Early Graves Frontman Killed In Van Accident
Makh Daniels, vocalist of San Francisco metal band Early Graves, was killed In a tragic van accident in the early hours of Aug. 2 in southern Oregon. Daniels was one of nine people in the van, which overturned on Interstate 5 near Central Point, Ore. at about 6 AM PT, according to the Medford Mail Tribune. According to the Tribune, the van's driver fell asleep, and some of the passengers weren't using seat belts. Daniels was apparently ejected from a rear cargo seat and pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to Daniels, the van's driver and one other passenger were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The van had also been carrying tourmates the Funeral Pyre.
Early Graves had been touring in support of their sophomore album, 'Goner,' which was just been released on June 22. The band had been traveling from Eugene, Ore. to Reno, Nev. when the accident occurred. They were nearing the end of the tour, which had begun on June 25 and was scheduled to end Aug. 8 at the Power of the Riff Fest in Los Angeles.
The San Francisco band formed in 2005 as Apiary, but changed their name in 2008 when they signed to Ironclad Recordings/Metal Blade Records. Ironclad Recordings had a simple statement on their site reading: "Last night Makh Daniels, vocalist of Early Graves, tragically lost his live in a van accident while the band was traveling from Oregon to Nevada. An official statement will be released in time, but for now our thoughts are with Makh's family, friends and band mates during this terrible time."