LET THERE BE GWAR: 40 Years of Intergalactic Chaos Celebrated at Beyond The Streets LA

GWAR has never followed the rules—and that’s exactly why they’ve ruled for over four decades. This fall, BEYOND THE STREETS presents LET THERE BE GWAR: A Monumental Retrospective Celebrating Four Decades of Intergalactic Chaos, curated by Bob Gorman (GWAR) and Roger Gastman (Beyond The Streets). The exhibition in Los Angeles is Now Open through November 2, 2025, offering free entry to fans, art lovers, and chaos-seekers alike.

The exhibit offers fans an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the chaotic creativity of Bob Gorman and the entire GWAR collective. From humorous traditions—like the ritual of sacrificing a virgin white T-shirt to a GWAR show (so it may be drenched in stage blood and worn forever as a badge of honor)—to hands-on tutorials like “Make Your Own Bloodbags,” the experience celebrates the band’s deep DIY spirit. Scattered throughout the exhibition are storytelling moments that reveal the origins of specific props, costumes, and chaotic memories—like the legendary “True Big Fish Story of Dave Brockie’s Detachable Penis.” That particular tale includes Brockie’s real-life court appearance after the incident, where, to his delight, the presiding judge’s name was Richard Boner.

Following Brockie’s passing, GWAR honored him in the only way that felt right—with a Viking-style funeral at Hadad Lake, complete with flowers, bagpipes, and an effigy set ablaze as it floated off into the distance. These moments, wild as they are, reflect just how deeply GWAR’s art has become woven into both fan ritual and outsider pop culture. LET THERE BE GWAR isn’t just an exhibit—it’s a celebration of a band that reminds us all that the world might be absurd, but that’s exactly why we should laugh at it.

40 Years of GWAR: From Richmond to the Universe

Born out of an abandoned dairy building in Richmond, Virginia in 1984, GWAR is more than a band—they’re a full-blown art collective, shock rock empire, and DIY mythology machine. Fusing punk ethos, sci-fi satire, heavy metal thrash, and grotesque theater, GWAR invented a universe where blood, questionable other fluids, and social commentary flow in equal measure in the most beautifully authentic artistry.

From their self-made costumes, props, and stage characters to their richly developed alien folklore, GWAR has been a force in subculture and—whether you realize it or not— they’ve ruled the underground zeitgeist of pop culture for 40 years. They’ve made cameos in Beavis & Butt-Head as the duo’s favorite band, Empire Records where Marc emerged out of GWAR’s worm monster, and even performed on Jimmy Fallon, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and TEDx. That’s the beauty of GWAR—they spoof the system while outlasting it.

What makes GWAR legendary is their influence on culture. Whether to laugh, scream, wonder, adore, and/or fear, GWAR’s impact is of no comparison to any other artist, celebrity, alien, musician, or comedian because no one does it like the Scumdogs of the Universe.

@beyondthestreets

40 years of mayhem ‼️ 🩸BEYOND THE STREETS PRESENTS: LET THERE BE GWAR🩸  A MONUMENTAL RETROSPECTIVE CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF INTERGALACTIC CHAOS Curated by Bob Gorman & Roger Gastman Opening September 13 – November 2, 2025 | Los Angeles | FREE ENTRY Step inside 40 years of DIY insanity: 🩸 Original costumes, props & instruments 🩸 Giant spew tanks & stage relics 🩸 Video installations, rare artwork & ephemera 🩸 Every inch transformed into GWAR’s outrageous universe 💥 SPECIAL OPENING WEEKEND: September 13&14 | 11AM–6PM | With live appearances by members of GWAR! 📍 434 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 🕚 Wed–Sun: 11AM–6PM | Mon–Tues: Closed

♬ original sound – BEYONDTHESTREETS

Step Inside the GWAR Universe

LET THERE BE GWAR is the most comprehensive showcase of GWAR’s wild world ever assembled where fans can get a closer look at the band’s works of art. This sprawling retrospective transforms every inch of BEYOND THE STREETS into a warped cathedral of chaos. Visitors can expect:

Original handmade costumes, instruments, masks & monster gear
Immersive video installations and rare behind-the-scenes footage
Iconic set pieces like giant spew tanks, the monster toilet, and decapitation props
Visual art & ephemera from the band’s underground zines, comics, and fan newsletters

Whether you’re a lifelong Bohab (GWAR superfan) or new to the madness, this exhibit invites you to witness a 40-year cross-disciplinary legacy that redefined what performance, protest, and punk could look like.

@beyondthestreets

🩸 BEYOND THE STREETS PRESENTS: LET THERE BE GWAR 🩸 A MONUMENTAL RETROSPECTIVE CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF INTERGALACTIC CHAOS Curated by Bob Gorman & Roger Gastman Opening September 13 – November 2, 2025 | Los Angeles | FREE ENTRY 💥 SPECIAL OPENING WEEKEND: September 13&14 | 11AM–6PM | With live appearances by members of GWAR! 📍 434 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 🕚 Wed–Sun: 11AM–6PM | Mon–Tues: Closed Stay tuned for exclusive collabs, rare merch, and the expanded release of the LET THERE BE GWAR book + 7” vinyl & more! #gwar #losangeles

♬ original sound – BEYONDTHESTREETS

True Artistry Never Dies—It Just Bleeds

GWAR has stayed true to their vision since day one. They never chased trends or watered down their expression. Instead, they created their own rules—blending underground comics, absurdist sci-fi, performance art, and metal satire into a genre-defying empire. As GWAR puts it:

“For 40 years GWAR have mounted a misanthropic critique of American culture dressed up as shock rock. This collection of artifacts offers a sense of the unique punk inspired anti-art aesthetics of underground comics, science fiction fandom, role-playing games, and satirical splatter flick nerdishness at the heart of the band.”

Their legacy includes:

Two Grammy nominations
Appearances in video games, comic books, and even a GWAR-themed bar in Richmond
Self-produced films, documentaries, and Mind Control Monthly zines
Intellectual disruption across music, visual art, and live performance

GWAR isn’t just a band—they’re one of the longest-running and most beloved art collectives in American history.

“This isn’t just a music exhibition,” says curator Roger Gastman. “GWAR represents one of the most successful long-term art collectives in American culture, and their influence on both underground and mainstream entertainment is undeniable. They came to destroy… and ended up creating something eternal.”

GWAR x BEYOND THE STREETS: Exclusive Merch Drop

To coincide with the exhibit, BEYOND THE STREETS and GWAR are releasing a limited edition co-branded collection, including:

A newly expanded 400-page LET THERE BE GWAR book with rare photos and interviews
A limited edition 7” vinyl record
A compilation of GWAR’s Mind Control Monthly newsletter
Exclusive apparel, prints, and artwork

These collectibles pay tribute to the band’s history while giving fans new ways to celebrate their favorite alien overlords.

Why You Can’t Miss This

GWAR may have never reached “top 40” commercial status, but that’s exactly the point. They’ve become icons of thrash, shock, comedy, and performance art by staying genuinely authentic. Their influence can be felt across metal, punk, cosplay, horror, satire, and even pop culture—and this exhibit finally gives their artistic contributions the museum-quality spotlight they deserve.

So whether you’ve followed them since the early days or are just now learning about the space-faring band of blood-splattering anti-heroes, consider this your invitation to reap the wrath.

@gwar

THE RETURN OF GOR GOR IS COMING! NEW MUSIC, A COMIC AND A PLUSHIE FOR ALL YOUR GOR GOR NEEDS! https://gwar.net/collections/the-return-of-gor-gor

♬ original sound – GWAR

Let There Be Chaos. Let There Be GWAR.

The exhibition is FREE and open to the public through November 2, 2025. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore 40 years of DIY mayhem and monstrous creativity.

Visit:
Beyond The Streets, 434 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA
September 12 – November 2, 2025
FREE ENTRY