After a brief arctic slumber your Lords and Masters GWAR will be returning to the road this Spring on the second leg of their “Return of the World Maggot Tour”. The tour kicks off with a special tribute show for fallen band mate and friend Cory Smoot, AKA Flattus Maximus, in Richmond, VA, at The National Theater on Friday March 16th. All proceeds from the Richmond show will benefit the “Smoot Family Fund” which has been established to help support Cory’s widow and their unborn child. Support on this run will come from fellow Richmond metallers Municipal Waste and California’s Ghoul. Legacy of Disorder will join the tour on March 20th in Boston and the tour will run through April 11th in Fort Collins, CO.

Tickets for fan club members go on sale tomorrow January 25th and tickets will go on sale to the general public Friday January 27th and Saturday January 28th .

Personal slave to Oderus and Slave Pit spokesman Dave Brockie had this to say…

“All the years of doing GWAR could never have prepared us for what we have been through, and I want to thank the metal community and the extended GWAR family for all of your support. Finishing that last tour was the hardest thing we have ever had to do, and we still have about half of the country left to hit. We will continue as a four-piece, with the special tribute to Flattus at the end of the show, in order to give our fans a chance to say goodbye to our fallen Scumdog brother in true GWAR fashion-covered in blood and rocking the fuck out! After this tour is over we can start looking to the future and begin to put this tragedy behind us. But for now we are still in “Hail Flattus” mode!”

DON’T MISS GWAR ON TOUR
3/16: Richmond, VA @ The National
3/17: Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls
3/18: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
3/20: Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theater
3/21: So. Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
3/22: Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theater
3/23: Toledo, OH @ Headliners
3/24: Lexington, KY @ Buster’s Billiards and Backroom
3/25: Joliet, IL @ Mojoes
3/26: Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater
3/27: Des Moines, IA @ People’s Court
3/28: Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
3/30: Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater
3/31: Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater
4/1: Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater & Club
4/2: Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theater
4/3: San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues
4/4: Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theater
4/5: Chico, CA @ Senator Theater
4/6: San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
4/7: Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
4/9: Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Café
4/10: Magna, UT @ The Great Salt Air
4/11: Ft. Collins, CO @ Aggie Theater

Cory had played the role of Flattus Maximus in the world’s most infamous band for eleven years, as well as participated in many side projects, while at the same time producing and engineering tons of records at his always busy Karma Studios. In doing so he had become a treasured part of the local and national metal scene, and they turned out in force to both events, opening their hearts to Cory’s family in a completely selfless display of solidarity, respect, and generosity.

Cory’s widow, Jaime, who is pregnant with Cory’s child, had this message for the fans-

“I want to sincerely thank ALL the friends and fans for their amazing donations and support!! Thanks to Eve and Brent for organizing the events, to the businesses that contributed raffle prizes, and to the venues and bands for making the shows awesome!! You guys made Cory, the baby and me very proud!”

Show highlights included Lamb of God lead singer Randy Blythe singing for thrashers Cannabis Corpse. Blythe was later joined by Municipal Waste lead singer Tony Foresta in shearing off five years of hair from GWAR lead singer Dave Brockie’s head, which was raffled off to a lucky winner but ended up everywhere. But the most stirring performance came from Cory’s band mates Mensrea, who pulled themselves together for a powerful and emotional tribute to the life of this truly amazing man.

The show Saturday night at the Canal Club was also the CD release party for Cory’s solo record, “When Worlds Collide”, which will be coming out on Metal Blade Records soon. The next planned event is on Friday March 16th, when GWAR, Municipal Waste, and Ghoul will play at the National Theater. All funds raised at the show will go to the Smoot Family Fund. For those who can’t make it and still wish to donate, they can do so HERE.

GWAR spokesman Dave Brockie commented on the tour’s cancellation:

“Several of the promoters were alarmed by the low ticket sales, and they decided to start pulling the plug on shows. It got to the point where we had lost so many shows that we simply could not afford to do the tour.”

Brockie continued:

“We are super disappointed that this happened, and we apologize to all of our European fans for cancelling the tour. We did everything we could possibly do to save it, but it just didn’t work out. The tickets are fully refundable so make sure you get your money back!”

In other GWAR related news, Oderus and Balsac were recently “hired” by MTV’s Next Movie to review the new Steven Spielberg’s new epic, “War Horse”. Are your Mutant Overlords the next Siskel and Ebert??? Find out HERE.

Stated North Dakota coroner William Masselo, MD:

“We have finalized the autopsy report and death certificate. I have determined that Cory died from a coronary artery thrombosis brought about by his pre-existing coronary artery disease.”

The band, which will continue as a four-piece until the current tour schedule is complete, has officially retired the character of Flattus Maximus, and has announced no plans regarding a new GWAR-tarist.

Metal Blade and GWAR have since set-up the Smoot Family Foundation to raise funds for Cory’s wife, Jaime, and their unborn child. Donations can be made HERE. Also, at The Canal Club in Richmond, Va. on January 7th there will be a record release show (featuring Mensrea, Cannabis Corpse, DBX and more) for Cory’s solo record, “When Worlds Collide”, which he had completed working on just prior to his death. The album will be released early next year, with all proceeds going to the Smoot Family Fund.

Photo: Moloich Photography Ltd. Photographer: Dave Flewwelling

Ancient Antarctic metal marauders GWAR will carry on with their plans to tour Europe in Jan. 2012, despite the recent death of guitarist Cory Smoot, during the bands “Return of the World Maggot Tour”.

Said GWAR spokesman Dave Brockie a.k.a. Oderus Urungus– “When Cory died, we all wanted to go home and take care of the family and our own grief. But the best way to do that is by playing all the shows we have planned. The response from the U.S. metal community and especially the whole international GWAR family has been overwhelmingly supportive…these GWAR fans need the chance to pay their respects to Cory, and cancelling any shows would deprive them of that.”

“Let’s make these shows a celebration of Cory Smoot, one of the most amazing players in metal…I am calling on the European GWAR family to get out there and drag everybody in sight to these gigs! We shall honor Flattus Maximus in the only way we know how…by rocking the fuck out!!!”

The Smoots, GWAR, and Metal Blade Records have created the “Smoot Family Fund”, and GWAR and Slave Pit are calling on the metal community to support Cory’s family in this tragic time. Donations can be made here http://www.metalblade.com/smootfamilyfund/
“C’mon everybody from our rock star buddies to the most zit-covered bohab,”said Brockie. “Cory had a growing family that is going to need help-for a long time. Of course GWAR is doing everything we can, and we need you to help as well.

If you would prefer to donate to the Smoot Family Fund by mail, the address is:
Slave Pit Inc
C/O Smoot Family Fund
PO Box 5225
Richmond, VA 23220

The band has officially retired the character of Flattus Maximus, and will finish the U.S. and Europe tours as a four-piece. GWAR lead singer Oderus Urungus had this to say about their missing lead guitarist-

“Flattus, without our permission I might add, has stolen our Skumship and returned to his beloved home planet, Planet Home. So once again we are marooned on your miserable planet!”

Check out an amazing video tribute to Cory HERE

For 27 years GWAR’s relentless tour schedule and bristling release schedule have been evidence of the bands fanatical dedication to not only their fans but metal itself. GWAR’s decision to continue on with these tours has put that dedication to the test like nothing before. Now more than ever they need your support. HAIL FLATTUS, AND HAIL GWAR!

GWAR EUROPEAN TOUR DATES

01/11/12 – BE – Antwerp – Trix
01/12/12 – UK – Bristol – Bierkeller
01/13/12 – UK – London – Electric Ballroom
01/14/12 – UK – Coventry – Kasbah
01/15/12 – UK – Manchester – The Ritz
01/16/12 – UK – Belfast – Spring & Airbrake
01/17/12 – IE – Dublin- Button Factory
01/18/12 – UK – Wrexham – Central Station
01/19/12 – UK – North Yorkshire – The Duchess
01/20/12 – UK – Swansea – Sin City
01/21/12 – UK – Nottingham – Rock City
01/22/12 – UK – Reading – Sub 89
01/24/12 – UK – Portsmouth – Highlights
01/25/12 – DE – Bochum – Matrix
01/26/12 – DE – Bielefeld – Forum
01/27/12 – DK – Copenhagen – The Rock
01/28/12 – SE – Gothenburg – Brewhouse
01/29/12 – NO – Oslo – Rockefeller
01/30/12 – SE – Stockholm – Klubben

(These recent pictures of Cory Smoot were taken backstage at NBC Studios on Oct.27th, 2011, as Cory got ready for GWAR's second appearance on Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon.)

Arrangements have been finalized for the memorial service for Cory Smoot AKA Flattus Maximus. The service will take place this Friday November 11th at the Bennett Funeral Home Chesterfield Chapel, located at 14301 Ashbrook Parkway in Chesterfield, VA. The private service begins at 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that contributions be made to the “Smoot Family Fund”.  Contact Smootfamilyfund@gmail.com.

GWAR will have to cancel two performances on their current tour, so they can attend the services. Thursday November 10th in Medford, OR and Friday November 11th in San Francisco, CA are the dates that are affected. Tickets for both dates will be refunded at point of purchase. The complete remainder of the tour with Every Time I Die, Ghoul and Warbeast will resume as scheduled Saturday November 12th at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and runs through Sunday November 27th at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT.

GWAR ON TOUR
11/12 West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
11/13 Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse
11/14 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
11/15 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
11/16 Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
11/18 Austin, TX @ East Side Drive In
11/19 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
11/20 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
11/21 New Orleans, LA @ The Hangar
11/22 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
11/23 Tampa, FL @ Green Iguana Stadium
11/25 Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
11/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
11/27 New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place