On Tuesday, the Senate passed the Rescissions Act, which if passed would eliminate $9 billion in government spending, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which had already been approved. This would prove devastating to PBS and NPR, especially in smaller markets. If you haven’t already called your Congress or Senate representative’s office to voice your disapproval, now would be the time, before it goes back to the House. Learn more here.
Urging others to speak out now is GWAR‘s Blöthar the Berserker, who took to the band’s Instagram for an impassioned speech (h/t Stereogum). “Public media is in danger!” he said, talking about how “personal friend” Fred Rogers appeared before congress in 1969, helping secure funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which gave us such crucial educational shows as Sesame Street, Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood, The Electric Company, and more. “Why? Because he was able to demonstrate that it makes a difference and that’s important. Mr. Rogers brought love and light into the world, into a dark and hateful world.”
“This would strip essential services. It could force rural stations off of the air entirely. They won’t be able to pay licensing fees the same way they did for music. This could very well silence the music,” Blöthar continued. “I’ll tell you what else. It’s gonna to take away art and culture from the lives of people, or at least access to that from the lives of people who need it and benefit from it. Rise up, people! In the name of Fred Rogers! In the name of Big Bird! And the drunken Lady Elaine Fairchilde! Changes to this bill are still possible. Now is the time to urge your senators to remove the proposal that targets public media from the package of this Big Beautiful Bill.”
Watch Blöthar’s video below.
GWAR are wrapping up a tour with Lamb of God as we speak and this fall will be out on their 40th anniversary tour with Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture, including NYC’s Palladium Times Square on November 21. All dates are below.
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GWAR – 2025 TOUR DATES
July 24 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront (supporting Lamb of God)
August 2 – Anchorage, AK – Williwaw Social
August 15 – Thornville, OH – Legend Valley
September 17 – Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
September 18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
September 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
September 20 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest
September 21 – Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 5 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival
October 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 20 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 22 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 23 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues Anaheim (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 24 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 25 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 26 – Bend, OR – Midtown Ballroom (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 27 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 29 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 30 – Penticton, Canada – Penticton Trade & Convention Centre (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
October 31 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 1 – Edmonton, Canada – Fan Park @ Ice District (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 3 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 5 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 6 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 8 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 9 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Dallas (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 11 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Hall (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 12 – Greensboro, NC – Piedmont Hall (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 13 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 15–16 – Orlando, FL – Vans Warped Tour
November 16 – Tampa, FL – The Ritz Ybor (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 18 – Baltimore, MD – Nevermore (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 19 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 20 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 21 – New York, NY – Palladium Times Square (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)
November 22 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa (w/ Helmet, Dwarves, and Blood Vulture)