Gwar brings 40th anniversary tour to Ybor City next month

Full-length photograph of five members of the band GWAR in their full, custom-made monster and armor costumes. The figures stand under dramatic stage lighting that casts deep red and orange illumination across the figures and the floor. The costumes feature dark, intricate textures of spikes, tusks, bone, and black armor. The figures are posing aggressively for the camera. GWAR Credit: Carter Louthian

Dust off your LARP gear and poncho, because Gwar (stylized in all-caps) is celebrating 40 years of gender non-conforming dinosaurs and mythological imagery, and the celebration tour is returning to Ybor City this fall.

After founding frontman Dave Brockie’s viking funeral in 2014, the satirical-metal band put its pet tyrannosaurus rex Gor Gor to rest as well. But last summer, the dino—now a “20-foot tall trans-species prostitute” according to the group—was resurrected for a new project called The Return of Gor Gor, a seven-track outing that features live tracks and a few new studio cuts. A 32-page comic book also accompanies it, because who doesn’t want to go all Coheed & Cambria on their fans?

Tickets to see Gwar play Ybor City’s The Ritz on Sunday, Nov. 16 are still available and cost $50.75.