'MMXIII' Available On CD Again

'MMXIII', the EP by Christophe Murdock is finally available on CD again with all new artwork! Featuring the songs "Road Rash", "As You Sleep", "The Life of an Outlaw" and a cover of the Johnny Thunders classic "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory"!

Order your copy here: http://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00ZM0BA4

'Scum God' Re-issue!

 In my neverending quest to preserve what is Social Parasite I present to you, as a free download, the 1996 album 'Scum God'. First time available digitally, plus bonus tracks! As with most S.P. merch this is in memory of the late, great Joe D. and Micah Nix. So no charge on the albums. Special thanksto Mike Moon for providing me with the tape.

R.I.P. Joe D.

 Joe Degraffenreid, my long time collaborator and longer time friend, passed away this week. He was the lead guitarist for many projects I've done over the years and the frontman for Social Parasite. This comes as a shock. When it comes to a time like this I don't even know what to say. I never saw it coming. Some people you feel will live forever. Joe was one of those people.

 Joe was an amazing talent. I first met him on the scene probably more than 15 years ago now. I would write for his zine Metal Hell. (The fanzine that morphed from the Kiss Hell International Fan Club) Way before Mockingbird Lane existed I had tried out for Social Parasite on bass. It was too intense. I thought, "This guy is too good, I'll never learn this stuff.". I never thought I'd be playing alongside him in that band a decade later even throwing in some tunes of my own. This guy has backed me up so many times and really pulled me through and helped me stick out. We did my solo thing, The Prairie Fire, some punk bands, Social Parasite even the Hip-Hop with The SouthSide KrazyKidz. 

 Joe, there is nothing I could ever put into words that would do justice to you or how I feel. You will be missed. Rest in peace brother. Until we meet again to jam out once more...

 Joe has been a long time force in The Oklahoma Music Scene. Below is just a sample of the things he's done.

 http://www.reverbnation.com/cultofjoed

 PRINT:

 KISS Hell (Want a taste? Check out The Ultimate KISS Fanzine Phenomenon 1976-2009 by Phoenix Books, 3 pages of by Joe and covers plastered throughout)

 Metal Hell

 MUSIC:

 Joe D. 

 Social Parasite

 Serpent Assassin

 Christophe & Friends

 Christophe and The Pallbearers

 Christophe and The Prairie Fire

 The SouthSide KrazyKidz

 10BURN4

 American Glamstand

 FauxKISS

General Update - 2013

 My apologies for not updating the site with any news since June... June?!?! There has had to be some news since then, right? Well, my laptop busted and a couple of the bands drifted apart. There was some time spent re-organizing our lives trying to decide where we are going. I'll give you some basic stuff in the following rambles to fill you in.

 My solo stuff is still going on, although I've been taking it slower. I've rejoined SWAN in what little spare time I've had, so you can catch me there as well as the occasional small show. My next solo show will be this Friday with my friend Sterling Witt at The Pink Elephant in Norman (8pm, no cover). If you haven't seen Sterling before you want to head out. He is amazing.

 The Prairie Fire's last gig was in Sept. We played the State Fair and L.M.O.T.C. Well, we are still going through an adjustment period. Not sure what the final line-up will be, but we are still a functioning band. Come see us on the 10th of February when we open up for The Koffin Kats at the Blue Door in OKC (8pm, no cover).

 On the metal front I guess it's been over a year since Social Parasite has done anything. Well, Joe D. and I are supposed to start practicing again this month, so expect something new soon. Not sure if we will do more S.P. or try to take it somewhere else... but something heavy will happen.

 The hip-hop is still happening as well. SmacOne and the S.S.K.K. crew never stop. I've recorded some more tracks with them, and am expecting them to be released soon. Frost released a new mix-tape last month with "Lonely People" on it. Plus Smac's been hosting some battles in OKC.

 Fans of my old Mockingbird Lane stuff need to contact me if interested in joining a new group. Currently holding try-outs for the band. Looking for a lead guitarist and a drummer. Somebody fresh.

 As for film, I've not really done anything during the break but I will be a part of the new Star Trek fan series Starship Ajax. I will be a member of the Gorn. So keep an eye on that!

PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS STOLEN GUITAR!

 STOLEN: '88 Gibson Les Paul Standard-tobacco sunburst-w. SD Full shred pickups, Metal Hell silver sticker on right, & KISS puffy sticker on pickguard. If anyone see's or hears about this guitar being sold/played/etc.. please contact Joe at kisshell2@aol.com, or call 405-872-3675. Thanks &, from someone who just had a beautiful Les Paul stolen; from one player to all others; please keep an eye out for your fellow musicians & their beloved instruments.. there's nothing lower than a thief, & I don't believe any musician should ever have to go through what I am right now. Sincerely- Joe D.

 ***JUST ADDED*** serial # 83028510

Oklahoma Lefty: Album Review: Unpaid Fines

Dave Brown over at Oklahoma Lefty did a review of the Unpaid Fines album. Check it out! Oklahoma Lefty: Album Review: Unpaid Fines

Title: Unpaid Fines (Christophe’s Music Blog)
Artist: Christophe (Music Blog, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, ReverbNation)

Unpaid Fines is a limited collection of material recorded by Christophe Murdock with various projects over the years including demos and live tracks. As Christophe explained in our recent interview, the collection was put together to help payoff some traffic fines –

Between now and Feb. 15th I'm taking orders for an ultra limited edition compilation CD to help pay some fines off... so it's called "Unpaid Fines". I might extend the final date because of the weather. I know mail wasn't running for a few days there. This CD will be full length and include demos and rare tracks from various projects I'm in. You can get the info and view the current track listing here: http://hardcoreokieboy.blogspot.com/2011/01/rare-cd-available-for-limited-time-only.html I'm also thinking about adding a couple live tracks including a Too Live Crew cover and possibly a Social Parasite track.

Because much of this collection is demos and live tracks the production is pretty hit or miss, but overall it’s an enjoyable record. Even though the tracks range from rap covers to acoustic outlaw country to death rock/horror punk, one thing that is consistent is the dark content of the lyrics (Christophe’s love of the horror genre greatly comes through in his music). My personal favorite track is the Mockingbird Lane four-track demo “The Last Man on Earth” (not to be confused with The Staggers’ classic by the same name).

If you are a fan of Christophe’s music, then this CD is definitely something to track down (though it might be a little hard to get because it was available for a limited time).

Posted by Dave at 7:57 AM

Midnight Calling reviews "Bootleg This"

 Aiden over at Midnight Calling e-zine graced us with another fine review, this time of SmacOne's solo debut "Bootleg This". Check it out: http://www.midnightcalling.com/wordpress-mc/wordpress-mc/2011/02/smacone-bootleg-this/

"Unpaid Fines" Compilation Is Finished!

The "Unpaid Fines" compilation is now up to stream. If you ordered a copy you will soon recieve a download code so you can enjoy it while you wait for the CD to come in the mail. Check it out!

Interview in the Midnight Calling e-zine Jan. '09

I did this interview for the Midnight Calling e-zine. http://www.MidnightCalling.com

Jan 19 

Christophe

by Aiden, Filed under: Interviews

MC: When you started recording again after Mockingbird Lane, was it sort of a “dark night of the soul” type thing or did you simply decide to get back into it?

C: I had slowed writing and recording to an almost stand-still after I had moved back to my hometown and hooked up with my now “ex”. Spent all my time working and dealing with the insanity of that relationship. My desire to make music was kind of curbed from all that I was going through. After her and I split I started kicking it with a few of my old friends and playing a little music to waste time down at the old Main Street Store. I just started putting what I was going through into the music. I wrote a handful of tunes through the end of ‘07 and that is what I recorded for “The Life Of An Outlaw”.

MC: Some of your work sounds along the lines of Nick Cave or even a bit of Leonard Cohen: quite dark, yet basically very straightforward, too. This is refreshing after listening to a lot of bands who seem to have taken being cryptic a bit too far. I love allegorical works, but I believe that there still has to be something the listener can relate to. What is your philosophy or methodology on composing lyrics?

C: Never really had a method. I sit down and write down what comes out as it comes out. I just let my soul speak. Sometimes it hides behind things… but usually it just opens up and speaks the truth. A lot of things I write about I don’t really think about or even realize myself until after it’s written… It’s my soul speaking to me so I can work it out.

MC: You had mentioned that your music is a blend of country/punk/death-rock. To some viewers this may seem like a strange combination. But I see the new cowpunk/honkytonk scene (what I term New Outlaw Country) as being much like the original Deathrock and early Deathrock revival scenes, i.e. very DIY and anti-commercialism; far outside the mainstream; with fans and performers being pretty close knit. I also see similarities between the very frank attitudes and camaraderie of both.  What are your thoughts?

C: I totally agree. When I first started doing this, back before the Mockingbird days, a lot of people really didn’t get it and wouldn’t listen… but over the years the scene has really expanded and a lot of people are getting back to the roots. Everyone in the scene seems to be real open and honest. It’s just real folks being real. Times have changed and it’s time for all this crass commercialism to go to the wayside.

MC: Who are some of your favorite country punk and horrorpunk performers?

C: Shit… Hank III obviously. Joey Allcorn. My buddy Danny Trashville. Cancerslug. Ghosts Run Wild. Gabe Zander. Gotham Road. Wayne Hancock. I dunno… that’s just a few…

MC: You recently produced some tracks for Fear The Dead radio. Where are they located? Has their comp been released, and were you included?

C: I did a song called “Fear The Dead” that I wrote everything for. Sang and performed all of the parts except the drums. Blizzard recorded those for me. People that like my horror-punk stuff should dig it. As far as I know it’s not released yet, but they are going to use it on the compilation when they release it. If it doesn’t come out I’ll put it out on something. It’s a fun song… I’d hate for it to go to waste. 

MC: Tell us about your new albums “The Life of an Outlaw” and “Ten Necromantic Classics”. How can fans get your music?

C: “The Life Of An Outlaw” is a live demo I recorded in Oregon at the begining of ‘08. All the songs I wrote the last couple months of ‘07. This one is limited to 100 copies and numbered. You can order them from me $10 postage paid through the MySpace or send me a money order too: Christophe, P.O.Box 3084, Shawnee, OK, 74802. “Ten Necromantic Classics” is a split I did with Thomas Gun (http://www. myspace. com/thomasgun), guitarist for The Necrophilicons and Nuke & The Living Dead. We decided to do an acoustic album of horror-punk songs to release for Halloween. You can listen to that and download it from my site or from ReverbNation. (http://www. reverbnation. com/tennecromanticclassics)

MC: What are some of your upcoming projects? Where will you be playing in the near future?

C: Right now things are up in the air. Been working my ass off because I hope to get the hearse ready for a show in Oklahoma in May. I have to rebuild the engine and hope to strip, repaint and revinyl it too before then. So I have not been working as much on my music and art as I would like too. I’ll be throwing down some bass lines for the 8 Bit Heretic stuff soon, so those should be online when I do… I just need to give myself a few days off to work on it. Joe D (http://www. myspace. com/thecultofjoed) has been playing lead for me lately so I’m sure we’ll try to set something up. Most likely around Oklahoma ’til I get the hearse ready. 

MC: It seems like that once an “underground” scene gains a certain level of success and exposure; it turns into the same sort of rank commercialism that it originally stood against. Do you think there is any way to avoid this process?

C: No. If something is doing well, the suits will try to copy it. If they can’t copy it they will find people and wave money under thier nose to exploit it. History repeats itself. Always has, always will.

MC: Is there anything else you would like to add? Thanks so much for the interview!

C: Just for everyone to check out the site!  Stop by every month to hear different recordings. Drop me a line, let me know what you think or of you want me to play in your area. If enough people want me somewhere and will set it up, I’ll hitch a ride or hop a bus and come play. Buy my cd’s so I can afford to press new ones.

http://www. myspace. com/hardcoreokieboy

Article in POP Magazine

Below is a copy of the article appearing in POP from May 30th 2003. There were quite a few things taken out of context or misquoted in the interview.

If you read this article make sure to read the follow-up: http://hardcoreokieboy.blogspot.com/2003/06/article-in-pop-magazine_21.html

 
MOCKINGBIRD LANE, SOCIAL PARASITE POISON THE WELL

By Doug Hill

The Well is a non-denominational Christian house of worship at 219 W. Main St. It's an uncommonly clean and well-decorated brick room that's long and narrow. Friendly Jay and Jessica said they enjoy volunteering there. The Well introduces new people to the flock by frequently hosting a wide variety of music in their attractive sanctuary.

On May 9, they charitably brought a concert by two bands who could have been featured in Metal Hell magazine. Mockingbird Lane's Christophe (vocals/guitar) sat in church and confessed his guilty musical pleasure. "Pink, But the reason she's so good is because the chick from Four Non Blondes is the one who wrote all the music. But I'm proud, not guilty about them," he said.

Christophe admitted to other sins. "I've actually booked shows when I didn't have a band together yet," he said. "Many of my songs were written when I had to have some for a show. Like 'From Hell' that we're playing tonight."

Christophe predicted the future. "In 100 years, there will still be punk rock. That's for f------ sure. There will always be a pissed-off kid in a garage somewhere."

Worst concert: "When all Lynyrd Skynyrd's brother's opened for Hank (Williams) Jr. They did 'Free Bird' for at least an hour. I thought it would never end."

Christophe cited Billy Joe Winghead and John Thomas as best of the local scene. But he also populated a personal wall of shame. "I don't like the Chainsaw Kittens. I saw them, and they were just bad."

Not known for good taste or gentility, Christophe's misogynist songs are at best crude satire. His description of their content was too rude and gratuitously violent to quote. The songs include stalking with criminal intent and other distasteful themes targeting women.

Music that Christophe and his mother can dig together: "Hank (Williams) Jr., Waylon (Jennings), Willie (Nelson), Johnny (Cash), Kris Kristofferson, and Roger Miller."

"I'm an Okie. Hillbilly is in my blood," he explained.

Christophe revealed the genre with the worst snobs. "Straight-up goths. They're all f------ pretentious and poseurs. I'm Death Rock. So, I can talk smack about them all I want."

Christophe commented on religious music. "I'm into Christian Death Metal like Mortification and the Deadlines. I do not like these little, crappy Christian bands that they have in every church. They're all like, 'Hey, you should check us out.' But all the Christian jam bands sound alike," he judged.

MOCKINGBIRD LANE

Nick (bass) and Riley (drums) ganged up with Christophe for a fuzzy, mega volume assault. Aural felony by guitar band, ML should be named Thunderbird Row. The vocals were drowned, which may have been just as well.

Christophe's guitar rumbled like the storm clouds outside. Last chord, he dropped his ax and bolted from the room. Ever the drama queen, Christophe fell to the sidewalk and doused himself with bottled water until out.

SOCIAL PARASITE

Based in Norman, Social Parasite are Joe Degraffenried (vocals/guitar), Micah (drums) and Tyson (vocals/bass). "We are a true metal band who blend stoner metal with trash metal," Joe D. said.

Reading their "... sarcastic, twisted sense of humor..." is key.

"Some people might think 'Beat My Bitch' is brutal, but it's about a drug habit," he explained.

Joe D. is articulate. He's the editor of Metal Hell magazine (503 Willis, Noble, OK 73068, annual subscription $20). The update column is titled "Sick Sick Six!!" The articles are well-written and witty.

SP's credo is simple. "Take chances. Do not care. Don't do anything trendy. Don't do rap metal and don't back down from a crowd," he said.

Worst concerts attended: "U2 at Lloyd Noble Center in 1983. The Alarm opened up," (Joe D.), and "Moody Blues at the Civic Center in the late 80's when my mom made me go," (Micah).

SP's concert was ominous and threatening as only death metal and certain opera can be.

Random Lyric: "God hates you/and so do I ... ." Degraffenreid's vocals were spat out like acrid flaming pellets of damnation.

Tyson had replicas of shrunken headds adorning his mic stand. Social Parasite roared like a wood chipper happily munching cute little bunnies.