Gwar was the result of two separate projects that eventually combined into one. Dave Brockie was the vocalist for a punk band named Death Piggy. Death Piggy met Hunter Jackson and Chuck Varga, both students of Virginia Commonwealth University who had set up "The Slave Pit", a production space for Scumdogs of the Universe, a movie they intended to make. Jackson would create props for Death Piggy to use on stage. On occasion, Death Piggy would wear costumes Jackson and Varga had created for their movie in order to open up for themselves under the name "GWAARGGGH!!!", eventually shortened to Gwar. Gwar would end up eclipsing and later absorbing Death Piggy.

The band's debut, Hell-O, a crossover heavy metal/punk rock album, was released in 1988 under Shimmy Disc Records. With Gwar's line-up somewhat solidified, the band would set up to record Scumdogs of the Universe. The album met a large mainstream success and would mark the start of a career under the Metal Blade Records record label. The band would tour extensively in support for this album, releasing the Live from Antarctica VHS tape in July, 1990, containing, amongst other things, the band's first music video for the song Sick of You.

This Toilet Earth was released on 1994, meeting moderate success and with the videos for Saddam a Go-Go and their most popular song, "The Road Behind" being aired on Beavis and Butt-head. War Party in 2004 was met with a large underground success. This time there was a more serious and technical edge, partially due to the efforts of new lead guitarist Cory Smoot (Flattus Maximus) and bass guitarist Todd Evans (Beefcake the Mighty). Videos were released for "Bring Back the Bomb" and "War Party," and the band was asked to play on the Sounds of the Underground tour in 2005. That same year the band released Live from Mt. Fuji, the band's first live album besides the then-extremely rare You're All Worthless and Weak, released in 2000 (and re-released in 2006) on Slave Pit Records.

Gwar's eleventh studio album, Lust in Space, was released on August 18, 2009, through Metal Blade Records. They performed at the 2009 Gathering of the Juggalos to promote their new album and will be touring countrywide in 2009 as well with Lamb of God and Job For A Cowboy. See them live, it's insane!