GWAR Gearing Up For The Opening Of GWARbar
Heavy metal band GWAR is gearing up for the opening of their new restaurant GWARbar in Richmond, Virginia.
With the recent passing of one of their members, Dave Brockie, the remaining members are even more determined to open GWARbar, which is one of Brockie’s dreams.
GWAR guitarist Mike Derks, also known as Balsac the Jaws of Death, will also serve as the restaurant’s chef. According to him, some of the offerings that will be available in the restaurant include nuggets, freshly-ground burgers, and homemade hotdogs. “I’m making foodie food for people who aren’t foodies,” he said. Derks is also planning to prepare a dessert plate with Ho-Hos and Twinkies.
Not known to many, Derks has been working in the restaurant and bar industry for over 30 years. He said that other than being in GWAR, working in restaurants “has been the one job I have been able to keep.”
The dreams of opening GWARbar became a reality with the help of venture capitalist Jonathan Staples, who is also a big fan of the band. Since the 1980’s, Staples has been urging Brockie and Derks to set up a place where hardcore fans of GWAR can hang out.
It also helped that Staples has connections with several chefs including Travis Croxton, and Mike Isabella and Bryan Voltaggio, who were both contestants in the reality show Top Chef. Staples introduced Croxton to GWAR and said, “‘Travis, one word: GWARbar.’ He looked at me, then the guys, and said, ‘I’m in.'”
GWAR then turned to Indiegogo to raise funds for GWARbar. They are aiming for $50,000 and they reached 44 percent of their goal. Funds raised from Indiegogo will be used for completing the second floor’s kitchen, dining room, and a beer garden.
Die-hard fans are sure to enjoy the restaurant. Washington Post reports that Derks is planning to create a restaurant atmosphere that is pure GWAR. Band posters will be mounted on the walls, tour memorabilia will be displayed for everyone to see, and the band will also be rotating various pieces from their own collection of props and costumes that they have used through the years.
While GWARbar is still in the works, fans can join the band for festivities at their 5th Annual GWAR B-Q, which is going to be held at Hadad’s Lake in Richmond next month. This year’s GWAR B-Q will feature several events including the Dave Brockie Oderus Urungus Memorial, Spew-O-Lympics, and the appearance of John Russo who is the co-writer of Night of the Living Dead.
[Images via Huffington Post / Indiegogo]
