical balls to ever visit one though: having my roommate's blood-splattered shirt hanging on the wall was close enough to the theatricality of being completely drenched in fake blood and guts at their live shows or raging parties.
Either way, I can't help but smile as GWAR reveals that they will be releasing their twelfth LP, Bloody Pit of Horror, on November 9 halfway through their 25th Anniversary "Slay-A-Bration" Tour. Look forward to a whole new slew of blood, guts and whores as they also prepare for the "Bloody Tour of Horror" to follow this year's debauchery. Apparently, Sarah Palin's nipples will be ripped off on stage.
Now, their music may not be your usual cup of tea - their music hasn't progressed drastically in 25 years - but they're worth checking out for the political and macabre hilarity. Check out "Metal Metal Land" above from Lust in Space and a live snippet at SXSW 2010 below:
Play videoGWAR 2010 Tour Dates:
10/02 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
10/04 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
10/05 – Knoxville, TN @ Valarium
10/07 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
10/08 - Ybor City, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
10/09 - Orlando, FL @ Firestone Live
10/10 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
10/11 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend
10/12 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
10/13 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
10/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
10/15 - Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
10/16 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium – Rock N Shock Festival
10/17 - Montreal, QC @ Theatre Telus
10/19 - Moncton, NB @ Club Oxygen
10/20 - Halifax, NS @ The New Palace
10/22 - Quebec City, QC @ Theatre Imperial
10/23 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House
10/24 - Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
10/26 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
10/27 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
10/28 – Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
10/29 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
10/30 – Detroit, MI @ Harpo’s
10/31 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
11/02 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
11/03 – Little Rock, AR @ The Village
11/04 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
11/05 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
11/06 – Austin, TX @ Waterloo Park
11/08 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada
11/09 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
11/10 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater
11/11 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theater
11/12 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
11/13 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater
11/14 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
11/15 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
11/16 – West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
11/17 – Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theater
11/18 – Chico, CA @ Senator Theater
11/19 – Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
11/20 – Bend, OR @ Midtown Music Hall
11/21 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
11/22 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House Concert Hall
11/24 – Magna, UT @ The Great Salt Air
11/26 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
11/27 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House
11/28 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
11/29 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
12/01 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Events Centre
12/02 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall Ballroom
12/03 – Regina, SK @ Riddell Centre
12/04 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick Centre
12/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze
Why is there no Virginia show? Did GWAR get banned from their own hometown?