Former Misfits lead vocalist Michale Graves recently opened up about how his deeply held Christian beliefs have guided his career and songwriting in the punk rock scene. During a recent guest appearance on the “When Words Fail, Music Speaks” podcast with host James Cox, the singer explained how he merges his spirituality with the famously dark imagery of horror punk.
Despite the ghoulish aesthetic associated with the Misfits, Graves revealed that his lyrics frequently stemmed from his religious background. He credited bassist Jerry Only for actively supporting this approach, noting that before reforming the legendary punk group, Jerry Only and guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein played together in the Christian metal band Kryst The Conqueror.
“I’ve been a Christian all my life, and the music that I’ve written and the lyrics that I’ve written have always come from that place. Not all the songs, but many, many, lots of those songs come from that Christian perspective. It’s another thing that [Misfits bassist] Jerry [Only] encouraged. You have to also remember that before the Misfits got back together, Jerry and [Misfits guitarist] Doyle [Wolfgang Von Frankenstein] were in a band called Kryst The Conqueror. And so Jerry‘s spirituality and his love of Christ and his faith, he was never ashamed of. This man blessed himself every night before he went on stage. And that encouraged me, as well as he encouraged me, to not walk away from that, and to somehow… And that again, when I was talking about challenging and creative challenging, it was the challenge to create from my Christian perspective in this environment, in this world of — the dark places,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
The singer also touched on the heavy criticism he received from the religious community, particularly when collaborating with West Memphis Three figure Damien Echols on their 2007 acoustic album, Illusions. Many conservative Christians questioned how his faith could coexist with horror-themed music. In response, the frontman pointed out that preaching to already established believers was never his actual goal.
“All along, especially when I was working with Damien Echols [an American author who first became known as one of three teenagers, the West Memphis Three, convicted of a triple murder in 1994 despite the lack of physical evidence connecting them to the crime and the dubious nature of the other evidence] and making Illusions [the 2007 collaborative album between Graves and Echols] and that part of my career, there was a lot of people that came from the Christian side of things that were — they didn’t understand. I don’t wanna say that they were disgusted, but I got a lot of flak because here I was talking about my Christian, how I feel, my spirituality, my faith in the Lord, and they were, like, ‘How can you say that when we see the imagery of the Misfits and these songs that you’re writing?’ And I tell them, look, what’s the point of me walking into a worship service or going to a church and playing for people or speaking to people who are already believers who are already there? They’re already there. We’re not doing anything. There’s this whole other world out there, this dark world, that the Misfits are in.”
Instead of standard preaching, the vocalist uses his edgy background to connect with marginalized youth who have been alienated by traditional organized religion. He explained that relating to their struggles and interests opens a unique door to share his faith.
“When I go out into the world, I’m talking to kids that have — there’s a lot of church hurt. When you say the word ‘Jesus’ at a Misfits show or a Michale Graves show, there’s a lot — not now, a lot less now — but these kids, they look at you, like, ‘What are you talking about?’ So writing about these fallen worlds, the dark worlds, writing about demons, writing about angels, writing about coming from a place where you’re at your lowest. These kids are broken, they’re sad, they’re lost, they’re hurt, they’re confused. And do you think that they’re gonna just walk into a church or you’re gonna have somebody that they don’t respect, the second that they see somebody with like a buttoned-up cardigan and this and that, and they talk and they start talking about Jesus, and they’re, ‘Nope.’ They’re gonna turn their back and they’re gonna walk away. But if I walk up to them and I say, ‘Hey, man. What are you wearing on your shirt there?’ There’s demons or something. I don’t know. And we start talking about Baal or Moloch or we start to get into demonology. And now we start to talk. And then I tell them about my faith. And that’s how you run a monster ministry. And that’s what I’ve been focusing on, really, since 2012. For the past 14 years, I’ve really, really tried to make that the forefront of what I’m doing,'” he concluded.
Michale Graves officially signed a new record deal with Epochal Artists Records, a label distributed by Virgin Music Group. He will be taking his music and message on the road this spring for the “God Bless America Tour 2026.”
“These shows on my ‘God Bless America Tour‘ will be an intimate, story-driven live experience that blends acoustic music, testimony, and storytelling,” Graves said.
He added: “Signing with Epochal Artists Records marks an important new chapter for me in my career. In many ways, it is going back to where I began. The first dream in my heart as a young man was to be a musician and a preacher. That calling has always been part of everything I’ve done along the way to where I find myself today in music and in life. The preacher part might take a minute, but I’ll continue to work on it.”
Earlier in February this year, Michale Graves‘ several UK shows were called off following backlash over his past far-right comments and activities.
In 2020, Graves aligned himself with the Proud Boys and was present in Washington, D.C. on January 6th, 2021, where he was scheduled to perform at a private event for the group. He also later appeared as a character witness in defense of some individuals involved in the Capitol riot.
Amid the controversy, a city councillor in the UK labeled the punk singer a “fas*ist” and called on The Marrs Bar in Worcester, England, to cancel his performance which was scheduled for February 20th.
Councillor Neil Laurenson said: “It’s incredibly disappointing that the Marrs Bar has made the decision not to cancel the gig. Michale Graves has been cancelled across the UK, and I find it embarrassing that Worcester is still on the gig list. I think The Marrs Bar should cancel the Michale Graves gig, as other venues have done in Bradford, Glasgow, Sheffield, Portsmouth, Swansea, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Camden, Reading and Oxford.”
Laurenson further intensified his criticism, pointing to Graves’ past support of the Proud Boys as well as a 2024 performance in Israel as additional reasons for concern.
“Michale Graves is a fas*ist. He supports the Proud Boys and performed in Israel, a g*nocidal state, in July 2024. I think it would send a powerful message that fas*ists are not welcome in Worcester if the gig was cancelled.”
In response, Graves shared an extensive statement on Instagram, defending his remaining European tour dates and addressing the recent cancellations.
“Over the past days, I’ve become aware of an aggressive online campaign of organizations and individuals focused on my upcoming shows in Europe.”
“I respect that people may hold different opinions or choose not to attend these shows. I am very concerned that venues, staff members, and people simply doing their jobs are now being placed under significant pressure and distress and in some instances being threatened to simply show up at there [sic] job.”
“I want to be very clear: my shows are about music, community, and shared passion. I do not promote violence, hatred, or harm, and those who have attended my performances know that my focus has always been bringing people together through music. All are welcome. The live music scene should remain a safe and inclusive space for everyone — artists, fans, venue staff, and local communities alike. No one should feel unsafe or intimidated for participating in or supporting live music events.”
“If my music is not for you, I fully respect your choice not to attend. However, I respectfully ask that disagreements remain peaceful and that the hardworking people behind these venues are treated with respect. I look forward to performing for those who wish to be there and sharing music in a positive, safe and respectful environment.”
Graves fronted the Misfits from 1995 to 2000, performing on the albums American Psycho (1997) and Famous Monsters (1999).
“God Bless America Tour 2026” Dates:
- April 3 — Online Acoustic Performance
- April 18 — Corona, CA — Rockafellas
- April 19 — Los Angeles, CA — Whisky A Go Go
- April 20 — Sonora, CA — Sonora Game Room
- May 7 — Lafayette, LA — Daiquiri Leaf
- May 8 — St. Charles, LA — Freetown Boom Boom
- May 10 — Daytona, FL — Bam Bams
- May 11 — Ocala, FL — O’Malley’s
- May 17 — Panama City Beach, FL — The Kraken
