Michale Graves: Punk Rock’s Misfit

When it comes to former Misfits front man, Michale Graves, finding a way to relay the history, struggles, debates and importance generated throughout his career is far from easy.

Whether it’s stepping into original Misfits front man Glenn Danzig’s shoe’s in the late 90’s, his subsequent departure from the band after 2 albums, his decision to enlist in the Marines after leaving the Misfits, his contribution as a founder of conservativepunk.com and most recently his involvement with the case of the West Memphis Three, Graves has taken a stand that while unpopular with some in the so called Punk Rock elite, has shown Michale Graves for exactly what he is, and believes in.

What is Michale Graves is up to at present? “Illusions,” the new album by Graves, is a haunting evolution from the aggressiveness of Punk Rock to the stripped-down sound of an acoustic guitar and the intense direction of the lyrics that takes these tracks into a surreal realm. Some of the tracks on “Illusions,” were co-written by death row inmate Damien Echols.

Echols, who has spent the past 15 years incarcerated and has become a figurehead of intolerance and injustice in modern day America, thanks in part to HBO’s documentaries “Paradise Lost, The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills” and the sequel “Revelations.”

Taken from correspondence between Graves and Echols, Tracks like “Frostbite,” and “Nothing,” have a spoken word flow that takes the experience of Echols and the versatile vocals of Michale Graves and melds the kindred souls together.

“The ghosts inside my head keep singing, those same old worn out songs, reminding me of places where the haunting never stops.” -Damien Echols.

As an empathic soul absorbing such a harsh reality, Graves takes on the artistic challenge with a seasoned approach that will not only keep fans of his past efforts intrigued, but will open doors to people usually turned off to harder edged music.

To support “Illusions,” Michale has been out on the road non-stop, doing up close and intimate acoustic performances that not only consists of songs from the new album, but songs from all of Michale’s past musical projects, including The Misfits.

Saturday, May 24th, Michale Graves will be taking the stage at the Nestor for just such a performance. HPR spoke with Michale Graves, while he was on the road in Northern California, about “Illusions,” His current tour, and his last trip to Fargo that ended on a sour note.

HPR: Your last trip to Fargo ended in quite an ordeal, what happened that caused the cancelation of the remaining dates on the “Almost Home,” tour?

Michale Graves: The transmission completely came apart in the RV. It took two days to get to Fargo driving through a major winter weather event and to add insult to injury it was absolutely freezing cold…below zero temps and we had to spend the night in the RV. I was stranded for over a week at a Motel 6 in Fargo and the rest of the band took a hellish two day Greyhound Bus ride home.

HPR: The new album “Illusions,” was lyrically co written in part by Damien Echols, How did the idea for the collaboration come about and how was it achieved with Damien being incarcerated?

MG: The idea was born after Damien indicated how excited he was that Eddie Veddar from Pearl jam was going to use some of his lyrics in a song called “Army Reserve” on their new record. We began to brainstorm about collaborating on words and music and then we did. All contact I have had with Damien has been through letters.

HPR: Is it daunting to put music to the words of someone who has lived through what most people could never imagine?

MG: It is indeed a heavy reality that this man’s words are sung and spoken from my lips and from my heart. To be a vehicle in which Damien expresses himself is a wonderful powerful experience that I take great pride in, have much respect for and take very seriously.

HPR: From your perspective, how has the intimate, stripped down setting on this tour been for you as a performer usually surrounded by a full band and the aggressiveness that accompanies the usual live rock situation?

MG: I very purposely wanted to strip away the makeup and costumes, do away with the illusions, if you will, and put myself in a position that truly illuminates the talent and musicianship that I am capable of. This tour has shown and will continue to show why I am a very different type of artist than all of the other artists I unfortunately am grouped together with in this hellish genre.

If You Go

What: Michale Graves
Where: Red Raven, Nestor
When: Sat., May 24, 6 & 10pm
How Much: RR:$8: N: $5
Who: Raven:All ages; Nestor: 21+ID
Why: 478-7337, 232-2485