A Tribute to Oderus Urungus

The metal community experienced a tragic loss this past week. Gwar frontman, David Brockie a.k.a. Oderus Urungus has passed away. This week on “Into the Pit,” we will take a look at Oderus’ legacy with Gwar, and talk about how he changed heavy metal forever.

Gwar is a thrash metal band that takes plenty of influence from hardcore punk. The band is legendary for its outrageousness. The band members all wear monster costumes and have developed fictional personas for themselves. Oderus has been the only constant member throughout all of Gwar’s history, though Balsac the Jaws of Death and Jizmak Da Gusha have also been longtime members of the band.

Beginning in 1984, the band has released 13 albums to date. The band’s most famous record is its second album, Scumdogs of the Universe, which all of its members consider to be the group’s defining masterpiece. Lyrically, Gwar’s music varies, but many records are based on the fictional backgrounds the band members’ have created for their personas.

Gwar fans are commonly known as “bohabs,” named after Father Bohab from the band’s beloved third album, America Must Be Destroyed. Bohab means habitually boring, and is seen in contrast to how Gwar fans typically act.

Gwar has always been known for its live performances. The band members are always dressed in costume and they all embrace Gwar’s fictional background. Oderus was always the spectacle of the show. His personality was infectious and his fantastic sense of humor ensured that all of Gwar’s fans had a great time at their concerts. 

What made Gwar so instantly special was that the band was one of the first metal groups to really mix comedy and heavy metal. Gwar has always been ballsy, too. The band has never been afraid to cross boundaries and be unconventional. Oderus had a powerful vision that he worked hard to achieve with Gwar. 

Gwar’s music has always been ambitiously fun. The group has never been musically innovative, but they have still written great, rambunctious thrash metal songs.  It’s the kind of metal that is just hard not to enjoy. 

To many unfamiliar onlookers, Gwar may seem like a gimmick, but the metal community has never thought of the band that way. The group is a riot and metalheads tend to appreciate the stupidity behind the concept of the band. Gwar is a fun group that has united fans of heavy metal music time and time again. 

Oderus’s spirit has always been the driving force behind Gwar. He will certainly be missed by metalheads everywhere. The band may continue without him, but if they do, they will never be the same. Gwar is Oderus’s baby, and he will always be the most legendary character amongst the group’s collection of lovable monsters.