What you need to know about shock heavy metal icons Gwar before they play Wooly's Tuesday
The shock metal band that thrives in vulgarity is coming to Wooly’s Tuesday for a not-so family-friendly show.
Gwar, who don horns splitting from their heads, armor made of fake bones and costume genitalia, will bring their brand of crass to the Des Moines music venue at 7:30 p.m.
If you’re curious about Gwar, here’s five things to know about the band — one of which will save you from scrubbing out stains on your clothes should you attend the Aug. 29 show.
They’re not from planet Earth
The members of GWAR were part of an elite fighting force, the Scumdogs of the Universe, before being banished to Earth for their failures. Ignore any mentions of them forming in the 1980s in Viriginia.
They were once arrested due to a performance
At a Charlotte, North Carolina, concert in 1990, Gwar’s onstage theatrics, which involved a crucifix, props and sexually explicit actions, led to the arrest of a band member afterward, according to the Guardian.
Don’t wear your favorite clothes
Fans have left Gwar concerts covered in fake blood and other unmentionables. Be sure to stand far back, or else you’re going to get caught in their spray.
They were nominated for two Grammy Awards
Gwar nabbed two Grammy nominations over the years, including Best Metal Performance and Best Music Video, wild stage performances and barbarian-esque outfits and all.
Gwar will get political on stage
A person donning a mask of former President Donald Trump once joined Gwar on stage and mimicked a sexual act with a member of the band, per a video on Gwar's Facebook page. Gwar has disemboweled an effigy resembling former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin and beheaded an effigy of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, among many other political and pop culture victims.
Tickets can be purchased on First Fleet Concerts’ website. General admission is $35.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at PBarraza@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Shock heavy metal icons Gwar plays Wooly's on Tuesday in Des Moines
