45 Grave

45 Grave

Dinah Cancer in 2007 with the reformed 45 Grave at Blue Cafe, Long Beach, CA
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Horror punk, deathrock, gothic rock
Years active 1979–1985, 1988–1990, 2005–present
Associated acts The Exterminators, The Germs, the Bags, the Screamers, the Consumers, Castration Squad, Vox Pop, Nervous Gender, the Gun Club, Dream Syndicate, Celebrity Skin, Penis Flytrap, Dinah Cancer and the Grave Robbers
Members Dinah Cancer
Tom Coyne
Brandden Blackwell
Frank Agnew
Dylan Thomas
Past members Paul B. Cutler
Rob Graves
Don Bolles
Paul Roessler
Pat Smear
Mikey Borens
Lisa Pifer
Jamie Pina
Rikk Agnew
Mike "Thrashhead" Sullivan
L. Ron Jeremy
Kenton Holmes
Stevyn Grey
Mark Bolton

45 Grave are an American gothic and punk rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1979. The original group broke up in 1985 but vocalist Dinah Cancer subsequently revived the band. 45 Grave are noted as one of the first bands to mix punk rock with horror-themed lyrics, thereby positioning them as progenitors of the horror punk subgenre. Their unique appearance and morbid theatricality also distinguished them as innovators of goth rock as well as "deathrock", a term used to identify a subgenre of punk rock incorporating horror elements and spooky atmospherics.

History

The band was founded by Paul B. Cutler in Los Angeles, California during the punk rock movement, formed alongside another band with almost the same lineup called Vox Pop, which produced two singles.[1] Its original lineup consisted of Cancer (formerly of Castration Squad) on vocals, Cutler (formerly of the Consumers) on guitar, Rob Graves (also known as Rob Ritter, formerly of the Exterminators, the Bags and the Gun Club) on bass, and Don Bolles (of the Exterminators, the Germs and Nervous Gender) on drums.[2] The name, according to Bolles, derived from a mysterious button Cutler found at a thrift store and gave to Bolles for Christmas that said "WE DIG 45 GRAVE". Bolles stated that this needed to be the name of the band, and everyone agreed.[1]

In 1980, 45 Grave recorded their first released song, "Riboflavin Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Poly-Unsaturated Blood", included on the Los Angeles Free Music Society compilation album, Darker Skratcher. The song was a cover version of novelty song originally performed by Don Hinson and The Rigamorticians on their 1964 album release Monster Dance Party. The 45 Grave recording (as with the original, produced by Gary S. Paxton of Skip & Flip) achieved cult status and became a signature song of the band's live sets.

Early on, the band began by playing the Consumers songs that Cutler had written, with lyrics changed to fit Cancer's singing style, before concentrating on composing new material like "Black Cross" (issued as a single in 1981,[2] featuring Pat Smear of the Germs on guitar on the B-side "Wax") and a fast-paced punk song called "Partytime" (which was later slowed down and reworked on their 1983 debut album and sole studio release, Sleep in Safety. Another signature 45 Grave track, "Evil", was featured on MTV, and band members appeared as extras in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner.

Despite never achieving major success, 45 Grave were recognized as being one of the first American gothic bands, predating the formation of Christian Death. Allmusic cited them as a top artist in the gothic rock genre, and the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles listed 45 Grave and Christian Death as "early proponents of American Gothic Rock".

Style

45 Grave's musical style was rooted in punk rock with a darker edge/horror movie aesthetic, representative of the deathrock and horror punk genres. Compared to most punk bands of the era, 45 Grave songs included stop-start mid-song tempo changes, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship accentuated by Cutler's virtuoso guitar playing. Keyboards added to the spooky atmosphere of many songs and harkened back to proto-punk garage bands of the early 1960s. The band also displayed a connection to surf rock, manifested in the instrumental "Surf Bat" from Sleep in Safety. The band's appearance drew from horror films (Italian zombie flicks in particular) to create a camp gothic aesthetic. However, the band's lyrical themes often adopted a tongue-in-cheek manner instead.

Return of the Living Dead

In 1985, a new, heavier version of "Partytime" was featured on the soundtrack to the film Return of the Living Dead along with tracks by bands such as T.S.O.L. and the Cramps.

The band reformed in 1988 for a brief tour, which was recorded and released as Only the Good Die Young. However, when Graves died in 1990 from an accidental drug overdose, the band broke up once again.

Reformation

In 2004, 45 Grave reformed to commemorate their 25th anniversary, with Cancer as the sole remaining member from previous incarnations. She posted on her MySpace blog, "I'm building this to keep the spirit of 45 Grave alive, introduce its magic to new fans, and as a personal commemorative of my best memories being the driving force and front person of 45 Grave. This is a part of my life that indeed changed me forever". One of the touring members involved in this lineup was Rikk Agnew, formerly of Christian Death.

Night of the Demons, a 2009 remake of the classic 1987 cult horror film, featured 45 Grave's title track.

In 2010, Rikk's brother Frank Agnew (T.S.O.L., Social Distortion, the Adolescents) joined the band. Frank Agnew brought the band closer to the classic sound of the Cutler/Graves era. This lineup was fleshed out by a rhythm section consisting of Los Angeles goth-rock mainstay Tom Coyne (The Last Dance, Frankenstein) on drums and Brandden Blackwell on bass.

Pick Your Poison, 45 Grave's first new album in 27 years, was released in 2012 on Frontier Records. The album contained a mix of new songs, unrecorded old songs and a remake of "Night of the Demons", for which a video was produced.[3]

Members

Current members
  • Dinah Cancer - vocals (1979–1990, 2004–present)
  • Tom Coyne - drums (2008–present)
  • Brandden Blackwell - bass (2009–present)
  • Frank Agnew - guitar (2010–present)
  • Dylan Thomas - guitar (2014-present)
Former members
  • Paul B. Cutler - guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (1979–1990)
  • Rob Graves (aka Rob Ritter) - bass, backing vocals (1979–1990; died 1991)
  • Don Bolles - drums, backing vocals (1979–1990)
  • Paul Roessler - keyboards, backing vocals (1980–1990)
  • Pat Smear - guitar (1981)
  • Mikey Borens - guitar (1983–1984)
  • Lisa Pifer - bass (2004–2009)
  • Jamie Pina - guitar (2004–2006)
  • Rikk Agnew - guitar (2004-2005)
  • Mike "Thrashhead" Sullivan - drums (2004–2007)
  • L. Ron Jeremy - guitar (2006–2010)
  • Kenton Holmes - guitar (2006–2010)
  • Stevyn Grey - drums]] (2007–2008)
  • Mark Bolton - guitar (2011-2014)
Touring musicians
  • Del Hopkins - drums, keyboards (1980–1986)
  • Bruce Duff - bass (1983–1985)

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Live albums

Compilation albums

Compilation appearances

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Nolan, Chuck (2010). "The Don Bolles Interview". Victim of Time. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 Simmonds, Jeremy (2008). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review. p. 267. ISBN 9781556527548. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "45 Grave – Pick Your Poison album wrap party – at Bar Sinister – Hollywood, CA". Big Wheel Magazine. January 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-23.

External links

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