Stellar Corpses is a psychobilly horror punk band formed in Santa Cruz, California in 2005 by singer and guitarist, Dusty Grave. Their sound and style combine elements of punk, rockabilly, gothic rock, metal and rock and roll. Since their formation, Stellar Corpses have continued to tour both in the US as well as internationally. Previously, Dusty played upright bass in Santa CruzRockabilly band, but had also been writing songs for a Harder, Darker side Project. In 2005, Stellar Corpses, which means "Dead Stars" played their first show on Halloween of that year. In addition to touring to promote their studio releases, Stellar Corpses have shared the stage many acts including Nekromantix, Tiger Army, The Misfits, Agent Orange, Michale Graves, Hollywood Undead, 45 Grave, Swingin' Utters and The Damned. Since their inception they have released records through Hairball 8 Records, FiendForce Records, Chapter 11 Records and Batcave Records. Their music has also been featured in the television series Road Trip Masters. Singer Dusty Grave also plays upright bass for the band BAT! signed to Cleopatra Records and plays lead guitar for Rezurex.
Respect the Dead EP
Stellar Corpses' first EP, Respect The Dead, was independently released in 2007 on their own label, Santa Carla Records, named after "The Lost Boys" filmed in their hometown, Santa Cruz. The EP was recorded at The CompoundRecording Studios in Santa Cruz by Joe Clements. Stellar Corpses is said to have made an immediate impact in their genre with songs such as “Cemetery Man” and “Leave A Stellar Corpse.”
Welcome to the Nightmare
Following a five-week European tour with Rezurex, Stellar Corpses released their first full-length album in 2009 entitled, "Welcome to the Nightmare" named after an underground psychobilly zine from Santa Cruz. The album was released in 2009 on Santa Carla Records in the US and FiendForce Records in Germany. The album has been called a "deadly delight" and is said to feature more of the band's influences, without losing any of the power and fury of their debut EP as well as "a competent, driven, and ultimately rather enjoyable take on the narrowly defined genre".
January 2012 saw the release of the band's second full-length album, "Dead Stars Drive-In" produced, engineered and mixed by Joe McGrath who also had a hand in engineering and/or producing albums for Green Day, Blink 182, AFI, Tiger Army and Alkaline Trio. The title track is an homage to the "dead stars" of Hollywood including Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Bela Lugosi and Maila Nurmi, also known as Vampira. The songs "Vampire Kiss", "Evil Dead" and "Dead Stars Drive-In" feature backing vocals from Hunter Burgan. "Be Still My Heart" features sound design by Jade Puget. “Twisted Fantasy” features guest vocals by Michale Graves.
Batcave Records
In late 2016 Stellar Corpses lead singer Dusty Grave co-founded Batcave Records with Rene De La Muerte from the Canadian psychobilly band The Brains. The record label is home for Stellar Corpses and The Brains as well as The Thirsty Crows and more up-and-coming bands in the genre.
