Sleazy P. Martini
Encyclopedia
Sleazy P. Martini is a character
Persona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...

 played by Don Drakulich in the theatrical heavy metal band Gwar
Gwar
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...

. He wears a gigantic gold necklace with a dollar symbol, a large pompadour
Pompadour (hairstyle)
Pompadour is a tall style of men's haircut which takes its name from Madame de Pompadour.There are Latin variants of the hair style more associated with European and Argentine tango fashion trends and occasionally with late 20th century musical genres such as rockabilly and country.The pompadour...

, a bright purple suit, and is often seen wielding a sawed-off shotgun. In the Gwar mythos, Sleazy is Gwar's manager and the person who taught them to play their instruments.

Discovery of Gwar

While fleeing the U.S. on possible drug charges, Sleazy ends up crashing his helicopter in Antarctica, where Gwar has been imprisoned by The Master, frozen inside a cavern. Sleazy stumbles into the cavern and, upon removing his fur coat to reveal a shiny suit that reflects the sun's rays, he inadvertently frees the members of Gwar by melting the ice in which they're imprisoned. Gwar is preparing to kill him when Balsac the Jaws of Death
Balsac the Jaws of Death
Balsac the Jaws of Death is the rhythm guitarist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a humanoid creature with a face resembling a bear-trap. Balsac is usually portrayed wielding a giant battleaxe...

 convinces them to ally with Sleazy due to a prophecy about the excellence of whoever would free Gwar. (The decision to join Sleazy was easier thanks to Sleazy giving them crack cocaine
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...

, for which they developed an instant affinity.) He teaches the band to play their instruments and brings them to America. (These events are recounted in a flashback in Skulhedface.)Sleazy also has a (fake) television show and movie called " It's Sleazy".

Sleazy P. Martini made his debut by bringing out the decayed body of his brother Sluggo in the early stage shows of Gwar.

Phallus in Wonderland

Sleazy plays an important role in the 1992 Gwar film 'Phallus In Wonderland', as he assists them in the battle against The Morality Squad. Sleazy goes head to head with C.I.A. special agent Cerutti Fancypants, as the two produce larger and more elaborate firearms to one-up each other whilst killing bystanders. Of the Morality Squad the CIA agent is the only one to not be seen dying.

Skulhedface

Sleazy returns in the film that accompanies 1994's This Toilet Earth, and in addition to recounting the tale of how he discovered Gwar, he is asked by a corrupt record label (which is actually a front for the villain Skulhedface) to sign over the rights to Gwar and then kill them. After signing over the rights and taking the money, Sleazy signals Gwar to enter the boardroom, at which point they kill everyone on the directors board except Skulhed, who escapes to his underground lab. Ultimately, Sleazy is responsible for distracting Gwar long enough to keep them from riding the World Maggot back to The Master to destroy him (which would end his ability to exploit them further).

RagNaRok

Sleazy has his own track on the album Ragnarok, "Think You Oughtta Know This", in which he raps about various conspiracies and secrets. On the tour (and the accompanying video/movie) the song is preceded by Sleazy being approached by a pair of aliens, who think he is a representative of Earth and want him to sign over all rights to Earth. As he is about to sign, he pulls out his shotgun and kills one of the aliens, then lets Gwar dispose of the second alien while he performs his song.

It's Sleazy!/We Kill Everything

Although he had no presence on the We Kill Everything tour or album, the movie based on it includes him in a central role. The antics of the tour were reworked in the movie to take place on a Jerry Springer-like talk show which Sleazy hosts, with the audience members consisting largely of former enemies and members of Gwar.

Recent work

Although he stopped touring with the band in 1995, Don Drakulich continued to work with Gwar
Gwar
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...

 in sculpting and film-making. In 2006, Sleazy was prominently featured in the Gwar retrospective DVD, Blood Bath and Beyond
Blood Bath and Beyond
Blood Bath and Beyond is the name of a music video album by Gwar, released on DVD June 20, 2006. The DVD release includes videos, rarities and some live concert footage.-Content:...

, and was also mentioned on the album Beyond Hell
Beyond Hell
Beyond Hell is the tenth studio album by Gwar. It was released on August 29, 2006, the album was originally announced through the band's official website on February 23, 2006...

. During the fall tour supporting Beyond Hell, Don filmed the first few shows, along with various backstage footage, and released it as the DVD, Beyond Hell Live
Beyond Hell Live
Beyond Hell Live is a video by Gwar.#"Intro"#"War Is All We Know"#"Murderer's Muse"#"Saddam A Go-Go"#"Go To Hell"#"I Love The Pigs"#"Tormentor"#"Meat Sandwich"#"Destroyed"#"Bring Back The Bomb"#"The Ultimate Bohab"#"Eighth Lock"...

, in 2007. The following few months saw a gradual re-emergence of the character, as he came back out on the road during Gwar's "Electile Dysfunction '08" and "Fights of Spring '09" tours, as well as appearances at various one-off shows and festivals during the summer of 2009, such as the SDCC 2009 "Metal Meltdown" show (in support of the video game Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...

), Germany's Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...

, and other European festivals.

Sleazy did not return in person at later Gwar shows, but appeared in a pre-show video that was screened every night before the band took the stage. Although Drakulich has once again gone on a touring hiatus, he is still involved with the Slave Pit, not just with production (such as filming and creating the DVD Lust in Space: Live at the National in 2010), but as Sleazy as well. Sleazy is still referenced in Gwar's music, such as the song "Gwarnography" from the album Lust in Space
Lust in Space
-Line-up:*Dave Brockie - lead vocals*Cory Smoot - lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Release the Flies"*Mike Derks - rhythm guitar, backing vocals...

. Most recently, he can be seen in the music video for "Zombies, March!" from Gwar's newest album Bloody Pit of Horror
Bloody Pit of Horror (GWAR album)
Bloody Pit of Horror is the twelfth studio album by Gwar. On September 8, Gwar announced the official release date of the new album to be November 9, 2010 on Metal Blade Records....

, and could also be seen during Gwar's first performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....

.

Don Drakulich has also contributed to the Gwar fansite, Bohab Central, in the form of an "advice column
Advice column
An advice column is a column in a magazine or newspaper written by an advice columnist . The image presented was originally of an older woman providing comforting advice and maternal wisdom, hence the name "aunt"...

" titled Ask Sleazy, in which he has stated that both Chuck Varga (Sexecutioner
Sexecutioner
Sexecutioner was a character in the band Gwar, played originally Mike Delaney, and finally by Chuck Varga from 1989 until 1995-6, with one final appearance in 2000...

) and himself haven't ruled out the possibility of touring again.

Other references

The song "Pink Elephant", off the 1994 album Rapid City Muscle Car
Rapid City Muscle Car
Rapid City Muscle Car is the second studio album by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released in 1994 on Space Age Bachelor Pad Records.-Overview:...

by the Oregon multi-genre band Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Cherry Poppin' Daddies
The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are an American band established in Eugene, Oregon, in 1989. Formed by Steve Perry and Dan Schmid , the band has experienced many membership changes over the years, with only Perry, Schmid and Dana Heitman currently remaining from the original line-up.The Daddies' music...

 references Sleazy P. Martini running a bar called the Pink Elephant. Additionally, former Gwar guitarist, Barry Ward, makes a cameo appearance in the 1997 music video for "Zoot Suit Riot
Zoot Suit Riot (song)
"Zoot Suit Riot" is a song by American ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. It was written and composed by Steve Perry as a bonus track for the band's all-swing compilation album of the same name, and thus follows a musical style similar to 1940s jump swing."Zoot Suit Riot" is often cited as...

".
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