X-Cops

X-Cops was the first side project from Gwar. It consisted of Gwar members and their extended “family” of musicians, as each member of X-Cops was, or had played in Gwar at some point. Each member of X-Cops performed in a police uniform and had their own character. X-Cops came out after the Ragnarok tour had ended. They released the album You Have The Right To Remain Silent... on Metal Blade Records in 1995. Included on the album was a cover of Deep Purple’s “HIghway Star” with altered lyrics to match to police theme. They also release a 7” single with the songs “Junkie” and “Beat You Down” on Man’s Ruin Records in 1996. The band was started by Pete Lee after being shot in a failed car jacking attempt. The idea itself happened when filming a commercial segment for Skulhedface. Lee and Brockie were dressed as police officers. Lee said, “What would be cooler than a bunch of cops playing kick-ass rock and roll?” Which then led to Lee, Brockie, Gwar’s drum technician, Mike Dunn starting out as a three-piece band. They later then added Casey Orr for vocals, and Mike Derks as another guitarist. By the time of their first show, their ranks had grown considerably. X-Cops did open for Gwar on some dates of the 1994 tour, which meant they literally just opened up for themselves. They did also play some tour dates in 1995 and 1996. Two X-Cops songs that were never officially recorded, but performed live, were “Nurture My Pig” (Which was a cover), and “Conflict Management”.  Their final show was played in 1996 as Orr, Dunn, Lee and Musel had all left X-Cops and Gwar.  Though, Dave Brockie Experience has since been known to cover X-Cops songs during live shows. X-Cops reunited for one show only at the 4th annual Gwar-B-Q in Richmond, VA, on August 17, 2013. 3 short skit-like videos of X-Cops was uploaded to the Gwar youtube channel in 2016. The videos consisted of most former members (besides Dave Brockie, Mike Dunn, and Dave Musel), “fighting crime” and what not. Merchandise was also released alongside the videos.

## You Have The Right To Remain Silent

*You Have The Right To Remain Silent...* was the only album released by the band.

## You Have The Right To Remain Silent..

### Track Listing

#### Miscellaneous for YHTRTRS

* The photos on the inside of the CD booklet depict a murder crime scene being investigated by the X-Cops. On the wall in the victim's room is a poster of Gwar, the X-Cops' (at the time secret) identity. The poster features the cover of *Scumdogs of the Universe*. The victim is also wearing GWAR shorts, which the band sold at concerts and through the back pages of their comic books in the 90s.
* The song "Barbells" features lead vocals by Brad Roberts (Jizmak Da Gusha) and is the only song Roberts as ever done lead vocals for.
* "Zipper Pig" and "Conflict Managment" were the first songs to feature Bob Gorman on vocals, and were the only songs to feature him singing until 2013 on "I, Bonesnapper" from GWAR's album, *Battle Maximus*

## Beat You Down; 7” Single

X-Cops released a 7" Single in 1996 on Mans Ruin Records. This would be the last release they'd ever put out. Due to it not being released on Metal Blade like their previous album, these songs are not (legally) on streaming services, but some people have uploaded the tracks on YouTube. "Junkie" contains the first commercially released song to feature Mike Derks on vocals. (He sang lead on "The Needle" and old song that was captured on tape from a practice session. It was recorded before "Junkie" but wasn't released until 2000.)

## Miscellaneous

* X-Cops have appeared in numerous other GWAR things. They were in the "Surf Of Syn" music video off of Ragnarok for split seconds.
* Mike Derks's character appeared in a backstage scene of *It's Sleazy* from 2001.
* Zipper Pig and another X-Cops character also appeared in the audience scenes of *It's Sleazy*
* Mike Derks also revives his X-Cops character in 2017 in the music video "I'll Be Your Monster". He is shown going into the house where the music video takes place, attempting to kill Beefcake The Mighty, before getting his face ripped off and shooting himself.
* From '94 to '96 X-Cops opened for GWAR on some shows
* X-Cops released on music video, which was for the song "Interloper," and it featured the X-Cops breaking into a "suspected crack house", then beating up and terrorizing the residents of what seemed to be a normal house.
* 3 X-Cops skits were released to the GWAR YouTube channel after the ending of the reality show *COPS.*
* The first video showed Louie Scrapinetti driving around "Richmond Frickin' Virgina" and looking for crime, and eventually beating up and old lady with Zipper Pig.
* Episode 2 showed Louie calling up former members (Tubb Tucker, Al Depantsia, Biff Buff). He attempts to call up Zipper Pig, but that doesn't work out. He calls them all to ask to help him at a bank robbery, the entire video leads you to believe he's trying to stop the robbery, when it's eventually revealed Louie is the one robbing the bank.
* Episode 3 (mislabeled "episode 5") shows Zipper Pig in the middle of a forest/cemetery, playing cards with a skeleton, then Louie calling him to let him know he's under attack. In which a hoard of people (all played by different members of Slave Pit Inc.) try to chase after Zipper Pig.
* X-Cops merchandise was released alongside those videos, and is still up on the GWAR website.
* X-Cops also has short comics at the end of each issue of the GWAR comic *Orgasmageddon.* Those comics explain the story of Sgt. Zipper Pig and how he came to be.

## Band members

### Main

* Michael Derks as Lt. Louie Scrapinetti - guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Junkie"
* Mike Dunn as Cadet Billy Club - drums
* Dave Brockie as Patrolman Cobb Knobbler - bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on "The Party's Over"
* Pete Lee as Sgt. Al Depantsia - gutiar
* Casey Orr as Sheriff Tubb Tucker - vocals, bass on "The Party's Over"

### Auxiliary

* Brad Roberts as Mountain Bike Officer Biff Buff - backing vocals, lead vocals on "Barbells", drums on "Junkie" and "Beat You Down"
* Bob Gorman as Sgt. Zypygski aka Zipper Pig - backing vocals, lead vocals on "Zipper Pig," and "Conflict Management"
* Dave Musel as Detective Phillip McRevis - samples