GWAR have rallied around one of their own, launching a fundraiser to support founding member Chuck Varga as he battles cancer. Varga — the artist and performer behind the character The Sexecutioner from 1985 to 2022 — and his wife, Bambi, are facing what the band describes as tremendous medical, financial and personal challenges as they navigate this chapter together.
The campaign aims to cover Varga's mounting medical costs and care, while also helping Bambi manage their finances as she steps into the role of full-time caregiver. Proceeds are earmarked for medical bills, hospice care, specialized equipment and nursing support, as well as everyday expenses tied to the couple's Brooklyn apartment.
To drive the effort, GWAR are offering exclusive Chuck Varga merchandise, including limited-edition t-shirts featuring his own artwork, and have put The Sexecutioner's Axe — the character's iconic weapon, wielded onstage for nearly four decades — up for auction. The items underline just how central Varga's visual imagination has been to the GWAR universe.
"Chuck Varga's contributions to the GWAR and Slave Pit collective are enormous," said bandmate Bob Gorman, who performs as Bonesnapper. "The influence of his illustrations, character designs, performances, and artistic vision can still be felt throughout GWAR today." Gorman added that Varga's aesthetic "helped define an entire universe and inspired generations of artists and fans around the world," concluding: "His legacy will remain with us forever."
The news lands as GWAR, founded more than four decades ago, continue to honor the memory of late frontman Dave Brockie — the legendary Oderus Urungus — who died in March 2014 at the age of 50. The shock-rock collective has long been defined by its do-it-yourself ethos and tight-knit creative family, and the campaign for Varga is a direct expression of that bond. Fans wishing to contribute can do so through the official fundraiser and merchandise store.