Attacking From Within: A Conversation With Half Past Dead
Interview ★ Kenzie Gay ★ @kenzwrites ★ 5 Minutes
It’s not often that you come across a music act these days that serves as a blast from the past - the peak of the 80s glam rock movement, to be specific. It’s also not often when you come across a band that doesn’t particularly enjoy their own scene in full force. However, Half Past Dead goes to the beat of their own drum, no pun intended.
Composed of lead singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Alex Black (he/him), lead guitarist and backing vocalist Wilder Graves (he/him), bassist and backing vocalist Rhys Rosette (she/they), and drummer Ernest, Half Past Dead is an up and coming rock quartet hailing from Virginia. We recently sat down with them to talk rock, inspirations, and more.
Half Past dead via @/thatravenkid on Instagram
You guys have a very prominent classic rock style to your sound, specifically in “I’m in Love with the Devil”. Who are some of your rock influences that shaped this style?
We all grew up with classic rock bands such as AC/DC, Journey, Aerosmith, Boston, Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, and the likes of those. However, some of our favorites that heavily influenced this album and specifically songs like I’m in Love with The Devil are Van Halen, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Kix, Prince, The Cult, Thin Lizzy, and Billy Idol.
What is the backstory to the band’s name: Half Past Dead?
Alex: That question goes back to 2014 when I started the band. I was wide-eyed and eager to begin my own musical journey but pretty much everybody in my life was telling me how I was destined to fail and that I was wasting my time. I at first was upset as one might guess, but I also noticed one constant among all of the people who had attempted to discourage me: each of them had never felt the joy of chasing their dreams. Each of them played it safe and just settled for what society told them was the right way to live. I recognized that people were bitter and jealous of the fact I was unafraid to go my own way. And in that moment I realized that when we all eventually pass away we will either be fulfilled by the choices we made in life, or regretful of the ones we didn’t.
I made a vow to myself whether I win, lose, or draw on my deathbed I will not live my life as if I were already dead. That’s where the name Half Past Dead came from. It’s a lifelong promise to myself to always chase the “impossible” dreams. I don’t think I’ve ever explained the story of the origins of the band name so hopefully people will read this and it will inspire them to take this meaning to heart!
If you could play your music to any musician dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Alex: Johnny Cash. Simply because he would actually intently listen to the words.
Wilder: I have already but would love to again, Eddie Van Halen would definitely be my choice, I have so many inspirations and heroes when it comes to my music, but the one who really started it all was Eddie.
Rhys: I genuinely think the members of My Chemical Romance would enjoy Half Past Dead, and I would love to play our music for them.
Ernest: I’d pick four men who have shaped the art of music forever, and those men would be John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
What was the creative process/vision behind the music video for Unbreakable?
Honestly, that video was just us being stupid and having fun. There was no true vision other than maybe our wardrobe! It was all shot within 20 minutes of where we lived, and we just liked the idea of doing a funny and high-energy video in our backyard. There were a few moments where I wanted to have a Benny Hill vibe because I grew up watching Vaudeville acts so you’ll see some of that in there particularly with the elevator opening and closing.
What is a music hot take you have?
As evidenced by our songs The Sound I Used to Know and I Still Believe In Rock & Roll, we have a disdain for the modern day Metalcore and Rock & Roll scene which is rife with industry homogenization and artistic mediocrity. Ironically enough, a majority of our target audience resides within these genres and styles so we’re sort of attacking our own culture from within. Although we want to make clear that we encourage and love these genres, we just don’t like what’s become of it within the last 5-10 years (with the exception of a handful of bands/artists).
What are some things outside of music that you frequently partake in or care about? (So like hobbies, tv shows, movies, politics, etc.)
Alex: I enjoy reading gothic and horror novels (currently reading The King In Yellow). I am also a health-nut and try to exercise daily. I love old movies such as Tombstone, The Silence Of The Lambs, The Thing, and Alien. And I am overly obsessed with the TV show Friends. I also moonlight as a part-time hypochondriac and will occasionally go on a Web.MD deep dive over a paper cut.
Wilder: I love doing models, building, especially building guitars.. I have a "Guitar Company" called, "Crypt Guitars". I also play a good amount of golf, but I’m very much a family person and spend a lot of time with them as well.
Rhys: I’m huge on makeup! I’ve been doing it for years and enjoy full-body paint. I do recreations of some famous paintings on my face. I’ve been doing my makeup every day since 8th grade, and it’s always been a huge part of my self expression! I’m also a big “theater kid”. I enjoy all the backstage techie stuff; so lots of painting, set building, and makeup of course.
Ernest: Interestingly enough, I’ve collected a good amount of drums, cymbals, and other sorts of percussion equipment to come up with different drum set configurations and setups. I’ve built these huge monster kits before that I’ve been doing since I got my first acoustic drum kit when I was 16. My influences for this to name a few would be: Mike Portnoy, Mike Mangini, Neil Peart, Danny Carey, Thomas Lang, Phil Collins, Terry Bozzio, and Simon Phillips.
What are you currently listening to?
Alex: Black Veil Brides, DE’WAYNE, Meat Loaf, The Struts, and Creeper
Wilder: Currently a lot of Ghost, Muse, John 5, and Nine Inch Nails.
Rhys: I’ve been really into Flyleaf lately! Also Cybergoth and Phosgore have been on repeat for me.
Ernest: I’ve currently been binging Billy Strings. Billy is a Bluegrass artist, but he throws in hints of progressive elements to his music which I love and appreciate.
Can you share anything at this time about Half Past Dead’s plans for 2026?
The only thing we will disclose is that we will be playing a lot of shows, dropping some new merch, shooting some music videos, and potentially releasing new music!
