is far more than just another Metal Band! Their record
"...and the Dead Shall Rise" is pure Horror Metal Magic!! It came
out on Iron Works in three different
versions, all are very hard to find today and not cheap, real collectors gems.
And for a good reason! If you ever have heard RIPPERs LP you will be caught
by their evil spell and be part of their legion. For a more detailed few read
the record review. Just
let us say: If you ever see this record offered, take your chance!! You surely
will not regret it...
And now we have the pleasure to hand over to ROB GRAVES, guitar-player, singer,
songwriter, producer... And he has something to tell!:
1)
Which year you got infected with the METAL-virus and what was the release?
ROB GRAVES: The
year was 1969/70...The album was "Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath...To me...the
1st true metal release...
2)
With what age did you start singing/playing an instrument and what was
the reason to do so? 3)
What are your five alltime-favorite records? |
RIPPER - ...AND THE DEAD SHALL RISE LP |
4)
Tell us the three last records/CDs you bought, that really thrilled you!
ROB: The last
3 albums that actually "thrilled" me were purchased some time ago...I love "live"
albums and thats what they all were...
#1 Made In Japan/Deep Purple(1973)
#2 Alive/Kiss(1975)
#3 Unleashed In The East/Judas Priest(1979)
5) Please give
us a discography of all bands you played with and all releases and about how
many copies each title were sold!
FINN: I had no actual
releases until Ripper...
#1 4Song EP entitled Ripper(1985)
#2 ..."And The Dead Shall Rise"(1986) (black vinyl, picture LP and gold vinyl)
#3 Metal Massacre 8 by Metal Blade(1986)
I dont know how many of these were ever sold because I never received a penny
from Iron Works or Metal Blade...But it aint over till its over...Know what
I mean...
Rob Graves - Undertaker Guitar/Vocals |
6) Looking
back: Which of your releases do you like the most and why? 7) And
which the least/why? 8) Did
your band (any of your bans) record songs that have never been released?
Please give us the song-titles and a short description! |
Sadie Paine - Vampyr Bass/Vocals |
9) What was the
highlight of your carreer?
ROB: We
were rehearsing in a well known downtown LA rehearsal studio...When you first
walked in you couldnt even hear yourself think...There were probably 100 bands
rehearsing there at any given time and the noise was thunderous...On our first
night there, we finished our rehearsal, about 2 hours worth(we always rehearsed
our live show just as though we were playing live) and when we were finished,
there was complete silence, and then some applause...We opened the door and
there were all kinds of musicians standing there greeting us and introducing
themselves, some of which have gone on to become quite well known...That was
my highpoint...My lowpoint was the night we met Gene Simmons of Kiss, handed
him a copy of our 4song EP...We just wanted him to have it...We were looking
for nothing...Later on he proceded to tell me that our music was "stupid and
corny" and that no one would ever take us seriously and that we should be like
Motley Crue and sing songs about "love"...
10) Tell us a
funny story around your band from the past!
ROB: We were always
the headliner...No one would ever let us open for them...We had too much smoke,
bombs, fire, blood and Marshalls...Among those who said "no" were Twisted Sister,
Dokken and Ted Nugent...They liked the music but not the image...Oh well...Anyway,
the bands that opened for us were always crucified by the fans...The lead singer
for one of the bands was saying goodnight and getting ready to introduce us
and a fan at the front tied his shoe laces together and he fell flat on his
face in front of a packed house...But he was a good sport about the whole thing
as he came "shuffling" into the wings where we were waiting to take stage and
said, "sorry I'm late, I got tied up, its all yours guys"...He never even took
off the shoes(laughs)...
11)
Are you a metal-collector? If yes: 11.2) What are your ten most valuable
records from a collectors view? |
Here's a cool picture of ROB GRAVES in 1967... |
...and 20 years later in 1987 !! |
11.3) Vinyl or CD:
what do you prefer and why?
ROB: I prefer CD's because they sound better and last longer...But I will say
that I liked all the good stuff you used to get in an LP, posters, special inserts
etc...
s/Vocals |
12) What
indescribable great question have you never been asked yet?
And
what would your answer have been? |
Death - The Grim Reaper Guitar/Vocals |
13) What is the
current status of the band and what is planned next?
ROB: Ripper is done,
over, finished, disbanded and no more... But Rob Graves is not...What you heard
was me...I wrote it, carried it, oversaw it all and produced it...The material
I am about to release will be some of the most powerful metal ever heard...These
songs would have gone on Rippers 2nd, 3rd and 4th albums...But sometimes my
friend, when you want something done right, you have to do it yourself... Last
Words: In 1990, I sold all of my gear and hung it up... For seven years, all
I did was dream about what could have been...Then in 1998 I said "wait a minute...Not
what could have been, but WHAT WILL BE"...Whether anyone cares or not...Rob
Graves is back...Better to be a "has been" than a "never was"...10/26/02
Any last words?:
ROB:
In 1990, I sold all of my gear and hung it up... For seven years, all I did
was dream about what could have been...Then in 1998 I said "wait a minute...Not
what could have been, but WHAT WILL BE"...Whether anyone cares or not...Rob
Graves is back...Better to be a "has been" than a "never was"...10/26/02
Yeah Rob!! The time for releasing those unheard
tracks is just right!! Give us the Real Steel and show all those todays "Heroes"
what METAL is all about!!!
WHEN THE FOG ROLLS IN AND
YOU HEAR THE WOLVES CRIES - THE GRAVES WILL OPEN...
AND THE DEAD SHALL RISE !!!
BANDCONTACT:
Rob Graves Email: mikenpartz@hotmail.com