GWAR have spent more than forty years shocking audiences with satirical, blood-soaked performances, turning horror into comedy with over-the-top “executions” as a display for their “disdain for all humanity,” of celebrities and politicians from both sides of the spectrum. At Riot Fest this past weekend, the band once again staged cartoonish beheadings of figures like Elon Musk and Donald J. Trump, but in today’s politically divided climate, especially after the recent assassination of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, the act drew unexpected backlash.
While longtime fans may have shown up prepared with ponchos to protect against the fake blood splatter, many unfamiliar with GWAR’s theatrics misinterpreted the performance as politically charged rather than satirical. The uproar spread online, with coverage from outlets such as Breitbart and the New York Post, and even Libs of TikTok calling the show “incitement.”
In a new interview with Billboard, GWAR frontman Blöthar The Berserker addressed the controversy and clarified the band’s intent:
“The idea that GWAR is normalizing violence is patently absurd. We’re not millionaires that are afraid of what people are going to say when they see what we do… Yeah, it pissed me off! We’re a group of artists that makes art, and it’s really the idea that what we have done is normalizing violence… there’s nothing normal about the violence that goes on at a GWAR show. It’s a cartoon, it’s Looney Tunes. It’s a parody of violence. It’s trying to make violence into a spectacle and show humanity’s absolute absurdity. That’s what GWAR is, it’s absurdism. To say it’s normalizing violence is really reaching.”
In response to social media reactions, Blöthar adds:
“Like I know this is a rage bait engagement farming twitter account, but ‘GWAR crossed a major line’ is one of the funniest f–king things I’ve ever heard. The dumbest people on the internet are still mad today. Got to love it. As long as they keep posting that awesome video and mentioning our name for the free publicity it’s a win for me.”
If anyone remains confused about who GWAR really are, the 2021 documentary This Is GWAR is a great start. It dives into the band’s outrageous history, mythology, and decades of over-the-top stage shows, offering a clear picture of why onstage decapitations are nothing new. Over the years, effigies of O.J. Simpson, Osama Bin Laden, Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton, the Pope, and even Taylor Swift have all been theatrically dismembered. Every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan has met the same fate, Republican or Democrat, it doesn’t matter.
GWAR’s shows have always been built on satire, absurdity, and spectacle. To see their Riot Fest performance as anything more than the continuation of a decades-long cartoonish tradition misses the point. The band doesn’t take sides; they attack authority, celebrity, and cultural icons with equal vigor. For those who want to understand GWAR’s legacy, watch the documentary, enjoy the blood-soaked chaos, and remember that it ties comedy, horror, music, and science fiction into one musical spectacle filled with absurdity.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Mar Morannon
