Striking the goth scene as we know possible, 45 Grave have got music up their sleeves and since the release of their latest release "Pick Your Poison" they have even more music underway and a whole lot more!
1. So how did the band get the name, 45 Grave does it represent or mean anything to the band?
Don Boles saw the phrase "45 GRAVE" on a button. At the time it meant nothing to us, just an odd sounding phrase. Now, it represents a huge chunk of my life.
2. What type of band are you?
We like to call ourselves "Your Favorite Heavy Metal Psychedelic Post Punk What The Fuck Ghoul Rockers"
3. Tell us the brief history of your band.
45 Grave is widely credited with pioneering the LA Goth scene with their dark, furious and sometimes blackly funny music, but they were also known for their excellent musicianship. Their song “Partytime” was a bona fide MTV hit after being featured in Return of the Living Dead, the 1986 movie and its soundtrack. The original 45 Grave disbanded in 1990 following the death of bassist Rob Graves. Flash forward 15 years – Dinah Cancer decides to reincarnate her legendary band and, after a few fits and starts, 45 Grave solidifies in 2010 with what she feels is undoubtedly the best line-up since the original: O.C. guitar legend Frank Agnew (The Adolescents, TSOL, etc), rhythm guitarist Mark Bolton, bassist Brandden Blackwell and drummer Tom Coyne.
4. Who are your musical influences?
Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, King Crimson, KISS, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Germs and more. If you listen to our new CD PICE YOUR POISON, you will hear all the different styles of music I like. Metal, Punk, Funk...even country.
5. What are your dreams and goals?
To create amazing music!
6. Who writes the songs, what are they about?
I write the Lyrics and some of the music. Now, just like in the old days, we work the songs out together as a group.7. How do you describe your music to people?
I try not to describe it. Best to have people listen to it. But if I had to, I 'd say a mix of punk, deathrock, humor and horror movies!
8. What image do you think your music conveys?
Image?? If there were a rock band playing in the Haunted Mansion, it would be 45 GRAVE!
9. Have you recorded any previous CDs or posted any audio files on the Internet?
Yes. The original band released 3 records. "Sleep In Safety", "Autopsy" and a live album "Only the Good Die Young". All are still available. Our new CD came out last July on Frontier Records.
10. What type of recording process did you use? Who produced your recording?
We recorded with Mark Bolton at Soundcage studios in Brea. Since then he has joined us onstage as our rhythm guitarist. This was the most 'modern' of all the 45 GRAVE recordings. We tracked the drums in June and Oct of 2011, and built up the parts around that. It was like building a house, one piece at a time.
11. How did you sell your CD’s/Audio Files?
At first we sold the CD's off our website. We had an 8 week presale period, where you got the CD plus a bunch of goodies, like a Death Certificate hand made by me. After a few months, Frontier Records came in and released a re-mastered version of the CD, which sounds a lot better! They also put out a vinyl version of Absinthe Green Vinyl! It is all here: http://frontierrecords.com/31080.html
12. Your signed with record label Rykodisc Records how did this occur and are you satisfied with what they have to offer?
Rykodisc has the rights to sell some of our old albums. FRONTIER RECORDS has the rights for "PICK YOUR POISON". So far, Frontier has been a dream to work with.
13. What are your plans for new music?
We are just starting to think about writing some new music. I don't want to let another 20 years go by before releasing more again!!
14. When it comes to shows, how do you promote your band and shows?
We work social media as much as we can. We blast our Facebook and Twitter list. A few years ago Myspace was great for bands, but that has faded. We are now working with a booking agency, Artist World Wide, so we should be doing a lot more shows at better venues in the future.
15. Can you describe your show, visual and musically for us?
We like to do a high energy, fun show with high musical quality and some fun visuals like blood, dancing girls, pinatas and spooky onstage decorations. Depending on the show, we will play a punk set, a goth set, or a mix.
16. What advice would you give to fellow bands?
Build relationships with your fans. They will stick with you and support you.
18. What inspires you to do what you do?
When I was a kid I loved spooky TV shows like "Dark Shadows" and "Night Gallery". In the early days of punk, I pulled on those things to create my image. We all felt dead inside anyway, so why not dress the part??
19. How does music affect you and the world around you?
It effects my mood. A good song can make me feel better about things. If I am bored in the van, we put on some 70's funk and then it is a fun atmosphere!20. Is that your final answer?
No! I have plenty to say still...which is why 45 GRAVE keeps going!
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