Chuck Varga, founding member and vocalist of the shock rock heavy metal band GWAR, has died at 68 following a battle with cancer. Varga, a resident of Brooklyn, New York, passed away peacefully alongside his wife Bambi.
The news was confirmed by Casey Orr, GWAR's bassist, who remembered Varga as a key figure in the band's history. During his time in the group, Varga occasionally performed as the character known as Sexicutioner.
The announcement of his death and his bandmates’ words
Casey Orr was the one who publicly announced Varga's passing through a statement. "He was one of a kind. As an artist, as a performer; as a scholar and a gentleman. I'm better for having known him and the world is lesser for his leaving," Orr said, referring to the mark Varga left both on and off the stage.
In his message, Orr also paid tribute to the musician's legacy within GWAR's own mythology: "He is most likely being welcomed into Valhalla right now by Brockie and Smooty and all who went before. Raise your glass and tell his tales. Legends never die. Hail Varga! Hail Sexicutioner!"
Cancer diagnosis and charity campaign
Varga had made his illness public in April, at which point his GWAR bandmates launched a nationwide blood donation campaign in his honor. As a thank-you, donors received a T-shirt designed by Varga himself.
His time in GWAR
Chuck Varga was the voice of GWAR during the band's period of greatest prominence, between 1986 and 1996. He later returned to the group at various points: from 2000 to 2002, from 2014 to 2017, and again in 2022.
Born in 1958, Varga studied at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he became friends with another student, Hunter Jackson. Together they created a production space called The Slave Pit, originally intended for making student films. Out of that creative community of musicians, artists and filmmakers came GWAR, known for blending heavy metal, science fiction and medieval Norse mythology with extreme costumes in the style of Kiss, taken into violent and grotesque territory.
GWAR first became a local phenomenon in the Richmond area before expanding its fan base nationwide.
Accolades and Grammy nominations
In 1993, GWAR received a Grammy nomination for its long-form music video Phallus in Wonderland, a category in which they lost to Annie Lennox. Three years later, the band was nominated again, this time in the Best Metal Performance category for the single S.F.W., an award ultimately won by Nine Inch Nails.
His departure from GWAR and new professional chapter
Varga left the Richmond-based band in 1997 to move to New York and explore opportunities in film, television and Broadway. Even so, he continued to collaborate occasionally and intermittently with GWAR until 2017.
After ending his permanent tenure in the group, Varga founded Hyperreal Productions, a company specializing in costume and set design.
Complete information about his surviving family members has not yet been made public.
Frequently asked questions about Chuck Varga’s death
Who was Chuck Varga within GWAR?
Chuck Varga was a founding member and vocalist of GWAR, a shock rock band known for combining heavy metal, science fiction and Norse mythology. Within the group he occasionally performed as the character known as Sexicutioner.
What did Chuck Varga die of?
Varga died following a battle with cancer, an illness he had made public in April. He passed away at 68 at his home in Brooklyn, New York, alongside his wife Bambi.
Who announced Chuck Varga’s death?
His passing was announced by Casey Orr, GWAR's bassist, who shared a statement paying tribute to Varga and highlighting his work as an artist, performer and person.
What periods of GWAR did Chuck Varga take part in?
Varga sang with GWAR during its period of greatest prominence, between 1986 and 1996, and later returned to the group during periods spanning 2000 to 2002, 2014 to 2017, and also in 2022.
What did Chuck Varga do after leaving GWAR?
After leaving his permanent role in the band in 1997, Varga moved to New York to work in film, television and Broadway, and founded the costume and set design company Hyperreal Productions.
