GWAR and Me

I woke up like any other person getting ready for the day when I happened to read a strange tweet from Devin Townsend explaining Dave Brockie founding member and character personality Oderus Urungus passed away on Sunday March 23rd 2014 at the age of 50.

If I may say is to soon, but I get it in the harshest reality of being in a band where cash is often elusive, hence the often cliche term starving artist reaches forth and strangles health and prosperity before my eyes.

Being a long time fan (since the 90's) I've watched both the slide and evolution (if you will). The band and the revolving door of characters change and tried to compete with a disconnected...err out of touch music industry that seemed to be in at arms length way of marketing them.

It is really cool to see the DIY aspect of this band, though backed by a major label (which in this day is damn near unheard of), a lot the work was done behind the scenes.

I am at a loss as to the unfairness about the band, yet there is this uncomfortable reality which followed the band. Dave's over the top personality sometimes influenced indirectly that perception.

Yes its true us diehards liked them but it never translated into anything more than a kind of televised recognition. I find curious how the GWAR machine perpetuated this frenzy, but it didn't go very far even with fresh reboot (of sorts with Cory Smoot). Either way, GWAR was always that light of creative energy in what has become a bland and sterile industry unsure of itself.

Firstly, on a personal level I am gutted. Secondly, like the Type O Negative situation funding dictated whether or not I could participate, and third, Dave's death (I believe) leaves a big hole in the creative and theatrical arena. I am not trying to discount all the hard work that goes into a GWAR show, or what Lordi does, Green Jelly, Mushroohead, or Slipknot to name a few others.

Like those groups, what younger generation of performers is taking the mantel set by those bands? Dave put the strange in weird, that is my take on it. Even with all the of the band members towing the large carcass forth, GWAR feels empty now that he isn't part of that. The one thing I could always look forward to was his art, craft, his writings, and design.

I've never got to meet the man, but, we all know someone like Dave, whom can be extremely boisterous, obnoxious, over the top, unrelenting, fearless, and employs gobs of cock sureness that inspires or it infuriates. For me Dave's alter ego Oderus is that last stamp of a now fading 80's era of punk and thrash music scene.

Sure there are so many people whom shared wit with the man, yet from all the stories I've read from his RVAnews GWAR, Me, and the Onrushing Grip of Death web blog, his writing sealed an intimate, and personal inside look with my fandom of the band and his alter ego/character.

I will miss Dave and Oderus (whom are one and the same), I will look fondly upon his countless hours of video, interviews, and miserable writings he left all of us with. I don't believe I will mourn his passing because he celebrated it every day by owning it, torturing it, and kicking its ass.

His creativity will always be part of my rough side. I am still stunned by his passing, but I accept it because there is no sorrow, just joy, and ample amount of passionate compassion that is missing in a indifferent extreme music scene unsure of where it wants to go.

Thank you for all the great music, wisdom, trash, and verbal diarrhea. The world is going to miss your slice of perspective. I already do. Thanks for reading.

B.