Now there's a non-existent comment worthy of respect. Kinda like, I disagree with your beliefs but will defend to the death your right to those beliefs. This HAS to be a world where GWAR can exist, otherwise, what are we even doing?
I totally can relate, it's sad that there's not a lot of people who think this way. Being able to remove your personal opinions about a style of art and view it objectively for what it is, is a sign of emotional intelligence that many lack nowadays.
@@jonathandufern7421 I discovered Meshugga by typing "heaviest song ever" into Google, laughing and scoffing at Catch 33, then years later remembering it and giving it another go. Now I love the band and saw them live.
I was a 14 year old kid watching a store bought VHS of Live from Antarctica when I saw a guy in some crazy Spartan armor completely shredding the bass in a way I had never seen before. It was at that moment, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I'm now closer to 40 and have been a bass player ever since. Here's to you, Mike Bishop... Thank You.
Michael Bishop Hi Mr. Bishop, My name is Phoenixx, & I am your biggest fan of GWAR. Dude, I played your music in the hood, pissing off the Bloods & the Crips. Sir, I'm glad that your band, is still expressing yourselves, explaining the definition of the GWAR Slave Pit. And I'm terribly, truly sorry about the passing of your singer Dave Brockie/ Ungerus . TH-cam, is keeping up the GWAR tradition, hell, I consider your music, as well as bands like Pantera, Suicidal, Exodus,Testament, Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, Sacred Reich, & I can go on. But that kind of music,is my way of saying that you have street creds, in a music culture, that has left an endenture in the youth of today. I hope to get to see your band again(caught you guys, over at the COUNTRY CLUB, in Reseda, CA, back into the late 80's, early 90's. Peace & Aloha, from the 808 side of Maui,HI.
The level on intellect these guys all portray is always staggering. They always act like dummies on stage but off stage are some of the most intelligent people around. Love it. Long Live Gwar.
@uni blab should he have used a teleprompter like many other people use instead? You really think a lack of intelligence has anything to do with not memorizing something? For being a band that started out as somewhat of a joke band. Their music is well written, intelligent, and clever.
Even in the beginning they were truly not just teen goofballs. Sat and had many deep conversations over the years. Then followed it up with a rowdy release of mayhem. Brilliant then & brilliant now. They continued their education and put a lot of undeniable thought into the project that became an amazing cult following. I am proud to have known them then & that others will continue to know them...
@UnholyUndies I agree. I always seem to un-gravitate from bands that lose their original frontman. But..Gwar was such a unique endeavor that, although not the same, I'd hate to see Gwar not continue on. 🤘
@@jeepmanxj they didnt have to kill off the characters just becausee the people playing them died... they didnt kill off flatus when Pete couldnt tour anymore
I was introduced to GWAR, around 11yrs old, in WV. It had stormed for days and finally stopped, so I went for a walk in the woods. There on the path, was a GWAR tape. I took it home and it still worked! Still have it.
@NotSnarl hahaha, unfortunately no but you just made me remember something else. Around the same time, I used to rent my dad's Playboys to the neighborhood boys, $1/hr. They would go down to that same path.
I know you posted this great story 3 years ago, but it’s so amazingly Excalibur/Sword in the Stone, I just had to comment! You were chosen by the GWAR tape! May you rock faces forever!
My wife asked who GWAR is, so I accidentally found this TEDxTalk while showing her stuff. You couldn't be more correct, as I told my wife the same thing. GWAR are royalty when it comes to live performances.
The explanation of GWAR holding Richmond Virginia accountable for the history the place holds is just on a whole different level of accountability. GWAR is truly a incredible band and so much respect for them
I love Richmond. It's a place where people take their art seriously, but they don't take themselves too seriously. That's absolutely the best way to be, and I can't help thinking it's largely down to GWAR.
A few days back, my friend was playing this catchy rock-a-billy tune in the car when I asked who the band was. His response: "You'll never believe this, but that's GWAR!" he said with a chuckle. I was like "Holy poopy, Batman! I had no idea they sounded like that! How funny." So us two 50-year olds drove around mildly rocking out to that song for a bit. I got home to look for more of their music on TH-cam. Found a few I liked, but more interestingly this Ted Talk from 7 years ago popped into my recommendations. Huh? GWAR on Ted Talk? I gotta hear this lol. Well. Talk about a change of perception I now have for the band after watching this Talk. What a well-spoken and articulate man. Knowing nothing about GWAR previously except for the handful of 10-second concert clips I'd seen over my lifetime, I am mildly surprised to see this gentleman speaking so well and their incorporation of social calamities of their times into their music. I am glad to have had my perception of them changed! Funny how that happens, eh?
i loved gwar then and now. it helped a shy weirdo kid evolve into a kid that enjoyed music and the performance of music with reckless abandon. well played gwar... well played.
I used to talk with this guy and serve him pizza many years ago when he'd come into Dr. Ho's Humble Pie out in North Garden, right outside of Cville, when the place was just a hole in the wall. We even had his Gwar figurine, still in the box, on top of the beer cooler as one of the decorations there. Really cool and intelligent dude!! Always a pleasure to see him!!
Love some Dr Ho's!! Had just about everything on the menu. Live 10 minutes away near Taylor's Gap. That restaurant is special. Even with the bigger space, the food has remained on point.
Mike bishop and mike Derks are an inspiration to me as they have both imaginative minds and proved so much within these years. They have a reputation that sparks and stands out. I can imagine a day, anymore, without gwar or the musicians within the band. To Mike, and Derks, and Late Dave, I thank you and your imagination and effort and artwork that is bold, and brave, and violent!!
They used to do weekend concerts every year at Dragon*Con when it was smaller. I was security staff and made sure I was assigned to the shows. The job was basically to keep the mosh pit contained to a certain space and don't let anyone get trampled. I had the big toe on my right foot stomped so hard it was numb for two weeks and I was covered in GWAR goo. I regret nothing.
Josh River, lol, he isn’t okay with any form of Odie. He lets me call him Oder, and he doesn’t mind when I expand it to Oder Boy or Oder Sniffer. 😂 He’s kinda touchy about it.
I met Dave once in 1999. 👹 He was just as funny in person as he was on stage. I feel incredibly fortunate that I spoke with him, shook his hand, and gave him a Cigarette. I know he's now in a Paradise words couldn't describe. 🕯
Wow, I lived right up the street from the Richmond Dairy decades after GWAR started and it's so cool to learn that it was an incubator for so much creativity from a wild group of makers and doers.
God Gwar put on the most amazing shows the times I got the see them which was at least about five times. People underrate their musicianship, everyones says their shock rock. But honestly at their heart Id say their a very good thrash/crossover band
They were originally a punk band making fun of metal. Mike Derks said that he HATED metal and never wanted to be in a metal band. He's more into stuff like Journey and Rush but by literally making fun of heavy metal they became heavy metal but you'll hear ALL KINDS of influences in their sound, even Jazz.
I used to hate when my anti-Gwar friends used to say that Gwar's "only" talent was the visual aspect of the band's shows. I hate how their musical prowess gets overlooked bc of this. They are extremely musically 🎼 talented. They have an awesome heavy sound. Their riffs are catchy and I can't begin to imagine how difficult it is the play their instruments wearing all that attire. This band is overlooked. They friggin rock!! Bottom line!!
Yeah, a lot of dummies didn't know that they were Art Majors that Made their own Costumes, Props, and Fx, Wrote and Produced their own Comic Book Series, Made their own Videos and Movies, and much much more.
I met Michael in Athens, GA. I was at the Georgia Theater watching GWAR set up their stage and do their sound check. After the sound check he came up to me and asked me where the nearest music store was. I told him not far and he asked me if I could take him there, so I did. He needed new strings for his bass. He even commented me on my choice of music during the short ride. I had a Judas Priest tape in the cassette deck at the time. He's a really nice, down to Earth guy.
I'll never forget being 21 years old at a GWAR show the very night an audience member murdered Dimebag in Texas. Even though it was two different shows a couple states away, word got out and what was usually a boisterous and reckless crowd was fuming with anguish over the news of his death. You could just feel it and see it on everyone. They had security block the mosh pit off. There was a little security guard trying to weather the impacts and commotion in the pit. Both of his arms were outstretched between the two railings behind a small flight of stairs. For a minute, I considered running into him and breaking into the bottom floor but I felt like it would have been in bad character. David Brockie came out with GWAR full masks removed, and just broke down on stage. He spoke for a little about the news. Once he was done he could be seen hunched over, sitting and leaning against the wall in a stairwell, elbows bent in tears. A look of pure pain. It was such a shocking moment for me seeing a man who delivered a character that was so sarcastic and obnoxious; look so broken. I'll never forget that night. And they ended up coming back next year on the same date and dedicated a song to Dimebag "Immortal Corruptor".
I was talking to a guy I had never met not 3 hours ago about GWAR, the Richmond music scene, and fun times with Dave. Then this popped up on my facebook. Excellent talk Mike!
i like that they aren't afraid to not stay in character all the time and will go out into the theory for those of us who are interested in that sort of thing.
When Dave was still in the band they used to do shows occasionally without any costumes at all but called themselves "Rawg" when they played without the costumes. They also have always opened for themselves. They started out as "Death Piggy" but created Gwar and would have Gwar open for Death Piggy (same people; different costumes). And then Gwar got bigger than Death Piggy so they killed off Death Piggy and created a band called "Ex Cops" to open for Gwar but with Dave on Bass and Michael singing lead.
I was luckily enough to see gwar once live. about 18 years ago opening for the misfits. after the show I had the pleasure of meeting gwar. great dudes. sometimes life sucks there music has been there to help me forget about life even for only brief periods. that show was the only time I met Dave and the rest of gwar there all down to earth ppl literally lol. those days were good thanks for the memories. looking forward to the new disk. Rip Dave we miss you.
I worked with the guitarist Michael Derks for a while when I was a VCU student in the late 2000s and he was one of the coolest, nicest dudes I knew during that time. I would welcome a world run by GWAR.
Saw GWAR a few months ago in Edmonton. Had always written them off as a joke band. Oh boy, did I have my eyes opened! I'd sure go see them again. Great show.
Down at Kinsmen Park? That show was awesome but they should have had Slayer close out the night instead of disturbed. Me and my five year old at the time daughter we're on the front railing by the left corner of the stage. We got sprayed and she was high-fiving everybody.
It's crazy how he's spent so much time as Blothar that when he is on stage or in tv interviews in character he is completely at home, but when he is at a speaking event being himself you can tell he is nervous
Even in the beginning they were truly not just teen goofballs. Sat and had many deep conversations over the years. Then followed it up with a rowdy release of mayhem. Set up a great backstory even. "Banished to earth and frozen in Antarctica. Then the overuse of hairspary from LA glam messed with the ozone and unfroze them". All the characters, costumes, plots and full movies wrapped around their videos. Cutting edge, Alice Coopery to an extreme! Brilliant then & brilliant now. They continued their education and put a lot of undeniable thought into the project that became an amazing cult following. I am proud to have known them then & that others will continue to know them. Always updating, great new gimicks, and yet still timeless. Like how the blood doesnt wash out as easy as it use to. As so many wear it to prove they "survived". & Special ones get to drink their special blood that is Absolutely great! Line up changes were made. But continuing the legacy of Dave was hard. Having Blothar (brother) is perfect as he was bassist Beefkake from the begining. He stayed close with them. Who better to pass the torch to? Keep it in the family as Dave would want & twas meant to be... So RESPECT! So many negative comments. So he was nervous. Not use to being on stage without the getups. He is a great guy. I love them but also not so rare to be from RVA. There are a lot of bands from that area. Couple well known heavies that predate even are Pentagram & Deceased. Common to play the college but there were/are some great clubs there. Great scene around there. Just not so rare as many think. Amazing entertainers and hope they continue to inspire & awe all for generations, eons & eternity! Send some time capsule to space and hope intelligence is enough to truly take it for all it is! Gwar forever...🤘
I'm an old school punk, into 80s hardcore mostly. Recently a friend told me, correctly, that I take myself, and stuff, too seriously. A couple weeks ago I saw, at a Circle Jerks show, that GWAR was coming to that venue. I laughed, thinking "that silly gimmick is still together?" A few days ago, I listened to a few GWAR songs & was like "Damn! This isn't that bad! It's a little bit punk rock!" Just now I watched this TED Talk & was like "Damn! There's some serious legitimacy to this band! So, tomorrow night, 10/14/22, at Amplified LIve in Dallas, I'm gonna go see GWAR, jump into the blood-soaked pit a few times, and work on not taking myself, and stuff, so seriously! Can't wait!
Through all of the years of chaos and insanity in my life, there have always been just a few constants, and one of those has been GWAR. I was born too late to see them in their prime and I waited too long to do it before Dave died, but one thing is for sure; Even if I never got to see Oderus with my own eyes, I am still and always will be, a loyal Scumdog. Rock on, Michael. Keep Dave, the SlavePit, and your vision alive and kicking for as long as you can. Someday another World Maggot may appear and you can all go back home to join Oderus in Galactic Mayhem. Until then though, you're stuck on this rock inspiring and encouraging people like me to keep doing what they love.
I have to tell you one thing!!!! I got to see GWAR live at the bogarts theater in Cincinnati and it was the best live show I have ever seen!!!! Sooo much fun
i live right by jackson ward. it’s a trip, on one hand that my favorite band started there, but also knowing the horrific history it holds. it conflicts me every time i’m there
* checks again * A rarity on TH-cam, this is! The number of Dislikers has *_descended_* (to 153) since I last checked. This can only mean one thing: *The World Maggot is indeed devouring the infidels! YOUR HOURS ARE NUMBERED, O DISAGREEABLE CRETINS!*
3:44 "The Berserker Blothar", is it? _(smiles)_ Good. I'm so glad that last year's death of Dave Brockie (actor of GWAR's original frontman, Oderus Urungus) didn't result in the death of the band.
‘Blothar’ is the Blackie Lawless of rubber costumed bands. If I wanted to listen to WASP, I’d just listen to WASP. If I wanna listen to GWAR, I’ll just stick to the Brockie days, thanks.
One guy does not make a band especially Gwar. Odorous was a piece of my childhood, my adolescence, and my adulthood. Just like I'm different than I was at 8, 16, and now 43. So is Gwar. I will always pay to see this band.
Blothar is brother. He was in the band from the begining and stayed close with them. Who better to pass the torch to? Keep it in the family as twas meant to...
I renember when I was only 2 years old, and my parents are just letting me listen to this. and they also bought me a movie from them. I'm 11 right now and I still listen to them now. Thank you parents, and rip Dave Brockie
as a metal head coming from Richmond VA mean you've made your bones. Urban blight. crime. living thru that and making music. i respect that. Will listen to that. R.i.p. db. so sad he gone. wtf!!!!
Love them but not so rare to be from RVA. There are a lot of bands from that area. Couple well known heavies that predate even are Pentagram & Deceased. Common to play the college but there were/are some great clubs there. Not so bf aa many think.
I was fortunate enough to have seen and experienced Gwar with Dave Brockie 3 times throughout the years. No words can even describe how awesome those shows were. My skin would stay pink for a couple of days...Good times!
I can't believe I haven't seen this one before now. Floored. Been a ummm somewhat fan of Gwar since I was like 4 years old and seen their videos on headbangers ball. Never expected such a talk.
My first concert was GWAR. 1991 or there abouts at the Masquerade in Atlanta. I was 16 and it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I had school the next day and could not get all the fake blood washed off in the shower. I didn't sleep that night. I think if I showed up to a school today looking like I did they would put it on lockdown. Back then the other kids just stared at us.
1st time i saw them was 1989, no idea who they were, I saw a flyer glued to a light post that said " the world's only punk metal dungeons and dragons band from antarctica" and it was 4 bux, my mind was blown and I've been a fan since
Hi guys, I'm from Canada and this story from Richmond, Virginia is fascinating. Although Canadians also live in North America, they have never really experienced or understood the great historical tensions in the United States.
I'm not a gwar fan but I'm incredibly thankful to live in a world where art like gwar exists
Now there's a non-existent comment worthy of respect.
Kinda like, I disagree with your beliefs but will defend to the death your right to those beliefs.
This HAS to be a world where GWAR can exist, otherwise, what are we even doing?
To be honest, Most of my favorite artists came from me not liking it but respecting it. Then came the growth by trying to understanding it.
I totally can relate, it's sad that there's not a lot of people who think this way. Being able to remove your personal opinions about a style of art and view it objectively for what it is, is a sign of emotional intelligence that many lack nowadays.
@@jonathandufern7421 I discovered Meshugga by typing "heaviest song ever" into Google, laughing and scoffing at Catch 33, then years later remembering it and giving it another go. Now I love the band and saw them live.
Bro, you got to see them. You will become a fan.
I considered myself a “serious” metal fan when I was a teen, then I found GWAR. Life got so much easier for me after that.
@Leo Watley I had never seen them perform until I got "Live from Antarctica" on vhs when it came out. My first impression was heavy metal Vaudeville.
What is so crazy is how Christian Evangelists on tv in 1990 notified me about GWAR. MAGGOTS ARE FALLING LIKE RAIN.
*FALLING LIKE......RAAAAAAAAAAAIN*
I was a 14 year old kid watching a store bought VHS of Live from Antarctica when I saw a guy in some crazy Spartan armor completely shredding the bass in a way I had never seen before. It was at that moment, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I'm now closer to 40 and have been a bass player ever since. Here's to you, Mike Bishop... Thank You.
+Nate Fitzgerald thanks for the support nate
Michael Bishop Hi Mr. Bishop,
My name is Phoenixx, & I am your biggest fan of GWAR.
Dude, I played your music in the hood, pissing off the Bloods & the Crips.
Sir, I'm glad that your band, is still expressing yourselves, explaining the definition of the GWAR Slave Pit.
And I'm terribly, truly sorry about the passing of your singer Dave Brockie/ Ungerus .
TH-cam, is keeping up the GWAR tradition, hell, I consider your music, as well as bands like Pantera, Suicidal, Exodus,Testament, Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, Sacred Reich, & I can go on.
But that kind of music,is my way of saying that you have street creds, in a music culture, that has left an endenture in the youth of today.
I hope to get to see your band again(caught you guys, over at the COUNTRY CLUB, in Reseda, CA, back into the late 80's, early 90's.
Peace & Aloha, from the 808 side of Maui,HI.
Nate Fitzgerald
Me too, brother... I know that kind of feeling.
I was 30 when I bought a copy of this on VHS at the Harvard Co-Op. I’d never brag about Gwar to my friends but I doubt they would het the joke.
I got Live from Antarctica on VHS for Christmas from my Dad who lives in Richmond. I literally wore it out!
The level on intellect these guys all portray is always staggering. They always act like dummies on stage but off stage are some of the most intelligent people around. Love it. Long Live Gwar.
More like white gut!
@uni blab should he have used a teleprompter like many other people use instead? You really think a lack of intelligence has anything to do with not memorizing something? For being a band that started out as somewhat of a joke band. Their music is well written, intelligent, and clever.
Mike has a PHD and you are claiming he has low "intellect". What degrees do you carry if you don't mind me asking?
Even in the beginning they were truly not just teen goofballs. Sat and had many deep conversations over the years. Then followed it up with a rowdy release of mayhem.
Brilliant then & brilliant now. They continued their education and put a lot of undeniable thought into the project that became an amazing cult following. I am proud to have known them then & that others will continue to know them...
It's almost as if GWAR is an act or something lol
Been on stage, played tons of concerts, ravaged minds all over the world... still shakes when public speaking.
He's awesome
It's easier to be on stage and do your thing when you're behind a mask and makeup.
@@BulletSponge178... and 10 other people
@@BulletSponge178 Also, when you've already done it thousands of times and you wrote the songs over twenty years ago.
He hasn't had his crack yet. Go easy on him.
@@liquidbraino lol
I love that GWAR lives on but I have to say that I totally miss Brockie....RIP man.
*Hear, hear!!!*
@UnholyUndies I agree. I always seem to un-gravitate from bands that lose their original frontman.
But..Gwar was such a unique endeavor that, although not the same, I'd hate to see Gwar not continue on. 🤘
TheMusicWell what happened to Brockie? I found out about Gwar just now.
If you give up on gwar because a member cycles through gwar isn't the band for you
@@jeepmanxj they didnt have to kill off the characters just becausee the people playing them died... they didnt kill off flatus when Pete couldnt tour anymore
I was introduced to GWAR, around 11yrs old, in WV. It had stormed for days and finally stopped, so I went for a walk in the woods. There on the path, was a GWAR tape. I took it home and it still worked! Still have it.
Cool, you found my tape, can I have it back please.
That's a really cool story actually
@NotSnarl hahaha, unfortunately no but you just made me remember something else. Around the same time, I used to rent my dad's Playboys to the neighborhood boys, $1/hr. They would go down to that same path.
What happened to Stark Ravens comment?
I know you posted this great story 3 years ago, but it’s so amazingly Excalibur/Sword in the Stone, I just had to comment! You were chosen by the GWAR tape! May you rock faces forever!
These guys are the definition of great live performers.
+Dan West for sure. i saw them twice before brockie's death. still have blood and jizz stains on that shirt i wore to the concert XD
"Let the battlecry go forth which is: Give the people what they want!"
Halie Symmons and what the people want could only be the senseless slaughter, of the gutterslime that litters this nation for cash and prizes!!!
My wife asked who GWAR is, so I accidentally found this TEDxTalk while showing her stuff.
You couldn't be more correct, as I told my wife the same thing. GWAR are royalty when it comes to live performances.
Gone to 9 shows in upstate NY and have all of the shirts from every year. RIP Dave Brockie.
My teenage years had the soundtrack of GWAR playing through them,I will forever be a fan,R.I.P Dave!
The explanation of GWAR holding Richmond Virginia accountable for the history the place holds is just on a whole different level of accountability. GWAR is truly a incredible band and so much respect for them
I love Richmond. It's a place where people take their art seriously, but they don't take themselves too seriously. That's absolutely the best way to be, and I can't help thinking it's largely down to GWAR.
A few days back, my friend was playing this catchy rock-a-billy tune in the car when I asked who the band was. His response: "You'll never believe this, but that's GWAR!" he said with a chuckle. I was like "Holy poopy, Batman! I had no idea they sounded like that! How funny." So us two 50-year olds drove around mildly rocking out to that song for a bit.
I got home to look for more of their music on TH-cam. Found a few I liked, but more interestingly this Ted Talk from 7 years ago popped into my recommendations. Huh? GWAR on Ted Talk? I gotta hear this lol.
Well. Talk about a change of perception I now have for the band after watching this Talk. What a well-spoken and articulate man. Knowing nothing about GWAR previously except for the handful of 10-second concert clips I'd seen over my lifetime, I am mildly surprised to see this gentleman speaking so well and their incorporation of social calamities of their times into their music. I am glad to have had my perception of them changed!
Funny how that happens, eh?
i was introduced to GWAR at around age 12. Now being 33 i can say thank god i still listen to them. one of the few childhood things i still enjoy
Saw GWAR twice when I was a teenager. Met Dave, and he was really funny. Two of the most memorable shows of my life, without a doubt. RIP.
i loved gwar then and now. it helped a shy weirdo kid evolve into a kid that enjoyed music and the performance of music with reckless abandon. well played gwar... well played.
"GWAR is about creative energy, it's about people coming together to create something." YES!
It is about getting enough crack to fuel their spaceship
@@natas12rm and annihilating humanity
I used to talk with this guy and serve him pizza many years ago when he'd come into Dr. Ho's Humble Pie out in North Garden, right outside of Cville, when the place was just a hole in the wall. We even had his Gwar figurine, still in the box, on top of the beer cooler as one of the decorations there. Really cool and intelligent dude!! Always a pleasure to see him!!
Love some Dr Ho's!! Had just about everything on the menu. Live 10 minutes away near Taylor's Gap. That restaurant is special. Even with the bigger space, the food has remained on point.
I LOVE ME SOME DR. HO'S!!!!!! I MISS IT!
Mike bishop and mike Derks are an inspiration to me as they have both imaginative minds and proved so much within these years. They have a reputation that sparks and stands out. I can imagine a day, anymore, without gwar or the musicians within the band. To Mike, and Derks, and Late Dave, I thank you and your imagination and effort and artwork that is bold, and brave, and violent!!
Michael Bishop, Thank you for what you do and stand for.
They used to do weekend concerts every year at Dragon*Con when it was smaller. I was security staff and made sure I was assigned to the shows. The job was basically to keep the mosh pit contained to a certain space and don't let anyone get trampled. I had the big toe on my right foot stomped so hard it was numb for two weeks and I was covered in GWAR goo. I regret nothing.
R.I.P Oderus.
Such a unique band, with a great history.
He was TA for one class I took and the lecturer for another. Great dude.
That rules
Woah, where?
He’s worked at several art colleges in Richmond. I ran into him at a gallery there once such a nice guy!
I love the "TED Speaker" schtick he opens with!
My husband named our dog, Oderus Urungus, and he gets mad if anyone calls him Odie.
What about Odie Ungie??
Josh River, lol, he isn’t okay with any form of Odie. He lets me call him Oder, and he doesn’t mind when I expand it to Oder Boy or Oder Sniffer. 😂 He’s kinda touchy about it.
I have a cat named Dave Brockie aka Brockie, Brockie Pants or just Pants but never Dave or David.
This Video is still so inspiring as a musician and an artist in a slump city.
RIP Dave. GWAR was huge to me as a metalhead kid in the 80s.
How did one of the members of GWAR die?
@@mirandavinci4146 The OG lead singer OD'd.
I loved it, Dr. Bishop. And I love Gwar. Keep on rockin'!
All hail brother Mike ❤ Thank you so much for allowing more generations to enjoy the GWAR live experience.
this guy lives around the corner from me. he's a nice neighbor.
I saw them on talk shows in the 80s and have been a fan ever since. Long live GWAR!
I met Dave once in 1999. 👹
He was just as funny in person
as he was on stage.
I feel incredibly fortunate that I spoke with him, shook his hand, and gave him a Cigarette.
I know he's now in a Paradise words couldn't describe. 🕯
Gwar is amazing live and they're brilliant to boot. Great band.
GWAR concerts were so damn awesome.... RIP Oderus
Just saw them for the 7th time last week in DesMoines, it was awesome, so much blood, my 12 year old cousin was moshing and crowd surfing like a pro
They are still awesome go again. I gave up after Dave died but I went last week and I will go every chance I can
One of the best bands in the world, maybe even galaxy. I still miss you Dave.
Wow, I lived right up the street from the Richmond Dairy decades after GWAR started and it's so cool to learn that it was an incubator for so much creativity from a wild group of makers and doers.
God Gwar put on the most amazing shows the times I got the see them which was at least about five times. People underrate their musicianship, everyones says their shock rock. But honestly at their heart Id say their a very good thrash/crossover band
metalahhhhhhhhhhhh I miss when they were more punk. I feel it fits their gritty aesthetic better.
They were originally a punk band making fun of metal. Mike Derks said that he HATED metal and never wanted to be in a metal band. He's more into stuff like Journey and Rush but by literally making fun of heavy metal they became heavy metal but you'll hear ALL KINDS of influences in their sound, even Jazz.
Metalheads and metal/alternative musicians are incredibly insightful people.
I used to hate when my anti-Gwar friends used to say that Gwar's "only" talent was the visual aspect of the band's shows. I hate how their musical prowess gets overlooked bc of this. They are extremely musically 🎼 talented. They have an awesome heavy sound. Their riffs are catchy and I can't begin to imagine how difficult it is the play their instruments wearing all that attire. This band is overlooked. They friggin rock!! Bottom line!!
I just caught their NPR Tinydesk appearance, they have a REALLY solid sound. I purposely turned away to hear them, not watch.
People can't stand gimmicks and it's annoying, like god forbid someone be creative
If it comes to music, they're pretty talented. If it comes to metal, not so much.
Posers ! Man how could anyone say that ?! You , my friend have fine taste 👍
@@Tupapaperro777 thank you
Yeah, a lot of dummies didn't know that they were Art Majors that Made their own Costumes, Props, and Fx, Wrote and Produced their own Comic Book Series, Made their own Videos and Movies, and much much more.
What??? no, theyre beings from another planet sent here and inadvertently created the human race
tomjjordan25 It's obvious he's talking about their human slaves. Everyone knows art majors are the easiest to enslave
Not one mention that GWAR were Beavis' and Butthead's favorite band. They would stop criticizing music and rock out.
Woooo GWAR !!! Rocking on forever!! The more you research about them, the more you understand, the more you learn what an amazing band.
I met Michael in Athens, GA. I was at the Georgia Theater watching GWAR set up their stage and do their sound check. After the sound check he came up to me and asked me where the nearest music store was. I told him not far and he asked me if I could take him there, so I did. He needed new strings for his bass. He even commented me on my choice of music during the short ride. I had a Judas Priest tape in the cassette deck at the time. He's a really nice, down to Earth guy.
Best live band ever!!!! R.I.P. Oderus....
I couldn't imagine my life had there been no GWAR in it.
Nate Brenneman exactly me too
For real
Amen brother
I'll never forget being 21 years old at a GWAR show the very night an audience member murdered Dimebag in Texas. Even though it was two different shows a couple states away, word got out and what was usually a boisterous and reckless crowd was fuming with anguish over the news of his death. You could just feel it and see it on everyone.
They had security block the mosh pit off. There was a little security guard trying to weather the impacts and commotion in the pit. Both of his arms were outstretched between the two railings behind a small flight of stairs. For a minute, I considered running into him and breaking into the bottom floor but I felt like it would have been in bad character.
David Brockie came out with GWAR full masks removed, and just broke down on stage. He spoke for a little about the news. Once he was done he could be seen hunched over, sitting and leaning against the wall in a stairwell, elbows bent in tears. A look of pure pain. It was such a shocking moment for me seeing a man who delivered a character that was so sarcastic and obnoxious; look so broken. I'll never forget that night.
And they ended up coming back next year on the same date and dedicated a song to Dimebag "Immortal Corruptor".
He wasn't murdered in Texas. He was murdered in Columbus at Alrosa Villa.
@@theskullcollector77 right.
@@te9591 Ok, I read it as if you meant Texas
@@theskullcollector77 i misspoke the location. You're correct. I wasn't in Ohio either of course.
Seen them twice in Lawrence KS and had a blast and loved every minute of it. Long live GWAR!!!!
I was talking to a guy I had never met not 3 hours ago about GWAR, the Richmond music scene, and fun times with Dave. Then this popped up on my facebook. Excellent talk Mike!
That's because your phone listened to your conversation
Gwar's NPR Tiny Desk Concert last year was a pleasantly surprising bit of greatness!
i like that they aren't afraid to not stay in character all the time and will go out into the theory for those of us who are interested in that sort of thing.
When Dave was still in the band they used to do shows occasionally without any costumes at all but called themselves "Rawg" when they played without the costumes.
They also have always opened for themselves. They started out as "Death Piggy" but created Gwar and would have Gwar open for Death Piggy (same people; different costumes). And then Gwar got bigger than Death Piggy so they killed off Death Piggy and created a band called "Ex Cops" to open for Gwar but with Dave on Bass and Michael singing lead.
Never thought I would see the almighty GWAR in a ted talk.
GWAR still hold the record for the band that played the most times at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. at over 30 times.
really? i thought for sure that title would go to the ramones.
Same in my hometown Asheville, at the Orange Peel. At least I'm pretty sure, i know they were there what seemed like at least twice a year
Awesome fact!!!
That's it! Everything I was longing to know! Reagonomics created GWAR!!!! My life is complete!
I was luckily enough to see gwar once live. about 18 years ago opening for the misfits. after the show I had the pleasure of meeting gwar. great dudes. sometimes life sucks there music has been there to help me forget about life even for only brief periods. that show was the only time I met Dave and the rest of gwar there all down to earth ppl literally lol. those days were good thanks for the memories. looking forward to the new disk. Rip Dave we miss you.
I been a fan since 1989 and still a huge fan
I worked with the guitarist Michael Derks for a while when I was a VCU student in the late 2000s and he was one of the coolest, nicest dudes I knew during that time. I would welcome a world run by GWAR.
Bishop had the best vox of any Beefcake.
sad whale baby..
Yes. His voice induces tears
Saw GWAR a few months ago in Edmonton. Had always written them off as a joke band. Oh boy, did I have my eyes opened! I'd sure go see them again. Great show.
Down at Kinsmen Park? That show was awesome but they should have had Slayer close out the night instead of disturbed.
Me and my five year old at the time daughter we're on the front railing by the left corner of the stage. We got sprayed and she was high-fiving everybody.
They just played a show tonight in Edmonton, my first time seeing them, came back to watch this video after the show!
It's crazy how he's spent so much time as Blothar that when he is on stage or in tv interviews in character he is completely at home, but when he is at a speaking event being himself you can tell he is nervous
Even in the beginning they were truly not just teen goofballs. Sat and had many deep conversations over the years. Then followed it up with a rowdy release of mayhem.
Set up a great backstory even. "Banished to earth and frozen in Antarctica. Then the overuse of hairspary from LA glam messed with the ozone and unfroze them". All the characters, costumes, plots and full movies wrapped around their videos. Cutting edge, Alice Coopery to an extreme!
Brilliant then & brilliant now. They continued their education and put a lot of undeniable thought into the project that became an amazing cult following. I am proud to have known them then & that others will continue to know them.
Always updating, great new gimicks, and yet still timeless. Like how the blood doesnt wash out as easy as it use to. As so many wear it to prove they "survived". & Special ones get to drink their special blood that is Absolutely great!
Line up changes were made. But continuing the legacy of Dave was hard. Having Blothar (brother) is perfect as he was bassist Beefkake from the begining. He stayed close with them. Who better to pass the torch to? Keep it in the family as Dave would want & twas meant to be... So RESPECT!
So many negative comments. So he was nervous. Not use to being on stage without the getups. He is a great guy. I love them but also not so rare to be from RVA. There are a lot of bands from that area.
Couple well known heavies that predate even are Pentagram & Deceased. Common to play the college but there were/are some great clubs there. Great scene around there. Just not so rare as many think.
Amazing entertainers and hope they continue to inspire & awe all for generations, eons & eternity! Send some time capsule to space and hope intelligence is enough to truly take it for all it is! Gwar forever...🤘
So Glad I got to see Brockey live.
Nothing in this world i love more then GWAR! love and miss you Oderus
I'll always have love for Gwar. No matter what, rest in power, Oderus!
Gwar concerts are still the best damm show on earth i was there last weekend Blothar carries the torch so well!! Gwar for life!!
This is hands down one of the best talks from a TED conference I've ever seen.
I would have loved to see Brockie do one of these
+WalkableInk That would have been awesome.....
He did
hmpz36911 when? Facts and links please...🖕🏻
I'm an old school punk, into 80s hardcore mostly. Recently a friend told me, correctly, that I take myself, and stuff, too seriously. A couple weeks ago I saw, at a Circle Jerks show, that GWAR was coming to that venue. I laughed, thinking "that silly gimmick is still together?" A few days ago, I listened to a few GWAR songs & was like "Damn! This isn't that bad! It's a little bit punk rock!" Just now I watched this TED Talk & was like "Damn! There's some serious legitimacy to this band! So, tomorrow night, 10/14/22, at Amplified LIve in Dallas, I'm gonna go see GWAR, jump into the blood-soaked pit a few times, and work on not taking myself, and stuff, so seriously! Can't wait!
9 months later, how did it turn out?
@@jonathandufern7421 Described that fantastic night above.
Punk is not a musical style
@@marknewbold2583 Nonsense.
Fantastic. Thanks for the talk and many years of happiness.
Through all of the years of chaos and insanity in my life, there have always been just a few constants, and one of those has been GWAR. I was born too late to see them in their prime and I waited too long to do it before Dave died, but one thing is for sure; Even if I never got to see Oderus with my own eyes, I am still and always will be, a loyal Scumdog.
Rock on, Michael. Keep Dave, the SlavePit, and your vision alive and kicking for as long as you can. Someday another World Maggot may appear and you can all go back home to join Oderus in Galactic Mayhem.
Until then though, you're stuck on this rock inspiring and encouraging people like me to keep doing what they love.
GWAR!!!! This band meant so much to me. (I mean, I guess "means" but I haven't kept up.) Great presentation. (I say 8 years later.)
Ate at gwarbar this past week. Purchased a sticker too. Happy to be where I'm from.
I wonder if he found a cool place to park when he arrived for the talk
Hahaha! I see what you did there!
I’m not a fan at all of the music but the art and sarcastic creativity entertainment value is still incredible to say the least
Have you heard the song "Crack In The Egg"?
Or perhaps the song "Womb with a View"? Both are bops.
Blōthar that was a great talk about how GWAR embodies Richmond and how Richmond embodies GWAR. Good speech Doc.😊
I have to tell you one thing!!!! I got to see GWAR live at the bogarts theater in Cincinnati and it was the best live show I have ever seen!!!! Sooo much fun
They'll be back on New Years!!
GWAR IS so f**king awesome. i finally got to see em in concert at beginning of december. so great
...that was a pale shadow of the real gwar kid, so you saw nothing.
Saw gwar in I think 1992, Racine memorial hall, Racine Wisconsin, insane, indescribable, amazing
i live right by jackson ward. it’s a trip, on one hand that my favorite band started there, but also knowing the horrific history it holds. it conflicts me every time i’m there
I’ve always liked and respected GWAR, now that respect has grown even more.
GWAR was my first concert as a 12 year old in 2006. My life was never the same after that night.
They should play this in schools, to teach children and teenagers how to write a speech. Great show!
18 foolish mortals didn't bargain on the power of the Death Pod.
20
161 insignificant mortals shall now know the bowels of the World Maggot!
* checks again *
A rarity on TH-cam, this is! The number of Dislikers has *_descended_* (to 153) since I last checked. This can only mean one thing:
*The World Maggot is indeed devouring the infidels! YOUR HOURS ARE NUMBERED, O DISAGREEABLE CRETINS!*
The greatest trick Gwar ever pulled was convincing the world they didn't exist!
I don't believe in Gwar, but I'm afraid of them
Rip Dave, never forgotten.
3:44 "The Berserker Blothar", is it? _(smiles)_ Good. I'm so glad that last year's death of Dave Brockie (actor of GWAR's original frontman, Oderus Urungus) didn't result in the death of the band.
Update ...Gwar died with Dave . Gwar is a horrible cover band now.
‘Blothar’ is the Blackie Lawless of rubber costumed bands. If I wanted to listen to WASP, I’d just listen to WASP. If I wanna listen to GWAR, I’ll just stick to the Brockie days, thanks.
@@Scallycowell idk of you've been to any recent shows but they are just as good now as the brockie days they just needed time to reorganize.
One guy does not make a band especially Gwar. Odorous was a piece of my childhood, my adolescence, and my adulthood. Just like I'm different than I was at 8, 16, and now 43. So is Gwar. I will always pay to see this band.
Blothar is brother. He was in the band from the begining and stayed close with them. Who better to pass the torch to? Keep it in the family as twas meant to...
I renember when I was only 2 years old, and my parents are just letting me listen to this. and they also bought me a movie from them. I'm 11 right now and I still listen to them now. Thank you parents, and rip Dave Brockie
as a metal head coming from Richmond VA mean you've made your bones. Urban blight. crime. living thru that and making music. i respect that. Will listen to that. R.i.p. db. so sad he gone. wtf!!!!
I love GWAR so much.
Seeing GWAR changed my life, and tomorrow I get to see them again eith the new Maximus guitarist!!!
"GWAR is from Richmond, VA" Funniest part of this entire video.
My state. 🤘
Virginia fucks
Love them but not so rare to be from RVA. There are a lot of bands from that area. Couple well known heavies that predate even are Pentagram & Deceased. Common to play the college but there were/are some great clubs there. Not so bf aa many think.
@@hmpz36911 Lamb of God also from RVA and surrounding areas.
So is Lamb of God and I believe Municipal Waste. So what is so funny?
gwar is a great band from my home state of Virginia.
Love this. I was lucky enough to see GWAR 3 times in London and was always an experience 😁
I was fortunate enough to have seen and experienced Gwar with Dave Brockie 3 times throughout the years. No words can even describe how awesome those shows were. My skin would stay pink for a couple of days...Good times!
I can't believe I haven't seen this one before now. Floored. Been a ummm somewhat fan of Gwar since I was like 4 years old and seen their videos on headbangers ball. Never expected such a talk.
My first concert was GWAR. 1991 or there abouts at the Masquerade in Atlanta. I was 16 and it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I had school the next day and could not get all the fake blood washed off in the shower. I didn't sleep that night. I think if I showed up to a school today looking like I did they would put it on lockdown. Back then the other kids just stared at us.
Bro I was at that show. The blood stains were on the ceiling for years
1st time i saw them was 1989, no idea who they were, I saw a flyer glued to a light post that said " the world's only punk metal dungeons and dragons band from antarctica" and it was 4 bux, my mind was blown and I've been a fan since
Awesome. Can't think of a better dude to carry on the torch of Oderus. Perfect.
And his imitation of Brockie was spot on.
Saw GWAR once in 1996. So much fun!
This was so informative about the coolest band on this stinking mudball planet. Gwar rules.
Seen GWAR in the 80s, ive never been more impressed by a stage show.
Hi guys, I'm from Canada and this story from Richmond, Virginia is fascinating. Although Canadians also live in North America, they have never really experienced or understood the great historical tensions in the United States.