Arts coverage sponsored by Nikos Constant.
Fewer bands than GWAR reign supreme in theatrical storytelling. From becoming Beavis & Butthead’s favorite group of musicians to producing a Grammy-nominated film between themselves, this punk-metal collective from Richmond—best known for their provocative live performances roleplaying as intergalactic barbarians—is less frequently credited for their artistic vision and innovation in past decades. Through crafting their own costumes and universe, “Let There Be GWAR” showcases the passion & dedication behind this slice of shock rock history and influence.
I met with Bob Gorman, official archivist and pre-Y2K member of the band, earlier this week as the gallery was wrapping up installation. “Most people, sometimes even fans, have a misrepresentation of what we are,” explained the humble and forward curator, aiming to expand GWAR’s definition. "At our heart, we’re an art collective. This exhibit was curated to showcase the love & effort it took to create this band, in a different way than seeing us play a crazy rock show.”
Walking through the gallery, I’m told the precursor to this show was to reprint the highly sought-after book of the same name, “Let There Be GWAR,” written by Gorman and edited by Beyond the Streets creator/publisher Roger Gastman. A friend connected the two after hearing the band’s vision to showcase their full narrative and its sister collective of costume and stage design, Slave Pit Inc. After a few years of concept planning and running through drafts, the book was officially published in 2015 by Gingko Press.
“I found out about GWAR when I was in sixth grade from MTV,” Roger says. “I was quickly fascinated and got the Hell-O CD at Tower Records, on Rockville Pike in Maryland…I loved every minute of it. Ridiculous punk, the songs were hilarious.