Fear not, metal fans, for GWAR has announced a run of summer-fall dates with Light the Torch. The tour begins on 7/11 in Ft. Wayne, IN and runs through 9/14 in Millvale, PA. Tickets and VIP packages will be available this Friday, 5/18. VIP packages include souvenirs, an invitation to play a GWAR instrument onstage during soundcheck, and, most importantly, the opportunity to be killed onstage by GWAR.
Formed in Richmond, Virginia, in 1984, the camp heroes have released a total of 14 albums. The most recent The Blood of Gods, was released in October of 2017. The conceptual group, known for their theatrics on stage, has changed dramatically over time. Following the death of frontman Dave Brockie in 2014, Michael Bishop, former Gwar bassist, replaced Brockie as frontman.
In an interview with Decibel, Bishop spoke about the new record, The Blood of Gods: “It’s more of a rock and roll record. It has songs that are more like the stuff we were doing on the fourth album, where we were trying to do some different stuff, some stuff that has kind of some roots in punk rock, some roots in rock and roll, but also some stuff that really plays with different styles.”
He also talks about the current political climate and the impact on the band: “It’s weird. It’s like, ‘Man, what are we going to do?’ The world has gotten so fucking sick and so crazy, that what are we going to do that surprises people? Especially this particular cultural moment in the United States, with President Trump and all that stuff. We’re trying to work it into the show, it’s definitely on the album.”
Tickets and VIP packages become available for sale Friday, May 18 at 10:00 local time.
Buy tickets at GWAR.net. VIP package are available exclusively at https://www.gwarvip.com
GWAR with Light The Torch and TBD:
7/11: Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere’s#
7/12: Cadott, WI @ Rock Fest*
7/13: Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection**
7/14: Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s**
7/15: Lincoln, NE @ The Bourbon Theatre**
7/16: Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note**
7/17: Springfield, MO @ The Complex**
7/20: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel**
9/13: Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
9/14: Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre
#DevilDriver Appears this date only
*Festival Appearance
**Light The Torch on July Dates Only
Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna