'Let There Be GWAR' celebrates metal's bloodiest band

The exhibit marks 40 years of the group’s handmade sci-fi artistry and music.

- By Susan HoRNIK

COSTUMES, stage decorations, tour memorabilia and other items from the band's history are on display at the Beyond the Streets gallery in Los Angeles.

(Photographs by DAVID BUTOW For the Times)

It’s not often where you find a provocative band whose handcrafted performance art is just as vital to its legacy as its music.

Such is the case for GWAR, who celebrated their 40-year anniversary with a comprehensive multimedia exhibit that opened last week at L.A. gallery Beyond the Streets.

"Let There Be GWAR" showcases the Grammy-nominated band’s elaborate sci-fi artistry through its numerous costumes, props, comics, live performances at clubs and pivotal moments on television. Materials such as foam, latex, fiberglass and a variety of metals and plastics have gone into their colorful creations.

"The story of GWAR is complex but in the end it’s a group of like-minded weirdos making art," Bob Gorman, an integral craftsman in the band’s artist collective, told The Times.

"Our mythos emerged from comic books and gaming culture and it has a narrative. Each band member has a character; they are part of our zeitgeist."

As the band’s archivist, Gorman was able to retain the original artwork, costume designs and even milk bottles from the band’s early days, which can be seen throughout the exhibit.

"Early on, I decided to be our historian, so through the years, I have saved things and put them aside for an opportunity such as this retrospective. This exhibit gets very detailed, yet stays broad enough for anyone to enjoy without getting into the weeds."

In addition to being the exhibit curators, Gorman and Beyond the Streets founder Roger Gastman coauthored “Let There Be GWAR,” a coffee table book which recently launched into its third printing, and is now available at the gallery's merch store, along with other limited-edition items.