This Toilet Earth
Encyclopedia
This Toilet Earth is the fourth album
released by rock
/heavy metal
/punk
band Gwar
. Released in 1994, this album was to be one of their oddest and most bittersweet albums. It was the first Gwar album to be censored
(the second was We Kill Everything
, which comes in both censored and uncensored versions), due to their gain in popularity as a result of MTV
exposure. The music and artwork is almost cartoonish when compared to the previous albums, and the instrumentation had expanded to include horns (in the opener, "Saddam a Go-Go") that reinforce the goofiness.
Skulhedface was the movie released to document this album. "Jack the World" was also featured in the Beavis and Butt-head
video game for the Sega Genesis.
Storywise, the enemy is now Skulhedface, an alien queen who was deformed in a Synnite Warrior raid on her planet centuries before. In retaliation, she travels to Antarctica, encounters Gwar while they are hibernating, and steals their Jizmoglobin, or life force. Her midget slave Flopsy and she then create a creature made up of the melded parts of evil historical figures (such as Hitler) called the Flesh Column. Skulhedface disguises herself as an evil executive for the Glomco corporation, and uses propaganda to turn Gwar into sickeningly cuddly cartoon characters. Meanwhile, Gwar discovers that the World Maggot is their only opportunity to escape Earth, but Skullhedface stands in their way. Oderus & Co. must regain their Jizz and catch the maggot in time. Both the movie Skulhedface and the album feature the voice of Scott Krahl as Skulhedface (Krahl played Gor-Gor in the tour prior to this album). Krahl also played the World Maggot on this tour and movie.
took note of Gwar's seemingly increasing success and offered them the deal they were looking for. Not only would Gwar, as well as the entire Metal Blade Records
catalogue, get a great distribution deal, but the record company was also willing to help them get their next movie, Skulhedface, a bigger budget, as well as a planned theatrical release. Excited to get their first taste of real mainstream success with Gwar, the band immediately began work on both the album and the movie, with both being finished in late 1993. However, Warner Bros. wasn't happy with the end product of This Toilet Earth, mainly because of one song: "B.D.F.". They told the band if they omitted the song, the issue would be resolved and everything would continue as planned; but if the band refused to drop the song, not only would the entire record be dropped and Gwar's contract ripped up, but the distribution plans between Metal Blade and Warner Bros. would no longer continue as well. The band had serious internal discussions whether or not to drop "B.D.F.", and they all concluded they would not leave the song off. After hearing that Metal Blade Records was fully supportive of the band's decision, Gwar reported back to Warner Bros. and told them no, "B.D.F" was there to stay. Gwar now had a new album and a new movie, but no distributor.
Because of B.D.F.'s comically vulgar and extremely graphic references to obscene acts that run the gamut from sodomy
, necrophilia
, pre-natal rape, pedophilia
to mutilation (the initials stand for "Baby Dick Fuck," which is used in the chorus of the song), Gwar was forced to release the initial pressing of the CD through Priority Records
- this initial pressing was 25,000 copies, according to Brad Roberts. The song was removed from subsequent pressings of the CD through Metal Blade Records
. "B.D.F." was not the only song to cover such subject matter - We Kill Everythings "Babyraper," with its less-than-subtle title (as opposed to the abbreviation used for "B.D.F"), goes into extreme detail about the same subject, but, unlike in 1994, was not required to be removed from the album (presumably because it was released at the lowest point of Gwar's popularity). Both songs are still played live, though less frequently than other, heavier songs (indeed, very few of the tracks on either album are played live, due largely to story conflicts and new musical direction).
and the lyrics parody the Eurythmics
song "Here Comes the Rain Again
":
I wanna suck like lovers do
I wanna lose a Grammy too
I wanna kick the teeth outta you
. Lee would be shot not too long after the album was finished. As a result, he was out of commission for the beginning of the tour, and most of Skulhedfaces filming. As a result, touring for this album was minimal.
It is also the last album with Michael Bishop as an actual full-time member of the band. Bishop, who played Beefcake the Mighty
, left the band in 1993, after the recording of This Toilet Earth. He would be replaced by Casey Orr, and then would return for the brief touring preceding, and the recording of, We Kill Everything
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
released by rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
/heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
/punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Gwar
Gwar
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
. Released in 1994, this album was to be one of their oddest and most bittersweet albums. It was the first Gwar album to be censored
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
(the second was We Kill Everything
We Kill Everything
-Story:The album's story differs slightly than the version told in "It's Sleazy" and on tour.The first three tracks on the album do not follow one particular story, and focus on Gwar's generally decadent ways...
, which comes in both censored and uncensored versions), due to their gain in popularity as a result of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
exposure. The music and artwork is almost cartoonish when compared to the previous albums, and the instrumentation had expanded to include horns (in the opener, "Saddam a Go-Go") that reinforce the goofiness.
Skulhedface was the movie released to document this album. "Jack the World" was also featured in the Beavis and Butt-head
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
video game for the Sega Genesis.
Storywise, the enemy is now Skulhedface, an alien queen who was deformed in a Synnite Warrior raid on her planet centuries before. In retaliation, she travels to Antarctica, encounters Gwar while they are hibernating, and steals their Jizmoglobin, or life force. Her midget slave Flopsy and she then create a creature made up of the melded parts of evil historical figures (such as Hitler) called the Flesh Column. Skulhedface disguises herself as an evil executive for the Glomco corporation, and uses propaganda to turn Gwar into sickeningly cuddly cartoon characters. Meanwhile, Gwar discovers that the World Maggot is their only opportunity to escape Earth, but Skullhedface stands in their way. Oderus & Co. must regain their Jizz and catch the maggot in time. Both the movie Skulhedface and the album feature the voice of Scott Krahl as Skulhedface (Krahl played Gor-Gor in the tour prior to this album). Krahl also played the World Maggot on this tour and movie.
"B.D.F."
In late 1992/early 1993, during the band's search to find a bigger record label and distributor, Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
took note of Gwar's seemingly increasing success and offered them the deal they were looking for. Not only would Gwar, as well as the entire Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
catalogue, get a great distribution deal, but the record company was also willing to help them get their next movie, Skulhedface, a bigger budget, as well as a planned theatrical release. Excited to get their first taste of real mainstream success with Gwar, the band immediately began work on both the album and the movie, with both being finished in late 1993. However, Warner Bros. wasn't happy with the end product of This Toilet Earth, mainly because of one song: "B.D.F.". They told the band if they omitted the song, the issue would be resolved and everything would continue as planned; but if the band refused to drop the song, not only would the entire record be dropped and Gwar's contract ripped up, but the distribution plans between Metal Blade and Warner Bros. would no longer continue as well. The band had serious internal discussions whether or not to drop "B.D.F.", and they all concluded they would not leave the song off. After hearing that Metal Blade Records was fully supportive of the band's decision, Gwar reported back to Warner Bros. and told them no, "B.D.F" was there to stay. Gwar now had a new album and a new movie, but no distributor.
Because of B.D.F.'s comically vulgar and extremely graphic references to obscene acts that run the gamut from sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
, necrophilia
Necrophilia
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia or necrolagnia, is the sexual attraction to corpses,It is classified as a paraphilia by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The word is artificially derived from the ancient Greek words: νεκρός and φιλία...
, pre-natal rape, pedophilia
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
to mutilation (the initials stand for "Baby Dick Fuck," which is used in the chorus of the song), Gwar was forced to release the initial pressing of the CD through Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
- this initial pressing was 25,000 copies, according to Brad Roberts. The song was removed from subsequent pressings of the CD through Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
. "B.D.F." was not the only song to cover such subject matter - We Kill Everythings "Babyraper," with its less-than-subtle title (as opposed to the abbreviation used for "B.D.F"), goes into extreme detail about the same subject, but, unlike in 1994, was not required to be removed from the album (presumably because it was released at the lowest point of Gwar's popularity). Both songs are still played live, though less frequently than other, heavier songs (indeed, very few of the tracks on either album are played live, due largely to story conflicts and new musical direction).
Jack the World
The track "Jack the World" laments losing a 1993 Grammy to Annie LennoxAnnie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
and the lyrics parody the Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
song "Here Comes the Rain Again
Here Comes the Rain Again
"Here Comes the Rain Again" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics. It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. The song was released as the third single in the UK from the album Touch and in the United States as the first single. It became...
":
I wanna suck like lovers do
I wanna lose a Grammy too
I wanna kick the teeth outta you
Lineup Changes
This Toilet Earth is Gwar's first album with Peter Lee as Flattus MaximusFlattus Maximus
Flattus Maximus is the name of a former character and guitarist in the American heavy metal band Gwar. He is known by his red face, white dreadlocks, dinosaur-head shoulder pads and reptile feet. The name "Flattus" implies a flatulent character. His speaking mannerisms suggest a childlike...
. Lee would be shot not too long after the album was finished. As a result, he was out of commission for the beginning of the tour, and most of Skulhedfaces filming. As a result, touring for this album was minimal.
It is also the last album with Michael Bishop as an actual full-time member of the band. Bishop, who played Beefcake the Mighty
Beefcake the Mighty
Beefcake the Mighty is the bassist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a stout humanoid girded in Roman-style armor. He is usually portrayed wielding either an oversized Gladius sword or a large battle-axe .-Background:According to Gwar mythos, Beefcake originates from the planet Cholesterol...
, left the band in 1993, after the recording of This Toilet Earth. He would be replaced by Casey Orr, and then would return for the brief touring preceding, and the recording of, We Kill Everything
We Kill Everything
-Story:The album's story differs slightly than the version told in "It's Sleazy" and on tour.The first three tracks on the album do not follow one particular story, and focus on Gwar's generally decadent ways...
.
Track listing
The track listing on the back of the album skips the number 9, making the album appear to have only 15 tracks. The track listing on the disc itself corrects this matter.Line-up
- Dave Brockie (Oderus UrungusOderus UrungusOderus Urungus, played by Dave Brockie, is the lead vocalist of the Metal band Gwar. He appears as an intergalactic humanoid barbarian with devil horns and a meaty looking face, and always carries around a long sword named "Unt Lick"...
) - Lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Pete Lee (Flattus MaximusFlattus MaximusFlattus Maximus is the name of a former character and guitarist in the American heavy metal band Gwar. He is known by his red face, white dreadlocks, dinosaur-head shoulder pads and reptile feet. The name "Flattus" implies a flatulent character. His speaking mannerisms suggest a childlike...
) - Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Mike Derks (Balsac the Jaws of DeathBalsac the Jaws of DeathBalsac the Jaws of Death is the rhythm guitarist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a humanoid creature with a face resembling a bear-trap. Balsac is usually portrayed wielding a giant battleaxe...
) - Rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals, spoken words on "Obliteration of Flab Quarv 7" - Michael BishopMichael Bishop (bassist)Michael Bishop is an American musician, and Bishop attended Thomas Dale high school. Most notably, he was the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band GWAR. As a member of GWAR, he was the first to play the role of "Beefcake the Mighty") . In addition to GWAR, Bishop played bass and sang...
(Beefcake the MightyBeefcake the MightyBeefcake the Mighty is the bassist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a stout humanoid girded in Roman-style armor. He is usually portrayed wielding either an oversized Gladius sword or a large battle-axe .-Background:According to Gwar mythos, Beefcake originates from the planet Cholesterol...
) - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Brad Roberts (Jizmak Da GushaJizmak Da GushaJizmak Da Gusha is the drummer in the rock band Gwar. Although the costume has undergone many changes since the character was introduced, Jizmak's onstage get-up somewhat resembles a monstrous dog with very large teeth...
) - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Danielle Stampe (Slymenstra HymenSlymenstra HymenSlymenstra Hymen was Gwar's dancer and occasional singer portrayed by Danielle Stampe . She is perhaps best known for fire dancing, usually during the song "Horror of Yig." On the tours for the Carnival of Chaos album, she danced to the song "Sammy," because "Horror of Yig" often followed the...
) - Backing vocals - Scott Krahl (Skulhedface) - Vocals on "The Insidious Soliloquy of Skulhed Face"