The Graveyard Five - An Epic Simile

It began in 1978, exploded with the defiant anthem of "Alright by Me" in 1979, peaked in the early mid-1980's and has staggered ahead - off and on - ever since. Fans have gotten used to saying hello and goodbye to this venerable Texas rock band many a time over the years. Every few years, it seems, there's a comeback.

It was all quite amazing, really, one of the most controversial rock bands in history. So much of what was written about them was inaccurate, and yet as if the retelling, it acquired it's own vague truth, and so became the truth. Truth to tell - here is the real truth.

THE GRAVEYARD FIVE can be regarded as two different bands: the John Ramsey version vs. what the G-5 became after splitting from him in 1980. With Ramsey, their then lead guitarist, the G-5 concentrated on tours in-between Summers. The band was formed in 1978 by original members Stephen Arthur (guitar), John Ramsey (guitar), Pat Myers (bass) and Steve Armstrong (drums).

They could be compared in that era with REM, whose priorities were the same; record quickly, then hit the road and tour like mad. The oldest recordings were made in the fall of '79. You can tell how rough they sound, but this was how it all began for the G-5, from Austin College in Sherman, Texas - the birthplace of THE GRAVEYARD FIVE.

The band was endowed with the exuberance and pure pop sensibilities that characterized the great 60's hits of the Rock Renaissance - and put them to good use. In 1979 they were the first band with a link (albeit a tenuous one) to the New Wave movement that was able to conquer the top of the charts, and to nearly everyone's delight they even knocked disco aside in the bargain. It's understandable that they were hailed as "the next big thing"; commendable that they succeeded, and inevitable that they ultimately fell from grace.

The concept evolved and took on it's own life at each new stage. The initial rehearsals, the first club gigs, the new songs every week, like "Ego Trip" and "I guess I'll see ya", the excitement, the fans.

They chose Dental Records because they liked them as people (they were offered much more money by other companies) and they felt that they understood the project. "Alright by Me" was the groups very first release. Fans of the band no doubt remember it. It became the fastest rising record in the history of the Dental Records label.

A period of intense personnel turnover followed, accompanied by wholesale changes. Mick Krause and Trey Folliard join in '81 and band records first album, "JAM ON, HUMMINGBIRD" (released in the U.K. as The Graveyard Five sings "Jam-On, Hummingbird" and other favorites). Sales of follow-up album "WHOLE-IN-THE-WALL SESSIONS " were disappointing. Toured extensively in Benelux nations, developing a harder guitar style.

By '84 the original lineup regrouped. The bands next move was to hire a new producer and they chose wisely: a studio wizard, a true star in his own right, Steve Brudniak. "Radio was changing so drastically", says Arthur. "We decided to go with Brudniak because he was really plugged into that pop/rock thing happening on the radio." The decision to bring Brudniak aboard could hardly have yielded any better results.

One of the bands greatest accomplishments in the studio was the Ramsey-penned opus "The Sure Way". It became (and remains today) a classic rock song of it's time, backed with "Feeling that you won't". It remains the best selling hit in the history of Dental Records.

Their cult following remained fanatical but was clearly not enough for them to achieve any major breakthrough.

"Days in Black Leather" was a tuneful exercise in pure pop, today still considered by many to be among the best songs Arthur has ever written. "Castle on a Hill" contained a furious rush of acoustic guitar and a soaring chorus.

By now Arthur knew or had worked with members of Kings-X, Christopher Cross, Beatlemania, Tino, Marcia Ball and Ezra Charles. By 1985 the Graveyard Five takes time off due to exhaustion and internal dissent. For the next several years they each went their separate ways. John Ramsey was now Dr. John Ramsey. In his spare time he joined The Trees, who released a 12" EP called Locomotion vs. Hittin' the Brake (1986, Pool Records). Their song "Approximate Life" was included on KNDN radio's Live Music Week cassette in 1987, while KERA radio included their song "Before Electricity" on their 1989 Sound Sessions CD. They were also featured on The Sound of Deep Ellum compilation. John Ramsey later joined DragRace, formed in 1992 with ex-members of Bat Mastersons.

By now the only permanent member of The Graveyard Five, Arthur records and releases the sweeping "In Shadow" project. The new band was actually a rotating collection of sidemen hired as needed by Arthur, who not only wrote all Graveyard Five tunes, but who then moved smoothly into the producer's booth for himself and many other Dental Records artists, making him Dental- Records Artist of the Year in 1988. A reunion in '88 and a live recording of a landmark appearance of Blythe Spirits, Montrose, produced the third album, LIVE AT BLYTHE SPIRITS - their best received record ever. Michael Hargrove took up where Brudniak left off, producing LIVE AT BLYTHE SPIRITS II and EXHUMED in '89 and '90, respectively.

On drums, Dale Marks was replaced by the infamous Keith York, who was replaced by Billy Black, who was replaced eventually by Trey Folliard in his second tour of duty with the band. Press attention was momentarily attracted when band sued Dental Records for back royalties, and label threatened to countersue. '90 band headlines "Nerdapalooza". Talks begin on a film to be shot in Paris starring the Graveyard Five with Arthur to provide the soundtrack. Agreeing on a script was a problem and the project was shelved. The Houston Civic Association named them collectively "personalities of the year".

The Graveyard Five were going through changes as well. A reshuffling occurred when Jeff Crupper joined. Arthur works with the Smithereens, REM and Little Joe Washington, a blues legend. He also kept busy in the airless world of session playing, recording with many diverse acts. Arthur intends to release solo album to be called "Best Revenge" which was later changed to the title, "The Best of Worlds": A Ghost Story." Using quarter inch studio tape, Stephen played drums, bass and guitar. Displeased, he shelved the entire project. In '91 the G-5 began work on what was to be the highlight of their career. A live Documentary film of a series of shows at the legendary Fitzgerald's club called "The Graveyard Five at Fitzgerald's." The film was produced and directed by Trey Folliard. Ads appeared in The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety, trumpeting his documentary for Academy Award consideration. It received a Houston premier, with invitations to the Mayor and his wife, the Governor and even the President. With "Patterns" the GRAVEYARD FIVE's hit streak was winding down. All good things must come to an end and the G-5 were about to reach theirs - at least for a time. Breakups, line-up changes, arguments, even fist fights were common over the years but in late 1992, at another show at Fitzgerald's, the G-5 break up mysteriously when Stephen Arthur walks off. It was over. The Graveyard Five's musical growth is clearly evident from the late seventies to the early nineties. Remember those days? They were fun... but sometimes sad and painful too. All of that comes through in the recordings that the Graveyard Five made for the fans. A radio disc jockey somewhere reports that Arthur has been dead for several years, thus beginning the formation of a vast conspiracy theory based on clues from recordings and album covers. The G-5 turn down an offer of $2.4 million dollars to play 12 concerts in the U.S. In the nineties, Arthur kept busy as an on-air personality at the KRTS radio station. He was Studio Productions Coordinator and Promotions Assistant, as well as writing, editing and producing commercials. He also served as Institutional Development Coordinator at Holcombe Music, Master of Ceremonies for Business Volunteers for the Arts' Year End Gala events, and then Announcer and Promotions Assistant at KUHF radio. (Weds Lynn Butler in 1994.) In late '95, after starting Archivist Productions, he concertizes with the Clear Lake Symphony and also served on the players committee. Later he would play with the Galveston Symphony as well.

Dr. Ramsey maintained his practice in Dallas. Mick reclusively kept a low musical profile. Trey, his marriage on the rocks, recorded "Cook's Island" project with Jeff Crupper, played with several bands and was involved in radio also as a DJ (Treycer-X) on Pirate Radio until shut down by the FBI and FCC. He then became a music critic for the newspaper, "The Other" (formerly "Public News"). Trey and Mick were working on a short-lived television show when Trey died with tragic suddenness April 14, 2000 at a police station. A Treybute concert, featuring many acts was filmed and recorded May 3, 2000 near Delmar stadium where it all began so many years ago. A year later, Arthur (now divorced) and Krause reform and begin recording again after over a decade of separation. Arthur releases "Songs You've Never Heard". Session drummer and long time friend Steve Candelari joins on drums. In 2002 Arthur reissues "In Shadow" as "Again In Shadow" featuring the song "No Stranger's Hero" from the aborted '93 project, "The Best Of Worlds".

Both a critic's and public favorite, the GRAVEYARD FIVE continues to fill a much needed void. With Ramsey's decision to come on board in 2003, it looks like the G-5 lives on, with plans for a series of shows and a proposed film. A Box Set reissue is in the works as well.

And how's the ever-volatile relationship between guitarist-songwriter John Ramsey and leader Stephen Arthur? "They're getting along fine" says Krause. "There will always be differences of opinion, but we have a good time. No arguments about what we're doing. Not much to argue about". This tour is a bit of an odd duck in today's rock world. There is no new G-5 album - there likely will never be a new G-5 album. In fact, the centerpiece of the show is the full retrospective. That's right: a 25-year old time trip. It's just about the most improbable revival you can imagine. The Graveyard Five is back on its feet, played by the three surviving members - Arthur, Ramsey and Krause - and a supporting cast that includes producer/director Gary Belin, and the Steve Adams disciple, Steve Candelari. In closing I am reminded of the words of the noted painter and philosopher, "writing about music is like dancing about architecture". So let go and return to a time when fun wasn't a commodity and joy was just a G chord away.

Paul Barrow

CHRONOLOGY

'79 "ALRIGHT BY ME" - single

'82 "JAM-ON, HUMMINGBIRD"

'83 "WHOLE-IN-THE-WALL-SESSIONS"

'84 'THE SURE WAY' - single

'88 "IN SHADOW"

'88"LIVE AT BLYTHE SPIRITS"

'89 "LIVE AT BLYTHE SPIRITS II"

'90 "EXHUMED"

'92 "LIVE AT FITZGERALD'S"

'93 ("COOK'S ISLAND PROJECT")

2000 ("TREY FOLLIARD TREYBUTE CONCERT")

'02 "AGAIN, IN SHADOW"

'03 "LIVE AT THE CONTINENTAL"