Rob Graves (1955 – June 28, 1990), also known as Rob Ritter, was an American guitarist and bassist, born in

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, Michigan. Graves was known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

scene in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, performing with

Bags A bag, also known regionally as a sack, is a common tool in the form of a floppy container, typically made of cloth, leather, bamboo, paper, or plastic. The use of bags predates recorded history, with the earliest bags being lengths of animal s ...

the Gun Club The Gun Club were an American post-punk band from Los Angeles that existed from 1979 to 1996. Created and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce, they were notable as one of the first bands in the punk rock subculture to i ...

45 Grave 45 Grave is an American rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1979. The original group broke up in 1985, but vocalist Dinah Cancer subsequently revived the band. History The band was founded during the punk rock movement by Paul B. Cutler ...

, Thelonious Monster and the Loafin' Hyenas. Prior to relocating to LA in February 1978, Graves had played in Phoenix punk band the Exterminators. Graves died in 1990 from a heroin overdose. Graves' death had a profound impact on the punk rock community, prompting

Courtney Love Courtney Michelle Love (née Harrison; born July 9, 1964) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actress. A figure in the alternative and grunge scenes of the 1990s, Love has had a career spanning four decades. She rose to promi ...

to dedicate

Hole A hole is an opening in or through a particular medium, usually a solid Body (physics), body. Holes occur through natural and artificial processes, and may be useful for various purposes, or may represent a problem needing to be addressed in m ...

's ''

Pretty on the Inside ''Pretty on the Inside'' is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Hole, released on September 17, 1991, in the United States on Caroline Records. Produced by Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, and Gumball frontman Don Fleming, the al ...

'' to him. A 1990 memorial concert was held for Graves at the Roxy in

West Hollywood West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757. History Most historical writings about West Hollywood be ...

, featuring three of the bands he had performed in.

Discography

Studio albums

The Gun Club The Gun Club were an American post-punk band from Los Angeles that existed from 1979 to 1996. Created and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce, they were notable as one of the first bands in the punk rock subculture to i ...

– ''

Fire of Love Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion reaction when the fuel ...

'' (1981) *The Gun Club – ''

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

'' (1982) *

– ''

Sleep in Safety ''Sleep in Safety'' is the first studio album by American rock band 45 Grave. It was released in 1983 on record label Enigma. Critical reception Contemporary critical reception of the album has been generally positive. Ned Raggett of AllMu ...

'' (1983) * Thelonious Monster – '' Stormy Weather'' (1989) *The Loafin' Hyenas – ''The Loafin' Hyenas'' (1991)

Compilation albums

– ''

Autopsy An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of deat ...

'' (1987)

Live albums

* 45 Grave – ''Only the Good Die Young'' (1989, Restless) * ''Decline of Western Civilization'' soundtrack - with Alice Bag Band - ''Gluttony'' (1981, Slash)

References

1955 births 1990 deaths American rock guitarists American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists Deaths by heroin overdose in New York (state) 20th-century American male musicians The Gun Club members {{US-rock-guitarist-stub