Some fans of GWAR had to wonder what would be next for the gross-out metal band. Following the death of longtime lead singer Oderus Urungus (AKA Richmond, VA’s own Dave Brockie), it was still hard to imagine the band not going forward in some incarnation.

Enter: Vulvatron, the new co-lead of the costumed metal act who’ll be spurting blood all over audiences from coast to coast.

The updated lineup made its debut at last weekend’s Riot Fest featuring Vulvatron singing alongside regular GWAR band member Blothar (formerly Beefcake the Mighty). Blothar – real name Mike Bishop – has been with the band since near its inception for those of you not up on your GWAR lore.

The Chicago show was the debut for Vulvatron, played by Kim Dylla. According to the music site Wondering Sound, Dylla is a clothing designer and musician – a mix that should fit in well with the art freaks, punks, and weirdos that have made up GWAR since its 1988 debut. Balsac the Jaws of Death, Pustulus Maximus, and Jizmak da Gusha will continue to keep it weird on the instruments.

As Wondering Sound points out, this makes for a pretty dramatic move for a band that’s been transgressive in a lot of ways, but still part of the wider trend of dude-led metal bands that dominate the scene. The ascension of Vulvatron is a big deal not only because she’s a woman, but because it’s such a dramatic change of the public face of the group that was associated with Dave for so very long.

The band has several more tour dates throughout the year, working their way up and down the east coast throughout October before making the drift west in November (then back again).

[Source: Wondering Sound. Image by Jose Calvo]