More Info on 45 GraveSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Refimprove|date=March 2009Infobox musical artist | name = 45 Grave| image = Dinah Cancer 45 Grave Blue Cafe Long Beach 4.jpg| caption = Dinah Cancer in 2007 with the reformed 45 Grave at Blue Cafe, Long Beach, CA| image_size =| background = group_or_band| origin = Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles , California , United States|U.S. | genre = Horror punk Deathrock Gothic rock | years_active = 1979 in music|1979 & ndash; 1985 in music|1985 1988 in music|1988 & ndash; 1990 in music|1990 2005 in music|2005 & ndash;present| current_members = Dinah Cancer Frank Agnew Tom Coyne Brandden Blackwell | past_members = Paul Cutler Rob Graves Don Bolles Paul Roessler Lisa Pifer 45 Grave are an American 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 (fiction)|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 formed in Los Angeles, California during the punk rock movement. The original lineup consisted of Dinah Cancer on vocals, Paul Cutler (formerly of The Consumers ) on guitar, Rob Ritter (also known as Rob Graves of The Bags) on bass, and Don Bolles (of The Germs ) on drums. The band evolved out of an industrial music band called Vox Pop (band)|Vox Pop , who recorded two singles and played around the Los Angeles area, specifically in punk institution The Masque. Vox Pop contained all of the members of 45 Grave as well as others such as Jeff Dahl. Vox Pop continued to coexist with 45 Grave until early 1981. The band's name, despite rumors to the contrary, was lifted from a buttoncitation needed|date=January 2012.
In 1980, 45 Grave recorded their first released song, "Riboflavin Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Poly-Unsaturated Blood", included on the LAFMS ( Los Angeles Free Music Society ) art rock 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 their first single, featuring Pat Smear of The Germs on guitar) and a fast-paced punk song called "Party Time" (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 are recognized as being one of the first American gothic bands, predating the formation of Christian Death . Allmusic cites them as a top artist in the Goth rock genre, and the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles lists 45 Grave and Christian Death as "early proponents of American Gothic Rock."
Style
45 Grave's musical style is punk rock with a darker edge/ horror movie aesthetic, and hence is representative of the genre deathrock / horror-punk . Keyboards are used to create an electric organ sound which adds to the spooky atmosphere of many songs. High-pitched female vocals are usually used, but the whole band provides backing vocals and occasionally lead vocals. The band also has a connection to surf rock , manifested in the instrumental "Surf Bat" from Sleep in Safety . In the vein of horror punk artists, the band's appearance draws from horror films (Italian zombie flicks in particular) to create a camp gothic aesthetic. However, the band's lyrical themes don't often draw inspiration from horror films, instead adopting a tongue-in-cheek manner.
Return of the Living Dead
In 1985, a new, heavier version of "Party Time" 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 Ritter 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 Dinah Cancer being the single remaining member from previous incarnations. Dinah Cancer 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 Paul Cutler/Rob Graves era, and his traditional approach to the classic 45 Grave songs such as “Party Time” and “Black Cross” won rave reviews at their first few shows with him.citation needed|date=January 2012 The current lineup is fleshed out by a rhythm section consisting of Los Angeles goth-rock mainstay Tom Coyne (The Last Dance, Frankenstein) on drums and newcomer Brannden Blackwell on bass.
Latest album Pick Your Poison is set for a March 2012 release, containing a mix of new songs, unrecorded old songs, and a remake of "Night of the Demons".cite web|url= http://www.bigwheelmagazine.com/show_reviews/45-grave-pick-your-poison-album-wrap-party-at-bar-sinister-hollywood-ca-january-17-2012/|title=45 Grave – Pick Your Poison album wrap party – at Bar Sinister – Hollywood, CA|publisher= Big Wheel Magazine |date=January 17, 2012|accessdate=2012-01-23
Members of 45 Grave
Current
Dinah Cancer - Singing|Vocals (1979–1990, 2004–present)
http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/flipsideissue22.html 45 Grave interview from Flipside #22, 1980 at Punk Zine Archive
http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/flipsideissue30.html 45 Grave article from Flipside #30, 1982 at Punk Zine Archive
http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/flipsideissue51.html 45 Grave article from Flipside #51, 1986 at Punk Zine Archive
http://www.bigwheelmagazine.com/show_reviews/45-grave-a-pretty-mess-the-uvs-at-the-blue-cafe-long-beach-ca-march-19-2011/ Review of 45 Grave show in March, 2011 in Big Wheel Magazine
45 Grave DEFAULTSORT:45 Grave Category:American death rock musical groups Category:Gothic rock groups Category:Musical groups from California Category:Horror punk Category:Musical groups established in 1979 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1985 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1988 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1990 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2004 Category:Horror rock Category:Musical quartets Category:Rock music groups from California Category:American punk rock groups
es:45 Grave it:45 Grave ru:45 Grave fi:45 Grave
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: 45 Grave
