45 Grave

Vocalist Dinah Cancer

45 Grave were the leaders of the 1981 goth-punk explosion. The foursome (later a quintet) from Los Angeles included Phoenix-bred guitarist Paul B. Cutler and vocalist Mary "Dinah Cancer" Sims, ex-Germs drummer Don Bolles and bassist Rob "Graves" (real name Ritter), who was previously a member of the Bags and the Gun Club.

The legendary Black Cross/Wax single and three cuts on the Hell Comes to Your House compilation launched 45 Grave's career in '81. With its stark, black-and-white, satanically-inspired cover, Black Cross single was originally released on Goldar Records and the tracks were later re-released on Autopsy. By the time their first album Sleep in Safety came out in 1983, keyboardist Paul Roessler (brother of one-time Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler) had joined the group. Sleep in Safely was later re-released on CD by Restless Records in 1993 with extra tracks. Other releases included the 12-inch Phantoms b/w Sleep in Safety and La Tomba (originally released in 1983 on Enigma Records; a different version of Phantoms was released on the Sleep in Safety LP, while the cuts Sleep in Safety and La Tomba were never released on CD and are currenlty out of print); and the 12-inchPartyTime b/w Schools Out, released on Enigma in 1984.

By 1985, Paul Cutler and Dinah Cancer went their separate ways, basically ending the band. The posthumous album Autopsy was released in 1987, mainly documenting their early, leaning-towards-punk material; it included their first single, demo versions of later hits and some previously unreleased songs.

In the meantime, the rhythm section composed of Rob and Don formed the band Silver Chalice with producer/guitarist Geza X; the group also included a guitar-playing songwriter and singer Kim Komet.

Several years later, 45 Grave began doing several irregular West Coast reunion tours. The live LP Only the Good Die Young was released in 1989, capturing a 1988 Hollywood gig with excellent sound quality. Unfortunately, 45 Grave ceased to exist for good after bassist Rob Graves died of a drug overdose in 1991.

Don Bolles was involved in numerous projects since the untimely demise of 45 Grave; he has released music on Triple X Records with his band Celebrity Skin and contributed to the zines Ben Is Dead, LA Weekly and Mouth to Mouth. He is currenty playing under his real name Sal Mussolino for the "nerd rock" band Three Day Stubble. Don also currently "spews short-wave radio noise" under the name Kitten Sparkle.

Paul Roessler joined the band Dream Syndicate in 1986 and recently made an appearence on a Mike Watt album.

Dinah Cancer is currently working with her new band called Penis Flytrap. They have released at least one CD on an indie label, and have very recently (October-November 2003) been on tour in the US; another West Coast tour is in the works for early 2004.