Michale Graves, the former lead singer of the 1990s punk band Misfits, is scheduled to perform a private show in the Springfield area on March 6. This comes after several of his concerts were canceled due to his association with the neo-fascist group, the Proud Boys.
Graves’ spring acoustic tour faced setbacks as venues in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Chattanooga, Colorado Springs, Akron, and Punta Gorda, Florida, canceled his shows. Despite this, his website lists a private event in Sherman, Illinois, on March 6. A request for more details sent to the website went unanswered.
The tour will now begin in Darien, Illinois, on March 5, followed by the Sherman show and a performance in Dixon on March 7. Graves, who was the Misfits’ lead singer from 1995 to 2000, is known for performing in skull face paint. He has previously played in central Illinois, including at Pizza Records in Jacksonville and The Curve Inn in Southern View.
Graves’ ties to the Proud Boys have sparked controversy. In 2023, he testified at the trial of several Proud Boys members, including former leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Graves has also endorsed the Proud Boys on social media and supported conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Afterlife, a concert venue in Akron, admitted on Facebook that booking Graves was “a mistake,” stating they were unaware of his involvement with the Proud Boys. Graves, however, claims that groups are pressuring venues to cancel his shows.
In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Graves denied being hateful and described the Proud Boys he knew as “normal people.” He insisted there was no coordinated effort to harm others and said he would distance himself from any such actions.
Heather Smock, co-owner of Pizza Records, said Graves’ 2023 performance at her venue went smoothly. “Nobody picketed or complained,” she said. “He was humble and polite. It was a great night.”
Despite the controversy, Graves’ private show in Springfield is still on, leaving some to question the implications of his performance.
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