I've been going through the "You Don't Know Mojack" podcast and listening to every episode. Yesterday I listened to the episode about the first Alter Natives album on SST. I had no idea that GWAR was so connected to other underground bands in the 80s. They've always seemed so singular to me and I guess I assumed that the members dedicated their entire lives to gonzo outer-space metal and had no other interests.
GWAR started as an art project by some art students at the University of Richmond. Virginia is a super conservative state and Richmond was an outlier and drew lots of creative people. GWAR was a collective with tons of people behind the scenes creating costumes and gear for the shows. If you watch those early GWAR videos and there are tons of people on the stage, dancing, deploying props, etc.
You’re metal experiences were very similar to mine, and like you, I remember going over a friends house and him showing me his KISS Alive! record and being terrified of it. And my first concert was Rush, but it was the Power Windows tour I think in 1985.
Well into “Make it Stop.” Rather enjoying it. To the point that the reading flyer that includes a Melanie action figure really caught my attention. Genius.
Ha that's hilarious! At least we got to see the Tom Sawyer drum solo!
I've been going through the "You Don't Know Mojack" podcast and listening to every episode. Yesterday I listened to the episode about the first Alter Natives album on SST. I had no idea that GWAR was so connected to other underground bands in the 80s. They've always seemed so singular to me and I guess I assumed that the members dedicated their entire lives to gonzo outer-space metal and had no other interests.
GWAR started as an art project by some art students at the University of Richmond. Virginia is a super conservative state and Richmond was an outlier and drew lots of creative people. GWAR was a collective with tons of people behind the scenes creating costumes and gear for the shows. If you watch those early GWAR videos and there are tons of people on the stage, dancing, deploying props, etc.
You’re metal experiences were very similar to mine, and like you, I remember going over a friends house and him showing me his KISS Alive! record and being terrified of it. And my first concert was Rush, but it was the Power Windows tour I think in 1985.
Well into “Make it Stop.” Rather enjoying it. To the point that the reading flyer that includes a Melanie action figure really caught my attention. Genius.