2008 Woodie Awards
Top shocking moments in rock
Chris Essig/Online Interactive Editor
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Arts and Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Top Ten Shocking Moments in Rock
1. Ozzy Osbourne bites head off dove at record label meeting
2. Jerry Lee Lewis marries 13-year-old cousin
3. John Lennon: "We're bigger than Jesus"
4. Marvin Gaye is murdered by is father
5. John Lennon is murdered on Dec. 8 1980
6. Kurt Cobain's suicide
7. Prince changes name to symbol
8. Michael Jackson accused of child molestation
9. 2 Live Crew As Nasty as They Want to be banned
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers perform in just socks in 1980
-compiled by Kristy Mellendorf/Associate Pounce Editor
My Most Shocking Moment: Gwar
- The first time I saw Gwar was at Sounds of the Underground tour in 2005. I'd never really heard of them at the time and had only a vague idea of their outlandish live show. Boy, was I in for a surprise.
To give you an idea of how much preparation went into creating their live spectacle (if you can call it that), let me break down just how long it took to set it up. Around 10 to 15 bands play in a single day on the SOTU tour. The bands that start off the day get 20 minutes to play with each set of bands afterwards getting a few extra minutes. The headliners get roughly an hour to play.
Gwar got to play for a half an hour. It took the stage crew at least 45 minutes to set up their stage props and another 30 minutes to tear it down and prepare the stage for the next band.
When they finally came on, the band was dressed like demonic warriors from some foreign planet, which the band insists isn't just an act. But it wasn't just the band. At least 10 other gremlins rotated their way on stage throughout the performance, each of them either dressed elaborately like mythical juggernauts or almost not dressed at all.
Throughout the show, people like the Pope and the president were crucified on stage (much to the delight of those in attendance) and their open wounds were pointed in the direction of the audience, drenching us in fake blood. Adding to the mayhem were twin cannons on each side of the stage, further pounding us with fake blood and sewage.
The show was as funny as it was musically entertaining, an attribute I have yet to label to any other band I've seen live.
1. Ozzy Osbourne bites head off dove at record label meeting
2. Jerry Lee Lewis marries 13-year-old cousin
3. John Lennon: "We're bigger than Jesus"
4. Marvin Gaye is murdered by is father
5. John Lennon is murdered on Dec. 8 1980
6. Kurt Cobain's suicide
7. Prince changes name to symbol
8. Michael Jackson accused of child molestation
9. 2 Live Crew As Nasty as They Want to be banned
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers perform in just socks in 1980
-compiled by Kristy Mellendorf/Associate Pounce Editor
My Most Shocking Moment: Gwar
- The first time I saw Gwar was at Sounds of the Underground tour in 2005. I'd never really heard of them at the time and had only a vague idea of their outlandish live show. Boy, was I in for a surprise.
To give you an idea of how much preparation went into creating their live spectacle (if you can call it that), let me break down just how long it took to set it up. Around 10 to 15 bands play in a single day on the SOTU tour. The bands that start off the day get 20 minutes to play with each set of bands afterwards getting a few extra minutes. The headliners get roughly an hour to play.
Gwar got to play for a half an hour. It took the stage crew at least 45 minutes to set up their stage props and another 30 minutes to tear it down and prepare the stage for the next band.
When they finally came on, the band was dressed like demonic warriors from some foreign planet, which the band insists isn't just an act. But it wasn't just the band. At least 10 other gremlins rotated their way on stage throughout the performance, each of them either dressed elaborately like mythical juggernauts or almost not dressed at all.
Throughout the show, people like the Pope and the president were crucified on stage (much to the delight of those in attendance) and their open wounds were pointed in the direction of the audience, drenching us in fake blood. Adding to the mayhem were twin cannons on each side of the stage, further pounding us with fake blood and sewage.
The show was as funny as it was musically entertaining, an attribute I have yet to label to any other band I've seen live.
Be the first to comment on this story