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Date Posted: 21:25:12 06/22/03 Sun
Author: devilock138
Author Host/IP: lsanca1-ar13-4-60-141-161.lsanca1.dsl-verizon.net / 4.60.141.161
Subject: zombie211 read this Graves interview
In reply to: zombie211 's message, "articles" on 15:16:25 06/22/03 Sun

In the late 1990's the immortal Misfits returned after a nearly 15 year absence. This time around there was no Glenn Danzig and no Robo. Despite fans being concerned about their second coming, the faithful fiends went forth and bought their copies of "American Psycho" which would feature a new singer in Michale Graves and a new drummer (who had previously played with Doyle and Jerry Only in Kryst the Conqueror) in Dr. Chud. The album was amazing and quickly took the band to new heights. After 2 albums, a b-sides record, and a lot of turmoil within the band Dr. Chud and Michale Graves left. Instead of disappearing into obscurity however, Dr. Chud and Michale Graves immediately formed Graves and the outcome of it will rock you. Jim McDonald and I caught up with Michale, Graham, and Tom at The Continental in Buffalo, NY and talked with them about the new record, what happened with the Misfits, and more. We weren't really sure what to expect because of all the rumors from the last few years but what we found was a Michale Graves that seemed genuinely happy and anxious to talk and a new band that was ready to take on the world. Also, once you see these guys live, you will realize that this band is a hundred times better than the Misfits…especially when playing Misfits songs.

by Mark Fisher


Let's start with The Misfits. What exactly happened there? If I have it right, you (Michale Graves) were fired and right after that Dr. Chud quit. MG - Yes. There was a lot of unhappiness leading up to that. From my perspective, it didn't feel like we were a band anymore. The three of us, meaning myself, Doyle, and Chud, wanted to go one direction and Jerry wanted to go in a completely different direction. Jerry , just being set in his ways, went that direction. The there of us just kinda isolated ourselves and then you get dissention and unhappiness and people start talking and eventually things come to a head. They came to a head in Orlando and it ended. It really had to end because it wasn't healthy for anybody. It wasn't healthy for me, Jerry, Doyle , or Chud and so we walked away.

The burning question on my mind is , was the "Graves quit to go to hockey camp" story just complete BS? (laughter) MG- That's true. I started playing hockey and I had some opportunities given to me that I wanted to take. The next thing I knew I was replaced. It was lack of communication really, it's hard to explain and it fell apart quick. We were supposed to go to South America and Europe and I wanted some of the dates off and the next thing I knew Mike Hideous was singing in the band.

Graves is quickly establishing a name for themselves but do you feel like, in the eyes of the fans at least, this is Graves vs. The Misfits? MG -Right now, I think naturally that's what it is. People are gonna compare the last project I did with this one because it's the first thing I have done since the Misfits. The Misfits thing was really big so naturally they will compare it. I think it's already starting to go away though. I don't mind it though because everything I did with the Misfits I loved. Those songs are still a big part of my life, they still have relevance.

(Jim McDonald) How much of that material did you and Dr. Chud write? It always says "written by The Misfits". MG - A lot. We wrote a lot of it. I got that feeling.

Obviously we are familiar with you and Dr. Chud. Can you tell us about the new guys? MG- I like it when they tell their own story. (editor's note - At this point I realize, having never seen the band, that bassist Graham Westfield and guitarist Tom Logan are sitting right next to me. How come no one looks like a rock star anymore?) GW - I used to in another band called Fast Times. It so happened that we were on tour at the same time as the Misfits and we shared a dressing room at a European festival. We were hanging out and we started talking about both all of us being from New Jersey. We loosely kept in touch and then when they decided to start something up they invited me by to jam. From that first jam it has just been really easy. We play really well together. That's how that went down. TL- I was looking for a drummer to play with because I was frustrated with the local scene where I'm from in New Jersey. A friend of mine lived across the street from Dr. Chud and I went over there and left my number and asked him if he wanted to jam. We got together and jammed and a couple of weeks later he called me and asked me if I wanted to be a part of Graves.

How would you guys describe the Graves sound? MG - I don't really know. It's more melodic. GW - I think it's just coming from a different place. I think it comes from maybe a more personal place. Whereas the Misfits were a lot about playing loud and kicking ass, this is has more a vibe and is more reflective. Yeah, we felt that it was more "musical" than the Misfits. GW - I guess, who's the judge of what "more musical" is but I would agree with that.

What about lyrically? Obviously, The Misfits sang about horror movies and such exclusively. Do you feel this will be a better outlet for your lyrics? MG - Yeah, because I never have to think about the line before and if it's talking about the right things. It gives me a lot more freedom. I'm not locked in the genre, always having to write about ghosts and monsters.

You guys seem to be playing a lot. How has the response been with the fans? Are you seeing a lot of Misfits fans? MG - We have a nice mix of new and old fans. Each night there seems to be a lot of young fans. We'll have all ages shows and there are just kids all over the place.

Can you tell us a little about "Web Of Dharma" (the debut record as Graves)? GW- I think you can expect a more musical and emotional set of songs. There be fast songs, slow songs, rocky songs, darker songs, lighter songs, a lot more variation than what kids got from the Misfits. It's definitely more experimental, you'll hear different guitar sounds and stuff. If kids are expecting another Misfits record, they are going to get something different. As long as they are open to it though, I really think they well enjoy it just as much.

Does the title "Web of Dharma" have a particular meaning? MG - I subscribe to a Buddhist way of thinking. In that religion it's the corner piece, like a crucifix would be in the Christian religion. In the Wheel of Dharma, Dharma is the teachings of Buddha, So, I incorporated that to make the album title. Will we see a lot of that Buddhist philosophy on the record then? MG - Yes, there is a lot of that philosophy on the record. What's cool about those songs is that I wrote some of it in 1998 when I was writing for the "Famous Monsters" album, so a lot of them reflect what was happening in my life at that time. Then some of them like "Attack of The Butterflies" and "Shoestring" are newer songs which reflect the last couple of years. I think the record is a nice piece of my life. At least for me, when I listen to it, that's what I hear.

So it seems like the record happened pretty quick and we have heard rumors of a lot of label interest. Is this an actual record or is it a demo to court major labels with? MG - Well, for the first part of the question, yes there is label interest. I hope there is more but there is label interest. We haven't signed with anyone yet because we are waiting to see if more people come and talk with us. The album shouldn't be viewed as demo but we legitimately feel it's an EP. We are treating it, promoting it, and working it like it's a record and hopefully in the interim a major or independent record company will listen to it and feel the same way I feel when I listen to the record. They will fall in love with the music and invest their time, money, and life into what we're doing the same way we are.

Last but not least, what do you guys do for fun on the road? (laughter) GW- Fun on the road, what's that?! See that wall? (points to the back wall with a whole bunch of hand drawn pictures on it. Like a picture a 6 year old would draw) We draw pictures of each other. MG - We are like a camp for big retarded people! (laughter) GW - This tour has been very brutal. There haven't been a lot of off days and there have been some pretty big drives. It's been a hard tour for everybody, but I think it's paying off. I think we are playing really solid and we are gaining a lot of ground though.

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