Dead Rites In Japan
"Malevolence Over Japan Tour 2006"
click start to play short film of Dead Rites in Japan

Dead Rites, is a band that has taken the underground scene by storm. Since their inception, they have made waves and captured hearts with their passionate live shows and performances. The band was formed in the wake of the death of another hard working band called Fallen Wisdom. The band was on its way to its demise and Dead Rites lead singer Radu was already plotting his next move. He had written some songs over a period of time that were different than what Fallen Wisdom was doing. Songs that were simple and to the point but filled with a lot of heart and passion. Completely embracing his longtime main influences in Danzig, Motorhead, Social Distortion with Ricardo Arjona, which he couldn't add to his previous band, and his new influences like the man in black Johnny Cash, Radu created an array of songs that were different to what he was doing at the time, but was themed in the horror punk/metal vein. The array of skeletons that eventually became Dead Rites songs were as different as "Darkness over You", "I will see you burn", and "Desecration" to songs that Dead Rites fans now know as "Ritual", "Malevolence", and "At The Gates Of Gadara". As soon as he had some songs ready he went out in the search of musicians.

"The main idea for Dead Rites ", Radu states, "Is that the band would be a rotating door of musicians so that each album would be different and have a different vibe. An Idea i stole from Glenn Danzig because that is what he wanted to do with the Danzig albums. Unfortunately, just like him, I fell in love with what my musicians were bringing to the table." The first musician that Radu hired on the spot, no audition needed, was Gonzi, former Fallen Wisdom bassist. Gonzi had some reservations of joining because of his previous experiences in Fallen Wisdom, that were deemed less than appealing by many an insider and the band members themselves. In the meantime, on the spot, no auditions needed, Andrew Welp was hired and the band was on its way to making waves in the underground scene.

The last piece of the puzzle for their first album was Josh who became the permanent Dead Rites drummer and one of the staples of a Dead Rites live show. Felix de La Rosa, who has always been attached to Radu in one way or another, was also part of the album doing some guitar work on "Leave Thy Sins At The Door" and "Deny Me".... and the Dead Rites formula was in place. Their debut album, "In the Midst of Malevolence", is an eclectic mix of influences that range from the late great Johnny Cash, to Danzig, all the way to Social Distortion... a wide array of music that encompasses the whole history of what Josh, Gonzi and Radu call their influences. The band has shared the stage with national bands and some of their idols in their small career.Tthey have outshined more experienced outings and they have made a short but memorable career which they plan on expanding in the next year. Their first World Tour started in Atlanta and ended in North Carolina, before stopping in Japan for two weeks. The band is a phenomenon waiting to happen, and they are not waiting to be discovered. They are making themselves 'be' discovered, by going on the road time and time again and spreading their name everywhere that they possibly can.