With time, and plenty of DIY touring, GWAR became a word-of-mouth phenomenon. Their costumes and special effects grew more elaborate. They garnered famous fans, like Alex Winter and “Weird Al” Yankovic, both of whom were interviewed in the documentary.
In the 1990s, GWAR flirted with mainstream stardom. Their film Phallus in Wonderland was nominated for a Grammy. They appeared on a number of daytime talk shows, capturing the attention of teens watching after school or during vacations, and were included in movies like Mystery Date and Empire Records. And while the band didn’t much love in MTV’s regular rotation, they were the favorite of Beavis and Butt-Head. (“It’s… like… there’s too much cool stuff to keep track of.”—Butt-Head)
This Is GWAR is a revealing look into the life of a DIY art collective. Personalities clashed. Members came in and out of the fold. And when Brockie—GWAR’s most recognizable member—died, the future of the band was uncertain.
In the film, past and present members are remarkably frank about GWAR’s struggles. “I was really surprised by how open they were,” says Barber. “That’s really what makes the doc—is those men and women opening up the way that they did. If they hadn’t done that, it would have been a very different documentary.”
Because the documentary’s subjects are so refreshingly honest, This Is GWAR is also a story about persistence and making art for the pure love of it. “I don’t think that GWAR could have emerged from another place other than where it emerged, when it emerged, partly because the people that started it were very invested in punk and DIY,” says Bishop. He adds that the “don’t talk about it, do it” attitude of the group’s founders “really created this sense of commitment to the project and to each other.”
GWAR’s hard work was something that Barber wanted to highlight in the documentary. And he does so. Whether it’s painstaking effort that goes into building costumes that spurt bodily fluids, or the relentless drive to continue creating even when corporate America rejects, mocks, and doesn’t understand you. “They do whatever it takes,” says Barber. “They’re the most blue-collar, DIY band I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”*
BELOW, CLOCKISE FROM TOP LEFT: Margaret Rolicki working in the Slave Pit shop, 2019, photo by Matt Maguire Matt Maguire trying on Mr. Perfect costume in progress, 2013, photo by Meg Herbert Bob Gorman working on Flesh Column hands 1994, photo by Bob Gorman Polaroid of Cardinal Syn costume in progress, 1995, photo by Matt Maguire GWAR business card, illustration by Dave Brockie, circa 1987
See the trailer for the documentary on GWAR here.
This article first appeared in Hi-Fructose Issue 66, which is sold out. Get our latest issue with a new Hi-Fructose subscription here.
