Former Misfits vocalist Michale Graves faces a wave of boycotts from the UK punk community

Former Misfits vocalist, Michale Graves (Instagram @gdu1119)

JAKARTA - Former vocalist of the punk rock band Misfits, Michale Graves, has to face a massive wave of rejection in Great Britain, which resulted in the cancellation of a number of his performance schedules for the Sticks And Stones tour.

This issue started with Graves' track record of publicly supporting the United States' radical right-wing group, The Proud Boys, in 2020.

Not stopping there, his reputation has further deteriorated in the eyes of punk fans after he voiced his support for MAGA supporters involved in the riots on Capitol Hill in January 2021.

The series of events made the 50-year-old musician's political views considered to be at odds with the inclusive punk ethos - triggering a chain reaction from bar owners and music promoters in various cities.

According to NME's report, several well-known venues such as Holy Diver in Stockport, Yorkshireman in Sheffield, and Jacs in Wales, have officially removed Graves' performance schedule.

Pressure is also coming from the local political sphere. In Worcester, city council member Neil Laurenson urged the owner of The Marrs Bar to cancel Graves' concert scheduled for February 20.

Laurenson even threatened to boycott the venue permanently if the concert went ahead.

"It's disappointing that Marrs Bar decided not to cancel this concert. Michale Graves has been canceled throughout the UK, and I feel ashamed that Worcester is still on his tour list," said Laurenson.

"Michale Graves is a fascist. He supports the Proud Boys and performed in Israel in July 2024. I think canceling this concert will send a strong message that fascists are not welcome in Worcester," he added.

In response to the mass boycott, Michale Graves finally released an official statement through his social media. He claimed that he had never promoted violence or hatred.

Graves took issue with the aggressive campaign directed at the crew and venue staff who he said were simply doing their jobs.

"My show is about music, community, and a shared passion to bring people together through music. The live music scene must remain a safe and inclusive space for everyone," Graves said.

"If my music is not for you, I fully respect your choice not to attend. However, I ask that disagreements remain peaceful," he added.

Although Graves insisted that his concert was purely about art, the wave of cancellations continued to spread to other areas such as Reading and Oxford.

For the British punk community, stage integrity is more precious than mere nostalgia for the Misfits era of the 1990s, especially when the performer is considered to have hurt the values they hold dear.