The Misfits™ October 25th, 2000@House Of Blues in Orlando, FL; (audio)

Line up; Jerry Only (bass/creative control/+), Doyle (guitar/+), Dr. Chud (drums/+), Michale Graves (vocals/+) +songwriting contribution

On October 25, 2000 The Misfits™ performed at the House of Blues in Orlando, FL.  Michale Graves and Dr. Chud were pissed at Jerry for events that happened previously in the day, feelings which continued through this performance.  This was not the first rift between the three band members and as a whole all the members of the band had had issues with Jerry Only for various reasons since the very beginning of The Misfits™ formation.

Right before they played Saturday Night, Michale announced, "This is my last tour with this band, my last show is gonna be on Halloween.".

Doyle left the stage during Don't Open 'Til Doomsday and after the song Michale followed Doyle offstage to see what was going on, as Dr. Chud had left as well.  Jerry asks, "Do you guys know 138?", Michale begins, "Hey, I know nobodies gonna understand this but....", Jerry then asks, "You done Doc?", the only reply is Michale stating, "Yeah it has come to this.".

Realizing that the rest of the band wasn't coming back out, Jerry Only finished the show playing bass and performing vocals on We Are 138; a song which he announced was dedicated to Greg Mathews.  Doyle would continue on with Jerry into 2001 and Michale would return for a short time in 2001 as well; Dr. Chud up to this point has never returned to The Misfits™.

On October 31st, 2000 Michale wrote an explanation about the events that led up to his departure;

This is what happened.com by Michale Graves posted 10/31/00 6:01:13 AM
I'm going to give you this story with no bias or bullshit.  My aim is to give you the facts surrounding the events that took place that have led to all of this.  My intent is not to make anyone look better or worse than anyone else, that is for you to decide.  I just want you to know the truth........ I have read the update on Misfits.com.  I "unexpectedly" didn't show up for the Canadian tour because the band unexpectedly failed to get my work permits and then blew me off for two weeks.  I have read the posts on the message board as for excuses, visiting Canada as a tourist is one thing, generating thousands of dollars over a span of two weeks with your band raises a different set of guidelines regarding entry to and from the country.  As for the video "Scream?"....we all crossed over the border as tourists.  Once again, I can only offer you my perspective.  It's Halloween five years later.  This is what happened......... I met up with Billy "Schoolbus driver" and Doyle at the airport in Vermont.  On the way back to the club from the airport, Doyle told me that the show was cancelled that night [October 20th, 2000 at The Annex in Burlington, VT].  I met up with Chud, Pat (drumtech), and Bob (lightguy).  Doyle, Billy, those guys and myself all went out for pizza in town.  That was the night I was told the band voted twice in Canada [during Mike's absence from October 1st-October 19th, 2000] to replace me permantely with Zolie.  Doyle and Chud voted Nay twice.  I also gained info that I was going to be fired at the end of the Halloween tour.  Pat and I bought an ounce of pot.  No one had any because they just crossed the border....we sold two separate quarters on the winnebego that night---- I moved into the crew bus.  They've got playstation.

Worcester [October 21st, 2000 at The Palladium]: The band agreed to change the set back to the way we played it prior to the Canadian tour by replacing mostly vintage material with songs off American Psycho and Famous Monsters.  Zolie singing with the band that night further added to the already stressed state of things.  I did agree to two songs however I was patient regarding the spontaneous lengthening of the event.  Doyle put my hat on to make me smile....it worked.

Connecticut [October 22nd, 2000 at Webster Theatre]:  I smoked pot with a couple of different people that morning.  Doyle his children and me, walked to Dunkin Doughnuts for coffee.  Me, Chud and Doyle hung out with Jimmy Gestapo of Murphys Law for hours that day and ate really good sausage pizza.  I thought it was a good show.  Nothing terrible happened that day.  Doyle rode on the schoolbus that night and we watched Spinal Tap.

Washington DC [October 23rd, 2000 at Nightclub 9:30]:  Doyle and I spent alot of time together that day.  We laughed alot.  Chud's old drum tech, Morgan was there with some of his buddies.  They hung out behind Chud's rig during soundcheck and smoked a joint, I know because I went back there and saw them.  Ok, Ok I took a hit.....but I didn't inhale.  Anyway from what I know, Jerry at some point came back to drum world and told Morgan not to give Pat the joint.  Morgan gave Pat the joint, Pat took the joint, Jerry "caught" Pat, Jerry was bent.  Nothing was said to anyone I spoke to that night about the incident.  We had a great show.

My girlfriend brought us chocalate chip cookies to eat on our day off [apparently the October 24th, 2000 show at Recher Theatre in Towson, MD was cancelled] as we drove to Orlando.  Actually her mom made them for those of you thinking they were "special" cookies. :)

Orlando [October 24th, 2000]:  We met up with everyone at Universal Studios.  Pat had been paid in advance up until the Atlanta show which was four shows away.  Kenny [Caiafa] asked Pat if he could borrow $300 to pay for admission for those who didn't have passes in to the park.  $300 works out to be four shows worth of pay.  Soon after that, Jerry informed Pat that he was fired rather loudly and disrespectfully in front of one of those liitle vendor stands that sell beer.  I had Budweiser in a bottle.  Chud did not know that Pat was going to be fired.  Neither did I, neither did Doyle.  I disagreed with Pat being fired because the basis of the decision had nothing to do with the quality of work or the ability to perform his duty.  I spoke up because I believed Jerry was arguing from a hypocritical and bias point of view regarding his reasons for firing Pat.  We all went our separate ways through Universal Studios.  This next part is so childish but true I swear.... A crew member who is my friend told me that he was supposed to" keep his eyes and ears open" and report back ....I wondered off for awhile by myself.  Later we all met in a parking lot at the Raddisson towers.  We were to meet up in the winnebego to get dinner.  We were delayed by events that further fueled my position regarding the firing of Chuds drum tech.  Me, Chud and Pat closed ourselves in the bathroom of the Winnebego and began to smoke a joint.  A minute later the kid from Universal we met opens the door.  Jerry walks by to go in the back bedroom and the Universal kid stands in the doorway with us to smoke.  Jerry peeped his head around the corner and events took place that even further fueled my position on Pat being fired.  I voiced my reasons about my disposition.  Then I asked Jerry why the band was made to vote for or against replacing me and why I would be replaced and why I wasn't even told about it.... Everyone has this idea that I CHOSE to miss the first two weeks of the tour.  I would not have flown to Montana had I made the decision to stay home.  Was it true I was being fired?  Yes, it was.  I was told I screwed up the set because I wanted to do new material.  I asked why we shouldn't??  The reply was "that no one is buying my songs and the band should focus on what got the band here in the first place....the old stuff".  I'm too "bluesy" on stage.....I asked Jerry what he would do if Chud didn't play or if Doyle didn't play and he said he didn't care who was in his band.  I then learned of the plans focusing on the 25th anniversary, Jerry's wrestling career and the reunion with Glenn.  Thats when I decided that Halloween was to be my final show.  I assure you every member of that band and the band manager knew of my decision.  MTV; (glenns point of view)

Next day.... Pat is told via one of the road crew that he is not to be on the bus that night and all his stuff will be removed if he doesn't do it first.  The fact that three members of the band wanted Pat to stay apparently had no impact on the decision.  I was later told it didn't matter anyway because it never was our band.  Remember the circumstances surrounding the Misfits original break up?  Glenn wanted to leave the drunk drummer in Detroit.  And Jerry said that it wasn't right to do and he would rather have left Glenn?  Hmmm....We went on stage and I announced right before "Crying on Saturday Night" that Halloween was to be my last show.  I heard Doyle stop playing in "Doomsday" and thought nothing of it.  We ended the song and I looked over my left shoulder...Doyle was gone.  I went to look for him and the "guitar world" was empty.  His tech told me that was it he walked off....I looked over to "drum world" and chud was gone....I saw Doyle pacing back and forth real pissed off backstage.....I in no way, shape or form meant to disrespect anyones dedication to there dead friend.  I did not walk off in a motion to quit nor did I ever say I quit to anyone backstage.  Doyle and Chud walked off and so did I.  Words were eventually exchanged backstage, I was told that I was "no longer in this band" and was escorted out by security.  So was Pat.  I stood outside of the House of Blues and sighned autographs while members of the road crew brought my bags to me from the bus and said goodbye.  It was surreal.  Chud and I rented a truck and drove 19 hours back to New Jersey.  One more thing... As far as The Misfits™ go, this is where I say Goodbye I came from a band whos biggest gig was played to three people, my girlfriend and two other people including the bartender, never doubt that I am humble.  Never doubt that I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given.  One more thing... If anyone actually buys the BS about me quitting this band for hockey two years ago you're crazy!  So stop!  Thanks for the memories...no one can ever take them away.

"We mosh and we fall We're one and for all it's just evil all of the time....."
Happy Halloween Michale Graves October 31, 2000

When discussing James Greene, Jr.'s book This Music Leaves Stains (October 15, 2013), Misfits™ roadie/merchandise guy John Grimm stated on his Facebook, "The author also delves into the night in Orlando that the band broke up. Its fairly accurate but there are a few details missing. I chased Mike, Doyle and CHUD up to the dressing room and almost had them convinced to get back on stage, but Jerry ended the show and that was that.~Jim "TheTank" Dorsey; November 13, 2014

When asked about his departure from the band in 2007, Chud replied:

    "It was time, when you have four people and you’re all not on the same page there’s no way it can work. If you’re a football team and everybody isn’t on the same page, you aren’t going to the Super Bowl. Same idea, Jerry had decided in the middle of 2000 that he wanted to go back to playing the old Misfit songs and not concentrate on new music, well that’s when I knew it wasn’t going to work, I had nothing against the old music but I had already done that in 1996 and was beyond it, we had writing a few albums by then and we were on a roll, nothing could stop us. So that’s when I decided to move on and keep writing, its been seven years and Jerry still hasn’t recorded new music, so I definitely made the right decision and I’m much happier now with X-WARD.” - Dr. Chud

2008, http://www.live-metal.net/interviews_michalegraves.html
Live Metal:  How did your departure from the Misfits come about?

Michale Graves:  My departure came about from a series of events that took about a year or two. The first sign, if you go back into the Misfits history, the first sign of trouble was when I left when the band went to South America. I left mostly because I was championing the causes of Dr. Chud and Doyle (Wolfgang von Frankenstein). My problem with the situation was that I wasn't being given the respect that I felt that I deserved, nor the ability to have the input on decisions involving art or direction. I was always told, just as all of us were, that "If you don't like the way things were, you can go home and we will find somebody better." My answer was always, "You can't." The planets aligned when we all came together and I was a major part of why the Misfits resurrected from where they were. It went from this underground thing, to this then relevant, powerful musical force. I wrote the majority of those songs that are one those records. I wrote the songs that you most associate with those records. "Dig Up Her Bones," "Crying On A Saturday Night," "Scream!," "American Psycho," and "Shining," those came out of me.

I was always vocal. Jerry and I, the same problems exist today as they did back then. Jerry knows that if Chud and Doyle would pull there heads out of their asses, we could get the Misfits back together. It's not on me and it is certainly not Jerry. It has always been mostly Doyle and then Chud. I left because there was just so much disfunction, so much unhappiness, and so much stupid shit.

All songs lyrics/music by Glenn Danzig except; Forbidden Zone, Witch Hunt, Lost in Space, Crawling Eye, Dig Up Her Bones, Crimson Ghost, Scarecrow Man, Saturday Night, Pumpkin Head, Hate The Living Love the Dead, Shining and Don't Open 'Til Doomsday, lyrics/music by The Misfits™.

Original video lifted from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjct9rngdLQ&t