Interview Dave Brockie/Oderus GWAR

GWAR is: Oderus Ungurus - Dave Brockie / Vocals Balsac the Jaws of Death - Mike Derks / Guitars Jizmak The Gusha - Brad Roberts / Drums Flattus Maximus - Cory Smoot / Guitar Beefcake The Mighty - Todd Evans / Bass   11/11/04 HOB Interviewers: Sharita Lumpkin  &   Karma E. Omowale

"You sure as fuck don't want to get in a match with me because I would kick your fuckin' ass!"

Dave Brockie is the lead character of GWAR (Oderus Ungurus), a group that has changed over it's eighteen year history but is still controversial, vile and offensive to some.  Dave speaks about Oderus, a little history of GWAR as well as his favorite topic these days Phil Anselmo! Read on!

Sharita: Tell us about Oderus, who exactly is he?

Dave: Oderus Urungus is my alter ego. Dave Brockie is Oderus personal butt boy and polyp drainer.

Sharita: Tell a person that doesn’t know much about GWAR a little history on the band?

Dave: Well Oderus would tell you that we’re a bunch of renegade space pirates that were marooned on earth millions of years ago for atrocities too numerous to mention, created the human race by having sex with animals and then were ultimately frozen in Antarctica for many years until the over use of hairspray by glam metal bands of the eighties burned a hole in the ozone layer and unfroze us. But I would say he’s full of shit and that we’re a bunch of crazy musicians and artists hailing from Richmond, Virginia who came up with a wacky idea.  We were bored with music and what was going on and we were like if we’re going to pay to see a band what would we like to see? We would want to see giant mutant metal monsters from outer space chopping off peoples heads and playing really loud music and that’s what we created and darn it eighteen years later we are still going strong! 

Sharita: GWAR, does it really mean God What an Awful Racket?

Dave:  Oh no, that’s not true! A lot of people say that GWAR is an acronym for something I’ve heard them all. God what a racket is one, Gay Weird Anal Probates is another, even horribly enough, Great White Aryan Race! There was a group of skinheads from Massachusetts that were convinced we were Nazis and we had to set them straight. [Laughs]  The band wasn’t even called GWAR in the beginning, we called it Gwaaarrrrrrgh! When we wrote it on a flyer, it would be G-W-A-A-A-R-R-G-G-H whatever fuckin’ letter we would put in there. So it really doesn’t mean anything except GWAR. GWAR just means the most outrageous heavy metal band in history!

Sharita: So I read that the Slave Pit is a place where Lamb of God and some other bands have recorded as well as your band, and it has relocated tell us more about that.

Dave: We bounced all around Richmond through the years; the Slave Pit is what we call our studio, not just our music studio but also where we build our costumes and our props. Primarily it was a costume fabrication area but over the last five years we have included a recording studio. Slave pit is beyond more than just a geographical place it has also become an idea as well that if you care enough about your art then you’ll go to a probation to take care of it. Often, we felt like we were enslaved by GWAR because we weren’t getting paid or it sucked or it was cold, no heat in the Slave Pit, or they made us wear loincloth, whatever.  We decided to capitalize and make that strength rather than something to bitch about it was a privilege to work for GWAR in that capacity because we knew sooner or later it would pay off and we’re still waiting!

Sharita: [laughs] I heard a little tidbit that you did a show and you donated the proceeds to a charity or something, tell me about that?

Dave: Well what happened was we were doing a show in Athens, Georgia and the cops busted the show because they said it was obscene which was ridiculous. I mean we do parodies of violence and sex on stage and there is nothing obscene about it. It might be shocking and offensive to some but trying to nail GWAR, you might as well nail Mary Poppins for pornography. I mean the cops were calling it prurient interest, which means it arouses you.  I mean, I dunno what kind of freaks come to our show but I’m pretty sure no one watching GWAR is getting a boner.  So they came in trying to bust the show and they realized they couldn’t but they didn’t manage to stop the show, they didn’t arrest anyone.  So we were like that’s bullshit and a few days later the ACLU called us up and said we think we can nail the cops. We were like let's go for it! So we sued the cops for $20,000, won and donated the money to the Missing Children Foundation.  Which really fucked with people because we have this one song called Have You Seen Me, and during the show we have these dancing milk cartons with faces on them saying, “have you seen me?” That’s pretty shocking to people but I find it very interesting that these same people are more offended by the art of poking fun at something horrible as opposed to the act itself. Its like why are artists here, to be scapegoats or to make commentary.  Yeah we kicked the cops’ ass that time.

Sharita: That’s great, yay for metal! On your website you are asking fans for any tapes, memorabilia and such from past shows, were they last or something?

Dave: No were just fanatical about any recordings. We’ve played all over the world, we’ve played with practically every band ever, met everybody. I mean GWAR is really the bastard son of the music industry.  We just had an amazing run and one of these days we want to put out the ultimate appendium of everything that we’ve done.  So we’re always trying to get our hands on all the old footage, people are constantly coming up to me just like at the bar today a guy comes up to me and says “do you remember the show in Munich in 1996?” I’m like no. He said, “yeah you do; you were wearing this big felt troll hats, it was Oktoberfest! You guys were so drunk that you took off all your costumes and played the whole show naked!” I was like, "oh I remember!" [Laughs] We want to catalog that stuff one day and like most great bands they put out a movie and chronicle every single moment, bad and good.

Sharita: So the character names, what do they all mean?

Dave: Well Oderus basically got that name because he smells real bad. Urungus just sounds like something stinky that you might get in your jock strap. Flattus he also smells, he’s much more explosive, his characters super ability is he lets out these giant farts, he consists on a diet of only vegetarians so he has the worst smelling farts in the world.  Beefcake the Mighty well that’s self-explanatory he’s 6'7" and weighs 340 pounds.  Jizmak the Gusher we never really figured out why he was called that, he just plays drums, leave him alone. Balsac, that’s the worst story of all, he’s called Balsac because once upon a time he was the most beautiful man in the land, and he fell in love with the wrong chick and a sorcerer put a spell on him so his testicles are where his face should be and his face is where his testicles should be.  So because of that he wears a large bear trap over his face.

Sharita: Well being a fan and a contributor to Blabbermouth, I read what you said about Phil Anselmo, please elaborate.

Dave: What did I say? I called him a fag…

Sharita and Karma: [laughs] junkie motherfucker...

Dave: Phil picked the fight and I’m just finishing it.  That motherfucker invited us to his show at the House of Blues we’re playin’ there the next night.  His tour manager comes up to us, he we’d like you all to come to the show.  Then onstage he ridicules GWAR, like we don’t need no fuckin’ costumes to rock.  I’m just like you invite us to your show to ridicule us? I mean this is the same guy that’s been on our bus, drinkin’ our beer before.

Karma: How long ago was this?

Dave: About two years ago. We know his girlfriend Kay; she’s a good friend of ours. So we called Kay and we said what the fuck is up with Phil badmouthing GWAR? So she asked him about it and he says [changing voice] I didn’t say anything about GWAR! About a week later I’m doing this interview in Denver and the first thing he asked me was why is Phil Anselmo so not into GWAR?  I just talked to him the other day and he spent the whole interview talking shit about you guys! So I let him have it.  I mean he won’t be the first to die by the sword that redneck moron first of all no one gives a fuck about Pantera anymore, second he should get his fuckin’ racist, redneck, chunky, ass off the fuckin’ mic talking shit about bands that are heavy metal fuckin gods. If you’re gonna complain about something, why don’t you complain about the election, why not complain about the fascist state our country is slipping into, why don’t you complain about that fact that you’re a junkie. Why do you want to rip GWAR, you sure as fuck don’t want to get into any kind of match with me, because I’m going to kick your fuckin’ ass! Just ask Corey in Slipknot!

Sharita and Karma: Ooh! Wow.

Dave: A little fuel for the fire?

Sharita: I’ll say!

Dave: GWAR don’t take no shit. We been doin’ this for eighteen years with no support from major labels, no support from radio, we built this thing with our bare hands and I’m not gonna let some motherfucker who has been living with a silver spoon in his mouth for God knows how long off his Pantera royalty checks tear down the most precious thing in my life. I mean I don’t know if he’s a fag or anything, I don’t care if he’s gay!  He pissed me off! [laughter fills the room] I mean it seems to me all the people in metal should support each other! Just don’t fuck with me or you’ll get your ass kicked.

Karma: Well should I ask what happened with Corey Taylor?

Dave: Oh that was silly. He was doing a thing on his website and he started ragging on GWAR.  I would never let my band get like GWAR, and blah blah, going on and on, totally self-involved, my overalls are too hot. I’m reading his interview is in Rolling Stone and he’s sitting here talking about how hot his overalls are. Man, give me a feature in Rolling Stone and I’ll talk about something that actually makes sense, that’s intelligent and make people go wow that’s interesting. I’m not going to sit there and complain about how hot it is on stage.  You want to feel hot you can crawl into my costume for one show; you’ll have a damn brain hemorrhage. I wrote back a retort from Oderus and destroyed him and to this day people have been giving him shit about that comment.  On his site he backpedaled madly. [Changing voice] “I didn’t say that, I didn’t mean that!” I hope Phil comes out and retorts, just so I can say what the fuck is your problem man. Yeah he got my dander up!  Honestly I don’t have anything against Phil, if he wants to give me free publicity that’s fine.  I got to go on Blabbermouth and see this shit!

Karma: Ok here are some Speed Round Questions for you!

Dave: Are these two interviews than one? Oh excellent.

Karma: So you can do this as Oderus if you want to. So what’s your interpretation of the meaning of life?

Oderus: The meaning of life is death.  The only reason you are born is to die. Die for GWAR and for me to eat your toenails!

Karma and Sharita: [laughs]

Karma: Who would you describe as your worst enemy?  
       
Oderus: Well I believe that would be Phil Anselmo and I believe he would probably go “Aahhhhh!” as my scaling horn protuberance made a ruin of his nether regions and fucking bloody cum exploded out of his nostrils! I don’t think he would be able to get to the bank to cash his latest royalty check!

Karma: [laughs] Oh wow. What’s your guilty pleasure song?

Oderus: I don’t feel guilty about any pleasure, the only thing I feel guilty about is that I haven’t figured out enough pleasures yet! I been stompin, thumpin, shootin’ crack into my eyes, eating Kaopectate by the goddamn train full!

Sharita and Karma: [laughs]

Oderus: If that’s a crime I’m guilty!

Sharita: Oh wow!

Karma: What’s your mantra?

Oderus: No mantra! [Laughs]

Karma: Your top 5 favorite musicians.

Oderus: Oh there are certain musicians I will always love. I will always love Slayer, I liked Pantera a lot until Phil turned out to be such a dumbass, Slipknot! Let's not talk about bands that are good, lets talk about bands that suck!

Karma: There you go!

Oderus: ICP [Insane Clown Posse], oh my God, stop! It’s horrible, it’s not music.

Karma: Alive or dead, who would you like to meet?

Oderus: Alive or dead? Abraham Lincoln because I think I could skull fuck that hole in the back of his head pretty good!

Sharita: Oh wow.

Oderus: Well he freed the slaves.

Sharita and Karma: [laughs]

Karma: What’s your favorite quote?

Oderus: "Father, this hurts!"

Karma: Uh, where’s that from?

Oderus: Jesus on the cross. Ouch! You fucker, get me off this fucking cross!

Karma: Your favorite color?

Oderus: Clear.

Karma: Ok.  Do you find yourself over compensating for time or are you always late?

Oderus: Uh for me when you’re from outer space and a god thing like me time runs backwards, forwards, sideways all directions at once so we’ve already had this conversation.

Karma: Oh so I should’ve know this answer already.

Oderus: No you’re just a human so I don’t expect you to know that, if you had a watch that could do that it would easily be bigger than your house.  Until we get microsurgery down a little better I can’t expect you humans to keep up with that but in the meantime I’d have to say that I’ve completely forgotten the question.

Karma: Thanks for being so lenient! [Laughs]

Oderus: Oh no problem! Well before the interview they made me take a nice pill, it lasts about a half an hour and well I’m starting to get mean!

Karma: Well I better hurry up then. What was your wildest encounter on a tour bus?

Oderus:  We don’t have a tour bus; we have a bat shaped helicopter that takes me from gig to gig. But, if I was telling the truth I would say one time we had a tour bus that was brand new, state of the art, everything was computerized and we we’re doing this great show and all these hot chicks were on the bus and we had this huge party there was like fifty people on the bus and all of a sudden we heard whoop whoop [making noise] and we couldn’t get the door open. The computer was fried, the lights were flashing and the only way out was to go through this tiny window. All these girls were crawling out and plummeting 12 feet to wet asphalt and all you hear is aahhh and there was a slight pause as they fell through the air then ploop! [Hysterical laughter ensues]

Karma: What’s the first album you ever purchased?

Dave: Alice Cooper Welcome to My Nightmare.

Karma: First job?

Oderus: McDonald’s, oh wait a minute those are Dave Brockie answers.

Dave: Uh oh well they will have to do!

Karma and Sharita: [laughs]

Karma: The first pet you ever owned.

Oderus: Uh, Balrog he was in the Tolkien movie, the first one.

Karma: How about your most embarrassing moment on stage?

Oderus: Not defecating myself.

Karma: That’s a good thing.

Oderus: Well, we always need a power poo is what we call it.

Karma: What would you like written on your epitaph?

Oderus: Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

Karma: What's the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

Oderus: I want to strangle Phil Anselmo!

Karma: Oh wow! [Laughs] What pisses you off?

Dave: I’m a pretty contented human being really. Whiny, dumbass, pussy ass rock stars who really should keep their fuckin’ mouths shut, who got it so good, get to ride on golden tour buses filled with screeching twelve year old boys and for some reason they think it is within their range of power to mock the almighty GWAR!

Karma: Okay. How about your favorite comfort food?

Oderus: Uh. Brazilians!

Karma: If not music then what?

Dave: What else is there?

Karma: That’s always my answer! If you could commission another band to do a cover tune who would it be and what tune would it be?

Oderus: Lawrence Welk still alive?

Karma: Uh no.

Oderus: Boxcar Willie?

Karma: Uh I don’t think so.

Oderus: Burl Ives?

Karma: Unless you resurrect him.

Oderus: Well I guess it would have to be the Cure and they would do "Slaughterama" and I would knock Robert Smith's head off!

Karma: Have you fans changed at all?

Oderus: The ones that survived the shows seemed to get uglier and strangely enough they are breeding. So we have people bringing their children to the shows. “We didn’t to see butt fucking twenty years ago, and here’s our chance, can we feed them to the world maggot?” They’re horrible!  

Karma: [laughs] Are you a morning, noon, or evening person?

Oderus: Definitely evening. Dark, I walk around with a black cloud all around my shroud.  Sunbathing is not my deal.

Karma: Your favorite smell?

Oderus: I guess the smell of the inside of my own nostrils.

Karma: How about your least favorite?

Oderus: The smell of the inside of your nostrils.

Karma: Okay! [Laughs] Omnivore, carnivore?

Oderus: Omnivore I will eat anything and it doesn’t have to be alive or dead. I mean wood, fire hydrants, pebbles, city blocks, helicopters, mud at the bottom of the river and I’m pretty much the same sexually.

Karma: Name three things you cannot live without?

Oderus: My seven and half foot long broad sword, the tireless devotion of my incredible group of slaves who every night spend hours chipping excrement off my armor, the agonizing screams of my scaled penis being shoved up Phil Anselmo’s ass!

Karma and Sharita: Thank you, so much!


Thanks to the tour manager Eddie, Mark Morton from Chipster Entertainment, and as well as Dave/Oderus.

The views of the artist are not necessarily shared by the staff of FourteenG

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