Eight Ball Grifter

About Eight Ball Grifter

"High-energy greaser-rock/punk/psychobilly."

This greaser-rock/psychobilly three-piece based out of Lansing, Ml has the energy of a new comer, but the combined experience to make them one of the mid-west's biggest fireball powerhouses. Resembling a couple of highly tattooed Brooklyn thugs with a super greased up front man in leather pants, Eight Ball Grifter presents a charismatic and entertaining show of pure rock n roll with retro flavor seldom seen these days. Their songs of casinos, bars, hot rods, and women will bring you back to the days of the 50's with the added style of today's greasers. Eight Ball Grifter was formed in August of 1998 with the splitting of their former bands. The trio consists of Wade Royale (formerly with The Deans, on Kingpin Records, having played showcases across the US, as well as in London, England) on vocals and bass; Johnny Diablo (former Dumpster Cowboy featured on Yikes! Records) on hard hitting drums; and Knuckles Naylor on guitar, who finds that fine mixture of clean twang and rockin' riffs. Combining the genres of surf, rockabilly, psychobilly, and melodic punk, Eight Ball Grifter creates a sound uniquely their own. Their influences range from The Cramps, Rev. Horton Heat, and Mike Ness to Carl Perkins, Elvis, and Eddie Cochrane; all evident in their song writing and energetic stage presence. The band released their debut album, "DRUNKABILLY" in October of 1999 and are currently touring areas reaching as far east as New York City, back to Milwuakee, and everywhere in between, including stops in major cities such as: Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Detroit. Eight Ball Grifter is featured on Skully Records' "Gothabilly: Wakin' The Dead" compilation (1999) as well as having two songs on "Gothabilly: Rockin’ Necropolis" (2000). They have appeared at the Skully Records Gothabilly CD release show at the world famous CBGB's in New York City, and continue to play Skully Records showcases from state to state among their regularly scheduled shows.