Chuck Varga, a founding member of the shock metal band GWAR who performed as the character “the Sexecutioner,” has died at the age of 68.
Varga’s death was announced Friday by GWAR bassist Casey “Beefcake The Mighty” Orr; in June, the band started a fundraiser in support of Varga as he battled cancer.
“Chuck Varga has left this earthly realm. He passed peacefully, his beloved wife Bambi holding his hand,” Orr wrote. “He was one of a kind. As an artist, as a performer; as a scholar and a gentleman. I’m better for having known him and the world is lesser for his leaving. He is most likely being welcomed into Valhalla right now by [singer Dave] Brockie and [guitarist Cory Smoot] and all who went before. Raise your glass and tell his tales. Legends never die. Hail Varga! Hail Sexicutioner!”
While Varga was not among the original musicians in the Richmond, Virginia-based GWAR, he was an invaluable founding member of the band’s Slave Pit Inc., which designed the group’s infamous onstage costumes as well as create their artwork and overall design.
Credited with helping to create singer Dave “Oderus Urungus” Brockie’s costume among others, Varga assumed the onstage role of “the Sexecutioner” in 1987, and held the role in concert for over a decade, performing lead vocals on the track named after the character:
Varga’s “Sexecutioner” also handled lead vocals on GWAR’s “RagNaRok,” the title track from the band’s 1995 album of the same name:
Varga remained in the GWAR orbit even after his exit as a full-time member, occasionally appearing onstage while still contributing to the visual side of the long-running metal act.
“Chuck Varga’s contributions to the GWAR and Slave Pit collective are enormous,” Bob “Bone Snapper” Gorman, another member of GWAR and the Slave Pit, said in a statement after the band announced its fundraiser in support of Varga.
“The influence of his illustrations, character designs, performances, and artistic vision can still be felt throughout GWAR today. Chuck’s over-the-top underground art aesthetic helped define an entire universe and inspired generations of artists and fans around the world. His legacy will remain with us forever, and we hope this fundraiser not only helps support Chuck and Bambi during this difficult time but also serves as a celebration of everything Chuck has given to GWAR and its community.”
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