Ex-Misfits Singer Michale Graves Responds After UK Gigs Canceled Due to His Far-Right Views

Former Misfits singer Michale Graves has issued a statement after a number of his UK concerts were canceled due to his previous far-right remarks and actions.

In 2020, Graves joined the Proud Boys, and was in Washington D.C. on the day of the January 6th insurrection in 2021 to play a planned private party for the far-right group. He even testified in defense of a few of the insurrectionists.

One UK city councillor has gone so far as to call the punk singer a “fascist” while urging the venue The Marrs Bar in Worcester, England, to nix his gig scheduled for this Friday, February 20th.

Councillor Neil Laurenson stated, “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.”

As Laurenson noted, several venues have already canceled Graves’ gigs. The councillor added, “Michale Graves is a fascist. He supports the Proud Boys and performed in Israel, a genocidal state, in July 2024. I think it would send a powerful message that fascists are not welcome in Worcester if the gig was cancelled.”

In the wake of the cancellations, Graves offered his own statement, posting the following on his Instagram page:

“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.”

As of this posting, Graves still has a handful of UK gigs on his itinerary, as seen in the tour poster in his Instagram post below, as well as a shows in Spain and Portugal.

Graves was a member of the Misfits from 1995 through 2000, and appeared on the albums American Psycho (1997) and Famous Monsters (1999).