‘Let There Be GWAR’ exhibit celebrates 40 years of metal’s bloodiest band

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Most bands are known for their music, but GWAR is different. They’re famous for their outrageous, handcrafted performances just as much as their songs. Last week, the band celebrated 40 years with a detailed exhibit at the Beyond the Streets gallery in Los Angeles.

“Let There Be GWAR” highlights the incredible, imaginative artwork of the Grammy-nominated band, showcasing their detailed costumes, props, comics, and memorable performances in clubs and on TV. These colorful creations are made from materials like foam, latex, fiberglass, and various metals and plastics.

According to Bob Gorman, a key member of GWAR’s creative team, the band’s history is complicated, but ultimately it’s about a group of people with similar eccentric tastes creating art, as he told The Times.

As a huge film and pop culture fan, I’ve always loved when art really builds a world. That’s what we’ve done with our band – it all started with the storytelling you find in comics and video games. It’s more than just music for us; each member actually *is* a character, and we feel like we’re tapping into something that really resonates with the current cultural moment.

Gorman, who carefully preserved everything related to the band, collected original artwork, costume sketches, and even items like old milk bottles from their beginning years. These pieces are all on display in the exhibit.

From the beginning, I took on the role of preserving our history, so I’ve collected and saved items over the years, hoping to one day share them. This exhibit is comprehensive, but still accessible and enjoyable for everyone – it avoids getting bogged down in overly specific details.

Gorman, along with Roger Gastman, the founder of Beyond the Streets, not only curated the exhibit but also co-wrote “Let There Be GWAR,” a popular coffee table book now in its third printing. You can find the book, along with other exclusive merchandise, at the gallery store.

I’ve always been fascinated by GWAR, both as a fan and someone who studies unique cultural movements – from their music and merchandise to their unforgettable live performances and videos. What’s truly remarkable is that they’re a group of artists who have been creating everything themselves for four decades. They don’t rely on outside manufacturers or mass-produced costumes; the level of skill and dedication they put into their work is amazing. It’s time we recognized GWAR for the talented artists they are.

Gastman said the gallery display was designed to encourage repeat visits, with viewers able to notice new details each time they returned.

I’ve spent months working with this exhibit, and I still discover something new every day. It’s incredible – it features life-size figures, original artwork like drawings and paintings, plus comics, sculptures, fan creations, photos, posters, newspaper articles, and even video footage. It really feels like stepping into another world.

The exhibit’s curators made sure to recognize all of GWAR’s current and former members.

It was crucial for us to honor everyone involved, including those who are no longer with us,” said Gastman. “Dave Brockie, who fronted GWAR as Oderus Urungus, led the band fearlessly for nearly three decades. Including his art was a key way to celebrate his lasting impact, skill, and sense of humor.”

Viewers of the GWAR documentary, “This Is GWAR,” already knew about the disagreements between Dave Brockie and Hunter Jackson, and the exhibit also reflected that tension.

Mike Bishop, GWAR’s original bassist and current lead vocalist, pointed out that displaying the art of Dave and Hunter together perfectly illustrates how their clashing ideas were the foundation of the band.

Those artists and those two men meant the world to me. They were like older brothers – each incredibly talented, with their own flaws and a great sense of humor. Thinking about them brings me back to when I was first starting out as an adult and figuring out my path as an artist, learning how to navigate life.

Bishop was excited to see several famous musicians visit the gallery during its opening weekend, including Robert Trujillo from Metallica, Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, and Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo.

GWAR was heavily inspired by Mark Mothersbaugh and his band Devo, even more so than by groups like KISS and Alice Cooper. Devo’s punk roots are where GWAR’s energy comes from. We especially admired Devo’s commitment to a consistent artistic concept and their strong focus on how they looked – we really tried to copy that.

Anthony Mejia, a dedicated fan and stay-at-home dad, traveled two hours from Rancho Cucamonga to see the opening of the gallery. The event featured a 30-minute acoustic performance by both current and former members of the band.

This band has always been a huge part of my life, providing amazing experiences through their music, creativity, funny personality, and energetic performances.

“GWAR was the first group where I instantly felt like I fit in,” he acknowledged.

As a kid, my hobbies – things like comic books, video games, Magic the Gathering, and sci-fi/horror films – didn’t always make it easy to connect with others. But when I met this group of artists, I immediately felt a sense of belonging. They understood me and made me feel like I truly fit in.

Mejia especially enjoyed how the exhibit highlighted the band’s beginnings in the punk scene, including their time living and practicing in an old dairy building in Richmond, Virginia.

Documentary filmmaker Eric Pritchard was reminded of a GWAR concert he attended in Los Angeles in the early 1990s when he saw the tanks and compressors the band uses to spray fake blood on their fans.

The band’s performances were incredibly over-the-top and theatrical, like a supercharged metal show. Surprisingly, their music itself was actually well-crafted, memorable, and less chaotic than their wild stage presence suggested. To those unfamiliar with their style, it might seem silly, but their fans recognize it as deliberate, playful performance. That’s likely why they’ve maintained a dedicated following for over four decades.

Pritchard also admires their DIY aesthetic in creating an assortment of subversive props.

I really appreciated how fully they embraced the horror elements, including the blood and gore – it gave exactly what fans of that type of entertainment wanted. What was also great was how inclusive the show was; it didn’t feel like just watching a performance, but being a part of it. It felt like a truly immersive experience, similar to seeing ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’

Let There Be GWAR runs through Nov. at Beyond the Streets (434 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles).

You can see the band perform on the Shudder Channel on October 24th as part of an episode of “The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs”‘ “Splatterween” series.

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2025-09-18 13:37