Collection of GWAR flyers and art at VCU Libraries highlights Richmond’s counterculture history

By Brian McNeill

VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives has catalogued and made available to the public and researchers a collection of original art and promotional flyers associated with the Richmond-based sci-fi heavy metal band GWAR.

Contributed by Bob Gorman, a former Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts student and local artist who has worked with GWAR since 1988, the Bob Gorman GWAR and Richmond flyer collection includes material primarily created in the early 2000s, with some from as early as 1992 and as recent at 2016. It includes flyers from Metal Blade Records on GWAR shows and album releases, as well as other acts signed to the record label.

Gorman, who portrays Bonesnapper and is also GWAR's shop foreman and band historian, began saving GWAR flyers and other material starting around 1987 but got serious about collecting GWAR history in 1997.

"We've always been an art collective, and so it's kind of a difficult story to tell, but I thought somebody would be interested at some point," Gorman said.

Bob Gorman, GWAR's Bonesnapper, historian and shop foreman, donated the Bob Gorman GWAR and Richmond flyer collection to VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives. (Contributed photo).

He noted that 1997 "was probably the point where people maybe cared the least. But I knew what we were doing was important to me, and I figured it'd be important to someone eventually. We'd always been popular, but things seemed to be kind of dying at the end of the '90s. Luckily, we've had a couple of revivals since then, and now it seems like people really love us, so that's pretty awesome."

Gorman connected with retired VCU Libraries archivist Ray Bonis while conducting research for the book "Let There be GWAR," compiled with Roger Gastman, and a related documentary.

"Ray had helped me out immeasurably with some research," Gorman said. "And I said, 'Oh, I've got all this other stuff, doubles and other things, and I'd like to start putting it out of my hands.' If my house burned down at one point, it would have lost 99% of GWAR's history. So I started thinking about my own legacy and GWAR's legacy and trying to put it with institutions so it would be around for a while."

The collection includes art, posters and other material primarily created in the early 2000s, with some materials created as far back as 1992 and as late as 2016. (Photo by Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Chrystal Carpenter, head of Special Collections and Archives at VCU Libraries, said the new collection shines a light on Richmond's underground music and art scene, preserving the creativity behind GWAR and Gorman's artistic style. For students and researchers, she said, it will serve as both a resource and an invitation to explore how punk, metal and DIY culture shaped community and performance.

"Beyond its striking visuals and promotional ephemera, the Gorman collection documents the collaborative spirit of a band and collective that blurred boundaries between music, theater and visual art. It is an invaluable resource for anyone studying DIY culture, performance art or the evolution of independent music in Richmond," Carpenter said.

Gorman said he hopes the collection will inspire and remind people of Richmond's counterculture history.

"I really sort of dislike the way Richmond is becoming a little more bland and a little more just like everywhere else," he said. "Richmond has had a really great history of counterculture art and music, and really, it's what we're known for. It's maybe kind of surprising with all the lofts and breweries, but it's still here, and I just want people to know some important stuff has come out of Richmond."

The collection is available for researchers to use in Special Collections and Archives at Cabell Library. To make an appointment, email [email protected] or call 804-828-1108.