MICHALE GRAVES INTERVIEW
Michale Graves kicked in the door of the music scene in 1995 as the lead singer and songwriter of one of the most legendary punk rock bands of all time, The Misfits. Third of 3 videos produced, his song "Scream" was directed by George A. Romero, the same man who directed "Night of The Living Dead”. Michale appeared in Romero's film "Bruiser" performing "Fiend Without a Face" which was also penned by Graves specifically for Romero's film.
Michale continued to tour as usual aside of the days that he spent appearing and wrestling on Ted Turners' WCWs' Monday Nitro, Thursday Thunder and a pair of pay-per-views alongside his good friend Vampiro. In early 2000 Michale collaborated with Don Oriolo Jr. and wrote and recorded with him a song called “No More Moments” for his film “Campfire Stories” which starred David Johansen.
In 2001, Michale left The Misfits and went out on his own. He independently released a solo record entitled ‘Graves’ Web of Dharma supported by two American Tours. In 2003, Michale embarked on a new project he called ‘Gotham Rd’. The band played hundreds of raucous dates on the U.S. Club circuit.
The Andrew Wilkow Show, The Sean Hannity Show, Adam Vs The Man, The Howard Stern Show, Truth Frequency Radio, Where Monsters Dwell, The Guardian, The New York Times and Rolling Stone Magazine.
In January of 2006, Michale announced a 55-city tour to promote previous Arkansas death row inmate Damien Echols book called, "Almost Home". 2006 also saw the release of Michale's sophomore solo album. Upon completion of that associated tour, Michale created a short film entitled "The Blackness and The Forest" that told the story of his "Almost Home Campaign" and the advocacy work he did for The West Memphis Three. Partnering with SOS Records in 2007, Michale released "Illusions" featuring 5 songs he wrote along with Damien Echols who is now a free man. A national acoustic tour soon followed to rave reviews.
Expanding upon his acting career, Michale appeared in the feature film "Perkins 14" as "Eric Ross" directed by Craig Singer as part of Horrorfests "8 Films To Die For". Michale also recorded new songs and a video, written and inspired by his filming experience on location in Romania including a collaboration with one of the film’s stars Patrick O'Kane. Those songs, along with live tracks from the acoustic Illusions tour, were released in October 2008. Graves and Singer would later collaborate again and create a music video for a unique version of the song ‘No Rain’ by Blind Melon.
After heading home from Romania Michale teamed up with Marky Ramone of ‘The Ramones’ and played together in a band called ‘Blitzkrieg’. They toured the world playing all the best classic songs that led up to the induction of "The Ramones".
Michale continued to challenge himself and made “The Michale Graves Show”. The ‘Michale Graves Show’ blended pop culture, political discussion and music into one stream of consciousness. The shows genesis began with his ground-breaking radio program called “Radio Deadly” launched in 2006.
In 2012, Michale joined forces with Mark Allen Stuart and was named President & Managing Director of the Music Group of Hydraulic Entertainment. Over 20 album releases have occurred since that time. Videos, music and collaborations have built an enormous catalogue of sound and site.
Since 2016, Michale Graves has toured relentlessly with his band in support of the albums “When Worlds Collide” and “The World Turned Upsdide Down”. He’s also continued touring as a solo acoustic act in support of the albums “Bedlam” and “Backroads”. 2018 marked the return of Michale to Europe on the “Beginning of the End Tour”. When 2018 is, Michale Graves will have toured in 23 countries and played over 150 shows.
We got to speak to Michael Graves about his up coming tour and more.
TM- What can Fans expect from your Australian tour?
MG - They can expect a full on Rock and Roll shows like they have never seen before. This will be one of the most dynamic performers out there, I will be dancing, jumping and spinning. I am doing that well so they can expect an hour and 15 of non-stop rock and roll songs staring me.
TM - That sounds like an amazing performance, I can't wait to watch it live.
TM - How do you pick your setlist for your tour?
MG - There is a lot of things I am going to choose, I automatically know I am going to do some of my hits then I look at my body of work and shoot songs, that need to be played that are relevant and fit in with the overall feeling of what we're trying to put across.
TM - What are you looking forward to doing most in Australia?
MG - Walking on stage for an hour and 15 minutes and blowing peoples Minds.
TM - Are you going to dress up for this show?
MG - Yes, I will certainly be wearing the make-up and the outfit.
TM - How did Fans respond to your new album?
MG - They responded with hugs and high fives coming to our shows and telling me stories about how my music connects with their live.
TM - You started a kick starter the for this album what inspired you to use kick starter?
MG - I have a very open relationship with my fans, crowd funding is a no brainer Elementary and obvious. I have been crowd funding myself we also used to do it in the Misfits. When I go out of the Misfits and all the way to when the internet caught with it I do it because it's much easier and it allows me to control the project and over see it. It allows me to offer other products and experiences to my fans, that I wouldn't be able to do in a more traditional way. Crowd funding gives me the tools and resources to allow my fans to have many different decisions on how they spend their money things that I offered them it's great as a businessman and that's agreed as a musician.
TM - That's cool, I saw you have a private show option I thought it was pretty cool.
MG - I have done hundreds of private shows over many years, when I first started doing it was kind of weird but now I walk up to people's houses, I ring the door Bells many times. I play them people's living rooms basements and backyards, I have made some really wonderful relationships and that is a really great. People and their families and have gone through some really profound times, people who are sick, haven had great loss. I come and help them go through what they going through, my music and what a blessing. The private show thing is really really wonderful to perform and connect with my fans inside the place where is different from anywhere else in the industry.
TM - You created five short films for I believe which were based on zombies Half humans wanders and rippers how did you come up with the idea for 5 short films?
MG - The five Short Films were born out of the mind of my business partner Mark Allen Stewart and he is the Rain Man of Horror. He knows everything about everything a lot of the ideas came from him and I created the music and he created the videos and together we would create and produce this music. It was a great exercise as the film and video department expands to be able to do those projects and that too it'll have the successes and the failures that will get us on to the next round of production.
TM - If you could have any band play one of your songs which band would it be which song and in your style or theirs?
MG - Foo Fighters doing Best Of Me
TM - If you could collaborate with any artist who would it be and why?
MG - Dave Grohl cos he's a rock and roll god.
TM - What is your favourite memory of watching someone else Perform live?
MG - I remember seeing Marilyn Manson playing at the lime light in New York City and not knowing if martians crash landed a UFO in the back of the pub that night. Marilyn Manson walked out onto the stage i remember him very clearly that night had no idea who he was everyone was like what the hell is going on.
TM - Who is your biggest influencing music?
MG - I love the mystical part of Jimmy Morrison, the angst of Johnny Rotten, the theatrics of Freddie Mercury and the clownish Circus like aspect of David Lee Roth and the power all of when I was in the Misfits.
TM - I love all those bands, the doors is one of my favorite bands ever.
MG - That is cool.
TM - Can you tell us a crazy tour story?
MG - We went to Australia back in the early days, I used to bunk with Doyle. We picked up the garbage bags in our hotel rooms and filled them up with water and we dropped them off the top floor. We were on the Street side and it made a massive bang sound.
TM - (laughs) that is hilarious, did you ever drop it on anyone?
MG - I don't think so.
TM - Is there Anything else you want to announce to your fans?
MG - I look forward to seeing everyone in Australia.
TM - We look forward to having you, I can't wait to watch your show in Sydney.
