Metal Anarchy

GWAR have officially recruited Tommy Meehan (Squid Pisser, Cancer Christ) as their new guitarist. He will be performing as a new character called Grodius Maximus.

Meehan told Guitar World the following:

“I go way back with GWAR; I was friends with Dave Brockie [founder and rhythm guitarist who died in 2014]. We had Dave in an animated cartoon associated with an old project of mine, and I stayed in touch with all the GWAR guys over the years.

But I hadn’t talked to them since before COVID, and I’d started a band called Cancer Christ, and one of my main goals was to tour with GWAR. I actually said that out loud.

About two years later I got an email about opening for GWAR on an East Coast tour. We did a whole month. Brent [Purgason] and I were hanging out a bunch, talking about guitars, and he said, ‘This is gonna be my last tour with GWAR.’ It was a huge decision for him. That’s when he started pushing for me to give it a go and talk to the guys about trying it.

Brent got me up on stage one night in Pennsylvania, and that was the first time I played music with GWAR. I got to know them from there. We started talking more and went through an audition process. I’ve been going above and beyond to let them know I really want to play with them.”

He also added:

“As far as it stands currently, we’re talking about a permanent situation. We’re both feeling each other out with this upcoming tour. But there are logistics – they live in Richmond, Virginia, and I’m in Los Angeles. We’re figuring out the logistics. But I’ve been sharing a lot of demos with them and bouncing ideas back and forth.”