REMEMBERING BEN GRAVES – LUCKY STRIKE LIVE, HOLLYWOOD, CA – 8/16/18
Review and Pictures: Sheri Hastings
Video: Ann Sunde
Ben “The Ghoul” Graves, known as a powerful, hard-hitting drummer for The Murderdolls and Pretty Boyd Floyd, was taken from his loved ones & fans this past May at the young age of 45. He succumbed to a very aggressive form of brain cancer and left behind an emptiness to everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.
Alex Kane, who was a fellow band member of Ben’s in AntiProduct in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s coordinated this labor of love with the help of Ben’s fiancé, Lydia Munster and his mother, Sharon Baird Graves. They did a spectacular job bringing together Ben’s former friend’s and bandmates to pay tribute through stories and the music he loved and created.
It was only fitting that this night in Hollywood, CA, family, friends & fans congregated from all over the United States and even from several countries to pay their respects and show love for a man who provided so much to so many. Lucky Strike Live was the chosen venue and it was packed to capacity with people looking forward to paying tribute via the music Ben loved so much.
Except for True 2 Crue, Pretty Boy Floyd & The Murderdolls sets, Lydia carefully picked out every song that was played. She mentioned that each song had a special meaning to Ben, even the old RATT cassette he still had from the ‘80’s! Lydia also had a projector screen set up on stage, showing footage of Ben playing all night, which made it very surreal.
Hosting duties were handled by Izzy Presley and special sets were performed by some bands that Ben was a member of over the years including True 2 Crue, Synical, Pretty Boy Floyd (who he played with last year) & THE performance everyone was waiting for; a semi reunion of the “horror-punk” band, The Murderdolls.
Lydia Munster, Sharon Baird Graves and The Murderdolls
By the time The Murderdolls took to the stage, the place was very tightly packed, with security guards holding back the barrier between the stage & the audience. I wasn’t sure whether I should feel safe or scared! But the barriers held and Wednesday 13, Acey Slade and Eric Griffin did the late drummer proud with a hard hitting set.
Ben’s brother, Peter Graves (who’s not a musician!) came out and performed Depeche Mode’s, “Never Let Me Down” with Alex Kane and then spoke to the crowd about how appreciative he was for everyone coming out to celebrate his brother’s life. Another very emotional moment was when Lydia & Sharon came on stage and spoke a few heartfelt words of gratitude & love.
There was a silent auction with items provided by Lydia, and also a Raffle, generously donated items from Coffin Cases, raising money for Ben’s favorite charity, Kitten Rescue Los Angeles (https://www.facebook.com/kittenrescue/ )
Rock In Peace Ben!
Setlist
TRUE 2 CRUE (V) MICHAEL (G1) STEVE (DR) JEFF (B) CHRIS
Iron Maiden – Number Of The Beast (V) LEAH (G1) SAM (G2) DANNY (DR)TINY (B) GABE (K)
AC/DC – Shake A Leg (V) HARRY (G1) SAM (G2) PHAROAH (DR) SHAWN (B) GABE
The Cult – Wildflower (V) CARL (G1)DANNY (G2) LONNY (DR) SHAWN (B) KENNY
INXS – Never Tear Us Apart (V) LEAH (G1) SAM (G2) BEN W (DR) SHAWN (B) GABE (K) ROBBIE
SYNICAL
Dirt Nasty – True Hollywood Story (V) BRIAN (G) ERIC (B) BRENT (D) KRZ
Aerosmith – No More No More (V) LISA (G1) ALEX (G2) DANNY (DR) KRZ (B) PHAROAH (K) ROBBIE
Poison – Cry Tough (V) JACOB (G1) ALEX (G2) DANNY (DR) KRZ (B) GABE (K)
Alice In Chains – Rain When I Die (V) BRANDON (G1) SAM (G2) DANNY (DR) KRZ (B) BEN W(BV) LISA
PRETTY BOY FLOYD (V) STEVE, (G)KRISTY, (B) JK, (DR) TOD
NIN – Terrible Lie (V) MILITIA (G1) SAM (G2) DAN (DR) HARLEY (B) GABE (K) SVEN
NIN – Were In This Together (V & B) PHAROAH (D) HARLEY (G1) SAM (G2) BEN
Spacehog – In the Meantime (V) BRANDON (G1) ALEX (G2) DANNY (DR) SHAWN (B) SHANE
Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down (V) PETER GRAVES {BEN’S BROTHER) (V) ALEX (G1) SAM (G2) DAN (DR) SHAUN (B) ALICIA (K) SVEN
Judas Priest – Electric Eye (V) RICHARD BLACK (G1) SAM (G2) ALEX (DR) SHAWN (B) ALICIA
Hall & Oates – Maneater (V) GABBY (G1) BEN W (G2) HOWIE (DR) TINY (B) SHANE (K) SVEN
Ratt – Round And Round (V) GABBY( G1) SAM (G2) DANNY (DR) JOHNNY K (B) GABE (K)
Type O Negative – Black #1 (V) MILITIA (G1) JOHNNY C (G2) SAM (DR) JOHNNY K (B) JOHNNY M (K) BEN W
LA Guns – Never Enough (V) JACOB (G1) ALEX (G2) JACOB (B) JOHNNY M (D) JOHNNY K
LA Guns – Rip & Tear (V) MIKE (G1) JACOB (G2) ALEX (B) JOHNNY M (D) JOHNNY K
Motley Crue – Red Hot (V) LEAH (G1) HOWIE (G2) ALEX (B) JOHNNY M (DR) ROY
Judas Priest – Livin After Midnight (V) BRANDON (G1) ALEX (G2) DANNY (DR) ROY (B) JOHNNY M
Soundgarden – Jesus Christ Pose (V) MILITIA (G1) SAM (G2) DANNY (DR) ROY (B) JOHNNY M
MURDERDOLLS
Motley Crue – Home Sweet Home (V) GABBY (G1) ERIC (G2) SAM (DR) JEFF (B) GABE (K) EMILY
AntiProduct – Good Vibrations (V) ALEX (G1) DANNY (G2) SAM (DR) JEFF (B) SHANE (K) SVEN
Bob Seeger – Hollywood Nights (V) Neil (G1) DANNY (G2) BEN W (DR) JEFF (B) SHANE (K) ROBBIE (BV) ROBERTA, TINA, DEE DEE
Aerosmith – Dream On (V) MILITIA (G1) SAM (G2) DANNY (DR) EMILY (B) SHANE (K) ROBBIE
Prince – Purple Rain (V)NEIL/ROBERTA (G1) DANNY (G2) SAM (DR) TINY (B) GABE (K) ROBBIE (BV) TINA, DEE DEE
Those Honoring Ben Included: Alex Kane, Acey Slade, Eric Griffin, Wednesday 13, Johnny Kelly, Roy Mayorga, Kristy Majors, Steve Summers, JK Famous, Nick Lane, Criss 6, Michael O’Mara, Steve LaVoie, Jeff Page, Brian Haught, Brent Ashley, Toddy Deadboy, Bruce Miyaki, Mel McFail, Dave Teague, Johnny Martin, Kenny Kweens, Gabriela Rae, Kriz DK, Jonny Coffin, Sam Bam Koltun, Anthony “Tiny” Biuso, Steve Ferlazzo, Brandon Baumann, Militia Vox, Howie Simon, Lisa Margaroli, Leah Martin-Brown, Gabe Maska, Danny Hechter, Alicia Vigil, Neil Turbin, Shawn Duncan, Harley Dewinter, Shane Solowski, Robbie Gennet, Emily Dickinson, Pharaoh Barrett, Nik Frost, Richard Black, Jacob Bunton, Lonny Paul, Ben White, Happenin’ Harry..
