Feedback was a panelist at UVA’s Battle of the Bands this weekend, alongside The Corner’s Brad Savage, representatives from Nailgun and Red Light Management, as well as Michael Bishop, who was known as Beefcake the Mighty when he was in GWAR. Judges unanimously decided to pass the crown and scepter to Pompadour, who now get to open for an unannounced act at UVA’s Springfest. (A birdie told me that it might be the Dirty Projectors.)
If you’re wondering why this is editorial interest to the non-UVA crowd, past winners of the battle include Sons of Bill and Sparky’s Flaw, now Parachute, who take cruises on VH1’s dime.
I’ve heard for years about these Bigfoot-like rumors that former GWAR members live in town, where they probably buy groceries and drink coffee like the rest of us. I asked Bishop what he’s been up to, aside from teaching music history at UVA. He said he’s started playing bass for Sarah White and the Pearls. She’s apparently got a whole new lineup.
More on that to come. For now, enjoy this video of GWAR on the Joan Rivers show. For reasons that will become clear, I’m not positive that it’s Michael Bishop in the Beefcake the Mighty costume.
Joan Rivers asks GWAR who writes their music, and they respond: "After we destroyed the dinosaurs, we stretched their gizzards across the Grand Canyon and Beefcake composed the first song ever."