Hell-O

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Hell-O is the first album released by novelty rock/heavy metal/punk band GWAR. It was released in 1988, on Shimmy Records.

GWAR's angle on this album is that of a morbid punk band (a la The Mentors), with songs deriding the USA (such as "Americanized" and "Ollie North") as well as those of general grotesqueness ("Slutman City", "Bone Meal"). Hunter Jackson makes his first appearance in "Techno's Song" and "I'm in Love (With a Dead Dog)" showcased a tender episode in canine-alien relations. The famous "GWAR Theme" is a memorable car-eating anthem. Jacques-Yves Cousteau makes a bizarre cameo as well, in a song that could possibly be influenced by Dadaism. (In another reference, the liner art does a stab at Picasso's Guernica, which is renamed Gwarnica.)

The Japanese release of Hell-O features a bonus track, "Black And Huge," found on GWAR's next album, Scumdogs of the Universe. The song found on some copies of Hell-O is an earlier version, and is the first GWAR song to feature Michael Derks as a member (having replaced Stephen Douglas as BalSac The Jaws of Death). Subsequent releases of the album do not feature this song. This version of the song fits in with Hell-O more than it does with Scumdogs, as the guitars are not tuned down a half-step, and the tempo is faster (and Oderus' vocals are more of the singing style from this album).

"Rock N' Roll Party Town," the last song on this album, was the first song ever written by the band.

GWAR members don't talk about this album as much as the others, but there is a general consensus that it wasn't as bad as We Kill Everything (an album especially reviled by Dave Brockie and Michael Derks). This is also the least-frequently played album in concert, probably due to the quality of the songs. "GWAR Theme" and "Pure As The Arctic Snow" are the two songs most often played live (though they are rare in appearance).

Line-up

Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus) - Vocals
Dewey Rowell (Flattus Maximus) - Lead guitar
Michael Bishop (Beefcake the Mighty) - Bass / Backup vocals
Rob Mosby (Nippleus Erectus) - Drums
Steve Douglas (Balsac the Jaws of Death) - Rhythm guitar
Hunter Jackson (Techno-Destructo) - Vocals in "Techno's Song"

Track listing

"Time for Death" - 2:44
"AEIOU" - 1:25
"Americanized" - 1:36
"I'm in Love (With a Dead Dog)" - 2:32
"Slutman City" - 3:49
"Word o Filth" - 1:14
"War Toy" - 2:22
"Captain Crunch" - 3:52
"Pure as the Arctic Snow" - 2:27
"Je M' Appelle J. Cousteau" - 3:07
"GWAR Theme" - 2:26
"Bone Meal" - 0:42
"Ollie North" - 1:55
"Techno's Song" - 3:44
"U Ain't Shit" - 1:19
"Rock & Roll Party Town" - 3:10


GWAR
Oderus Urungus \| Flattus Maximus \| Beefcake the Mighty \| Jizmak Da Gusha \| Balsac the Jaws of Death
Slymenstra Hymen \| Nippleus Erectus

Albums: Hell-O \| Scumdogs of the Universe \| America Must Be Destroyed \| This Toilet Earth \| RagNaRok \| Carnival of Chaos \| We Kill Everything \| Violence Has Arrived \| War Party \| Beyond Hell
Independent releases: Slaves Going Single \| You're All Worthless And Weak \| Let There Be GWAR
Other releases: The Road Behind \| Hate Love Songs/Penguin Attack 7" \| Live from Mt. Fuji
Related articles
''GWAR videography \| Dave Brockie Experience \| Death Piggy \| X-Cops

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