Ben Graves - AntiProduct/Murderdolls
Originally from the Boston area, Ben Graves moved to L.A. with friend and bassist Eric Griffin to become a member of the band Synical. The Murderdolls were searching for a rhythm section in the spring of 2002. Guitarist Tripp Eisen (since replaced by Acey Slade) knew Eric and decided to ask if he would be interested in filling the bass position. When asked if he knew any drummers that could do the job, Eric suggested Ben.

• Ben's Kit MMX Masters Series Black Sparkle 22x18 bass drum x 2 13x11 tom 16x16 floor tom 14x6.5 snare     14x6.5 Brass Sensitone     14x6.5 Carbon Fiber     14x6.5 UltraCast B1000 boom stand x 6 C1000 straight stand S2000 snare stand RH2000 remote hi-hat P2000C pedal x 2 CLH1000 closed hi-hat AX25L adapter 75X cowbell holder

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The three of them got together to jam, and Tripp took a video of the session, which was later shown to Murderdoll founder/guitarist Joey Jordison. After Joey reviewed the tape, it was decided that Ben and Eric both had the skills and image needed to join the Murderdolls. In a world where it's all too easy to point out everything that's wrong about music, Murderdolls represent everything that could be right with the release of their debut, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls.

That may sound like a bold mission statement from a band whose songs include such frightfully decadent ditties as "Love At First Fright," "Grave Robbing U.S.A." and "Kill Miss America," but don't lose their point in the same self-righteous haze that's clouding over too much of the modern music scene.

"I think a lot of kids will be medicated by this record, because it's not just another record with the depressing lyrics," says Murderdolls guitarist Joey Jordison, all too aware that he's treading in provocative water with the new outfit, a drastic change of pace from his other band, Slipknot. "To me, that's the point. What would be the point of doing something remotely like Slipknot? I don't play drums in this band, I don't wear a mask in this band, and the music is a polar opposite. While still being heavy, it's a breath of fresh air compared to what I normally do, because it's fun - It's catchier, more easily digestible, and has that fun factor to it, and there's nothing wrong with that, because everything can't be so heavy and depressed all the time."

Murderdolls began as The Rejects more than seven years ago, the brainchild of Jordison long before Slipknot became this millennium's metal revolutionaries. His lineup experienced substantial growing pains before he met Eisen (then guitarist of Dope) while touring together in '99, and Tripp recruited Wednesday 13 as a bassist. Bringing new songs of his own into the fold, it wasn't long before the bassist made the shift to lead singer, and Eric Griffin and Ben Graves rounded out the band's current lineup. A garage band in every sense of the word, they'd played only four shows with the duo of Jordison and Eisen on guitars, and had yet to perform with their new frontman upon the completion of the album. In fact, Jordison didn't even meet Wednesday until the day they entered the studio to record.

"We're taking stuff from our favorite bands and doing it the way that we've always wanted it done, taking it to a place where we've never seen anybody try and take it," continues Wednesday, citing Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister and Alice Cooper as significant influences on his share of Murderdolls' "violent Sex Pistols" sound. "We're bringing the danger aspect back..."