This Toilet Earth - "B.D.F."

"B.D.F."

In late 1992/early 1993, during the band's search to find a bigger record label and distributor, Warner Bros. Records took note of Gwar's seemingly increasing success and offered them the deal they were looking for. Not only would Gwar, as well as the entire Metal Blade Records catalogue, get a great distribution deal, but the record company was also willing to help them get their next movie, Skulhedface, a bigger budget, as well as a planned theatrical release. Excited to get their first taste of real mainstream success with Gwar, the band immediately began work on both the album and the movie, with both being finished in late 1993. However, Warner Bros. wasn't happy with the end product of This Toilet Earth, mainly because of one song: "B.D.F.". They told the band if they omitted the song, the issue would be resolved and everything would continue as planned; but if the band refused to drop the song, not only would the entire record be dropped and Gwar's contract ripped up, but the distribution plans between Metal Blade and Warner Bros. would no longer continue as well. The band had serious internal discussions whether or not to drop "B.D.F.", and they all concluded they would not leave the song off. After hearing that Metal Blade Records was fully supportive of the band's decision, Gwar reported back to Warner Bros. and told them no, "B.D.F" was there to stay. Gwar now had a new album and a new movie, but no distributor.

Because of B.D.F.'s comically vulgar and extremely graphic references to obscene acts that run the gamut from sodomy, necrophilia, pre-natal rape, pedophilia to mutilation (the initials stand for "Baby Dick Fuck," which is used in the chorus of the song), Gwar was forced to release the initial pressing of the CD through Priority Records - this initial pressing was 25,000 copies, according to Brad Roberts. The song was removed from subsequent pressings of the CD through Metal Blade Records. "B.D.F." was not the only song to cover such subject matter - We Kill Everything's "Babyraper," with its less-than-subtle title (as opposed to the abbreviation used for "B.D.F"), goes into extreme detail about the same subject, but, unlike in 1994, was not required to be removed from the album (presumably because it was released at the lowest point of Gwar's popularity). Both songs are still played live, though less frequently than other, heavier songs (indeed, very few of the tracks on either album are played live, due largely to story conflicts and new musical direction).