According to a 2015 TED Talk by Michael Bishop, an early member of Gwar now trained in music ethnography, the name is a commentary on the privilege of the band's white members within Richmond, Virginia's history of racial slavery.[1]
History (1984–1993)
1984
Hunter Jackson rents a studio in an old Richmond Dairy building, intending to shoot a space pirate movie entitled "Scumdogs of the Universe". He names his studio "The Slave Pit".
1985
Two costumes are completed and Death Piggy moves to the Dairy building.
Mike Delaney moves into the Dairy building and names his studio "The Swamp".
Chuck Varga moves to Richmond and moves in with Delaney.
1986
Don Drakulich rents studio space in the Dairy building and ultimately moves in.
Many new artists and bands move into the Dairy building.
Slave Pit, The Swamp, and Don's studio begin prop production for Gwar performances.
1987
Renovations to the Dairy building force many tenants out and prop production moves to a tobacco warehouse a few miles away.
Slave Pit is soon kicked out of the tobacco warehouse and returns to Don's cramped Dairy space.
The artists solidify from a loose collaboration to real members of Gwar; consisting of Don Drakulich, Chuck Varga, Mike Bonner, Scott Krahl, Dave Musel, and Dave Brockie.
In October, 801 W. Broad St. is rented as a new Slave Pit.
1988
In October, the first complete North American tour coast to coast.
1989
The North American tour aptly named Death Tour 89 begins.
1990
Slave Pit Incorporated becomes a legal corporation.
