GWAR, the horrific metal band infamous for its blood and guts-stained performances, may have just made metal history. It now has a female frontwoman leading the band: Vulvatron!
If you’ve ever seen the band live you have probably been sprayed with fake blood, and if you’re the squeamish type I wouldn’t recommend Googling GWAR. But ever since the beloved leader of the band, Dave Brockie (aka Oderus Ungus) died of an accidental heroin overdose earlier this year, the band has been looking for a new leader to take hold. It’s the first time since 2000 (when there was Slymenstra Hymen) that GWAR has had a female member at all. This is a big deal in the metal community.
Vulvatron will be joining Blothar as frontman, who has been a part of the band’s evolving cast for years. When Vulvatron debuted at Riot Fest in Chicago last weekend, she proved she wasn’t just a small role or groupie. As Wondering Sound writer Kim Kelly reported earlier today: “she’s just as gross and goofy as her male bandmates, whether she’s slaying dinosaurs or disemboweling Nazi skinheads onstage.” If that’s not a feminist icon in the making, I don’t know what is. It will be great to see more girls get into the metal scene because of this decision by GWAR and it will definitely send a message into the community about female representation.
Image c/o James Richard IV from Brooklynvegan.
