A petition to see US heavy metal veterans Gwar play at the NFL Super Bowl in 2015 has been launched after fans of the band slammed next year’s scheduled performer Bruno Mars as “boring”.

More than 18,000 people have so far pledged support to the campaign, which hopes to land the Virginia group – who released their 13th studio album, ‘Battle Maximus’, on Monday – a platform at the sporting spectacle’s prestigious half-time show. An estimated 110million people worldwide watched Beyonce perform at the 2013 American football blowout, a slot previously held by the likes of Madonna, The Who, Prince and Bruce Springsteen.

“We don’t want another year of sitting around talking through a muted, boring NFL Super Bowl halftime show,” wrote campaign founder Jeff Cantrell. “We want something different. We want a real spectacle that only Gwar can provide. Doesn’t the NFL want more viewers? Don’t advertisers want more people paying attention? This way everyone wins.” The post goes on to explain that, with frontman Oderus Urungus (real name Dave Brockie) penning a monthly column on American football for webzine MetalSucks.com, the band are huge fans of the sport.


The petition follows confirmation that Bruno Mars will play between halves at the 2014 event earlier this month, with the ‘Grenade’ singer tweeting “We’re Going to the the Super Bowl!!!!!!! #PepsiSBHalftime.” He later described being asked to play as “just an honour”.

Super Bowl XLVIV – featuring Mars’ half-time performance – will take place at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on February 2 2014, while Super Bowl XLIX will take place at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix on February 1, 2015.