via GWAR.net
The story of GWAR is carved across the history of this barren and hopeless planet, but GWAR themselves are not of this world… their story begins in the deepest reaches of outer space. Long ago, the beings who would become the rock band GWAR were part of an elite fighting force, the Scumdogs of the Universe. For eons, they served as thralls to a supreme being known only as the Master. But one by one, each future member of the band earned a glaring reputation for being an intergalactic fuck-up. And so, they were banished, sent away on a fool’s errand to conquer an insignificant shitball floating in a dark corner of the universe; the planet Earth. Once here, GWAR shaped the face of the globe, destroying and rebuilding the natural world, and giving rise to all of human history. Aliens to some, gods and demons to others, our erstwhile Scumdogs fucked apes to create the human race, and this fateful unplanned pregnancy would prove to be truly disastrous!
Follow this LINK to read more about GWAR and Grodius Maximus or check out his Instagram page HERE
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John Beasley bio via JohnBeasleyMusic.com
Pianist, composer, and arranger, John Beasley’s career brims with accomplishments that bridge musical and visual media. An uncommonly versatile pianist, he backed jazz icons Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard in his 20s. Since then, he has performed with Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Chaka Khan, Kenny Garrett, Stanley Clarke. He even performed one concert with James Brown reviving Brown’s Soul on Top big band music. Beasley’s extensive work as a composer and arranger extends far beyond jazz, with numerous credits in television and film, including blockbuster movies scored by 15x Oscar nominee Thomas Newman. His 20+ recordings have earned him 2 GRAMMY® Awards, 12 nominations, and 2 Latin Grammy nominations.
His vision and musical insight have brought him to the podium as Music director (MD) for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz since 2011, where he directs the annual global “International Jazz Day” concerts and competition galas. The 2016 Jazz at the White House gala hosted by President Obama earned Beasley an Emmy nomination for “Best Musical Direction.” He honed his craft as MD with Steely Dan, Queen Latifah, AR Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), and Chucho Valdés “La Creación” tour. Beasley relied on his MD instincts when directing various TV singing competitions, including Duets (Kelly Clarkson/John Legend) and as Assoc MD for American Idol, where he contributed to Carrie Underwood’s win. He then spent a decade working as Lead Arranger for American Idol and The Tonight Show with MD Rickey Minor.
In 2017, Beasley decided to follow his teenage dream and form a big band, MONK’estra, which released a trilogy of albums showcasing his unique arranging voice. These three albums earned six consecutive GRAMMY® nominations and an award for “Best Arrangement” for Donna Lee. He brought the music of MONK’estra to global stages, including to student big bands.
Beasley became an in-demand arranger-conductor for European jazz orchestras and have since conducted commissions for Frankfurt’s HR Big Band, Stuttgart’s SWR Big Band, Sweden’s Blue House and Bohuslän’s orchestras, and other big bands from Belgium to Russia. Two big band projects, Somi: Holy Room and SWR’s Bird Lives earned four GRAMMY® nominations and an award. He ventured into Fado-jazz projects with Portuguese singer Maria Mendes and the Holland’s Metropole Orkest, which brought 2 Latin Grammy nominations and a Dutch Edison prize for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” with Close to Me.
Beasley began composing for TV at the age of 24, working for Paramount, Disney, and other studios on shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Cheers, and Fame, among others. His performance can be heard on films composed by Thomas Newman, including Elemental, 1917, James Bond’s Spectre & Skyfall, Finding Dory, He Named Me Malala, Shawshank Redemption, among others. Newman invited John to orchestrate and conduct his big band MONK’estra in Steven Soderbergh’s Let them all Talk with Meryl Streep.