Shows Cancelled Amid Controversy
Singer Michale Graves has had all his forthcoming concerts in Wales cancelled due to his associations with the US far-right group The Proud Boys.
Graves, who was the lead vocalist for the New Jersey punk band The Misfits, was scheduled to perform at The Bunkhouse in Swansea, Fuel in Cardiff, and Jacs in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, later this month.
Deadwave Records, the promoters of the tour, stated that these Welsh gigs are among several across the UK that have been cancelled "to avoid trouble" following protests by a group of people.
Graves has publicly denied endorsing "hate, racism, violence or the exclusion of anyone based on race, religion, gender or identity."
Venue Responses
Attempts to obtain comments from The Bunkhouse and Fuel have been made, while Jacs issued an online statement acknowledging the concerns raised by the public.
"We had listened to the concerns raised and considered carefully the potential impact on the venue, our staff, customers and the wider community."
"In light of everything, we believe cancelling the event is the right course of action."
The cancellations in Wales follow similar decisions in cities including London, Reading, Oxford, Bradford, Glasgow, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Portsmouth, and Bournemouth.
Opposition from Fellow Musicians
The Skate Punx, a five-member band initially booked as support for Graves, withdrew from the tour in protest.
"We're here for the music, but we're here for the community first," they said.
"Punk is about inclusivity and giving everyone at gigs a safe space - so we can't, in good conscience, share a stage with someone whose public affiliations and values stand in direct opposition to our own ethos."
"We don't consider ourselves a particularly political band but we do believe in human decency."
Background on Michale Graves and The Proud Boys
Graves was a member of The Misfits from 1995 to 2000. In 2020, he publicly endorsed The Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group designated as a terrorist organization in Canada and New Zealand, through social media.
He also testified in defense of several Proud Boys members during trials related to their participation in the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.
Four members were convicted for organizing efforts to overturn the 2020 US presidential election results, though their sentences were later pardoned or commuted by then-President Donald Trump in 2025.
Graves' Statement
In a statement, Graves acknowledged that some groups may be "broadly labelled" due to certain "actions and events," which could cause "understandable alarm."
"But those portrayals do not reflect my personal beliefs or values.
My shows have always been about music, connection and shared experience, with audiences from all cultures and walks of life who are welcomed and respected," he added.
Promoters' Statement
Deadwave Records commented on the cancellations, saying:
"A group of people protested against the tour and some of the venues decided to cancel to avoid trouble.
We don't support sides and we don't support hate - it's all about the music for us."
