Gwar Frontman Says Arrest Let Them Know They ‘Really Had Something Going On’

As Gwar celebrate their 25th anniversary with a new album, 'Lust in Space,' out Aug. 18, frontman Oderus Urungus -- a.k.a. Dave Brockie -- admits to Noisecreep that being in an outrageous spoof metal band hasn't always been fun and games.

"Anyone who is jealous of me, don't be," declares Brockie. "Everything that Gwar gives, it takes away, too." It's a rare moment of seriousness from the outspoken D.C.-native, as he looks back on Gwar's outrageous career. There was the time in the mid-'80s, for instance, when Gwar first rose to fame -- if not infamy -- when the police busted the theatrical band onstage in Athens, Ga. for public indecency. The threat of jail time was a frightening experience and the bust a real low for the band's morale. Until they found support from an unlikely place, that is.

"Out of the blue, who should call us but the American Civil Liberties association," Brockie recollects. "We sued the Athens Police Department and won. We donated the money to the Missing Children Organization."

Now that's a very touchy-feely un-Gwar thing to do. "You'd think," laughs Brockie. "Well, it turned out the check we gave them bounced. We didn't realize we'd spent the money. We had a big ceremony on the steps of the Athens Police Department to hand over the check. It was the most f---ed-up, surreal thing I've ever done in my life. We ended up getting them the money later, but I was pretty ashamed of myself."

Didn't the experience of being busted put the band off, though? "Oh god no! If we didn't piss these people off, we weren't doing our jobs. When they did that, we knew we really had something going on."