Argyle Goolsby

{{main|Blitzkid}}

Goolsby was born in Bluefield, West Virginia. In 1997, Goolsby and lead guitarist and vocalist T.B. Monstrosity (Tracy Byrd) started the punk rock band Blitzkid. Drawing their inspiration from B-movies and horror movie classics, the band was soon considered to belong to the subgenre of horror punk,{{cite journal|last1=Ehren|first1=Zachary|title=Long Live the Horror — The Rise and Retirement of BLITZKID|journal=The Huffington Post|date=July 18, 2012|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zachary-ehren/blitzkid-music_b_1673781.html|accessdate=December 11, 2018}} which emerged in the wake of the Misfits.{{cite journal|last1=Anderl|first1=Timothy|title=Unafraid of the Dark|journal=Dayton City Paper|date=April 10, 2012}}

File:Goolsby_w_Blitzkid_Moscow_2012.jpg

In the 2000s, Blitzkid developed an underground following in the US and especially in Europe.{{cite web|last1=Barkan|first1=Jonathan|title=Exclusive Interview: Chatting It Up With Blitzkid's Argyle Goolsby|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/120224/exclusive-interview-chatting-it-up-with-blitzkids-argyle-goolsby/|website=Bloody Disgusting!|accessdate=February 18, 2017|date=April 15, 2011}} Most of the band's albums were released through German horror punk group The Other's label, FiendForce Records.

Between 1997 and 2012, Goolsby recorded seven studio albums with Blitzkid and several split EPs. Many of the group's songs were featured on horror punk compilations in the 2000s, such as Mullets & Alcoholics (SFL Records, 2003), Flesheaters! (1332 Records, 2006), Gothic Compilation Part XLII (Batbeliever Releases, 2008), Get Acquainted Vol. 1 (THENEXTART, 2008) or The Sound of Horror Vol. 1 (Robot Monster, 2010).

With Blitzkid, Goolsby has toured in 29 countries, played over 700 shows{{cite web|title=About Argyle Goolsby|url=https://www.gigsalad.com/argyle_goolsby_new_milford|website=GigSalad|accessdate=February 18, 2017}} and performed with several other bands and artists like Nim Vind, Stellar Corpses, The Cryptkeeper Five, The Damned, Leftöver Crack, The Crimson Ghosts, Strung Out and Face to Face. Biltzkid was also part of many festivals and music events such as the Summer Breeze Open Air, the M'era Luna Festival or the Amphi Festival.

On November 10, 2012, during their final "Return to the Living Tour", Blitzkid played their last concert in Düsseldorf, Germany.{{cite web|last1=Berta|first1=Elin|title=Blitzkid return to the land of the living|url=http://journalismcentre.co.uk/news/blitzkid-return-to-land-of-the-living/|website=London Journalism Centre|accessdate=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228124556/http://journalismcentre.co.uk/news/blitzkid-return-to-land-of-the-living/|archive-date=February 28, 2014|url-status=dead}}

When questioned about the band's retirement, Goolsby stated:

"It is not that we don't believe in what we are doing anymore. It's not that Blitzkid has become a burden. I have still plenty of music that I have written and that I am currently writing. Our music is not an extinguished flame. Retirement is more of a practical decision for right now."

File:Goolsby_w_Blitzkid_Romania_2012.png

In November 2016, Jeff Frumess filmed a documentary titled Blitzkid: Return to the Living, which includes a part on the history of the band and two others that are dedicated respectively to the group's experience on the road and some live performances.{{cite web|title=Blitzkid: Return to the Living (2016)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2845588/?ref_=nm_knf_t2|website=IMDb|accessdate=February 23, 2017}} The documentary was co-written and produced by Goolsby.

{{main|Mister Monster (band)|Dr. Chud's X-Ward|Gorgeous Frankenstein}}

While remaining in Blitzkid, Goolsby collaborated on several occasions with former members of the Misfits. In 2002, Goolsby played bass as a tour member for The Undead, a horror punk band led by Bobby Steele (the second guitarist of the Misfits original lineup).

The following year, he recorded three bass tracks on Diagnosis for Death (2003), an album released by Dr. Chud (ex-Misfits drummer of the Michale Graves Era) with his new band named Dr. Chud's X-Ward.{{cite web|title=Dr. Chud's X-Ward, Diagnosis For Death|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dr-Chuds-X-Ward-Diagnosis-For-Death/release/848493|website=Discogs|date=June 16, 2004 |accessdate=February 18, 2017}} Goolsby was also a tour member for Chud's band{{cite web|title=Argyle Goolsby|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Argyle_Goolsby/133459|website=Encyclopedia Metallum|accessdate=February 12, 2017}}

In 2004, Goolsby collaborated with Mister Monster, performing back vocal duties and playing bass on the Deep Dark EP (Hell's Hundred Records).{{cite web|title=Mister Monster(2) – Deep Dark|url=https://www.discogs.com/Mister-Monster-Deep-Dark/release/4009038|website=Discogs|accessdate=February 22, 2017}} Following the departure of Wednesday 13's bassist Kid Kid in 2006, Goolsby was hired as a replacing bassist to fill in for three shows.{{cite web|title=Wednesday 13 Part Ways With Bassist, Announce Temporary Replacement (March 13, 2006)|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/wednesday-13-part-ways-with-bassist-announce-temporary-replacement/|website=Blabbermouth|date=March 13, 2006|accessdate=February 22, 2017}}

In 2007, ex-Misfits lead guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein was looking for a vocalist for his solo band project, Gorgeous Frankenstein and finally recruited Landon Blood for the recording of an eponymous album.{{cite web|title=Gorgeous Frankenstein Recruits Vocalist, Completes Debut CD Recordings (July 9, 2007)|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gorgeous-frankenstein-recruits-vocalist-completes-debut-cd-recordings/|website=Blabbermouth|date=July 9, 2007|accessdate=December 14, 2016}} Blood left the band shortly after and was replaced by Argyle Goolsby who played bass and performed vocal duties for Gorgeous Frankenstein first tour, opening for Danzig.{{cite web|title=Gorgeous Frankenstein – Profile|url=https://vampirefreaks.com/gfteam13|website=Vampire Freaks|accessdate=December 14, 2016}} Dr. Chud (drums) and Stephanie Bellars (aka Gorgeous George, Doyle's ex-wife) were also part of this line up.{{cite web|title=Danzig / Gorgeous Frankenstein live in Baltimore (2007)|url=https://www.punknews.org/review/6789/danzig-gorgeous-frankenstein-live-in-baltimore|website=PunkNews.org|date=October 30, 2007 |accessdate=December 13, 2016}}

In 2009, Goolsby took part of what is sometimes referred as the Misfits "Near-Reunion" in New Jersey. Performing as an opening act for Danzig, this lineup included Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (lead guitar), Dr. Chud (drums), Michale Graves (vocals) and Goolsby (bass) (Jerry Only, the Misfits original bassist, did not participate in the event).{{cite web|title=Misfits Near-Reunion In New Jersey (December 28, 2009)|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/misfits-near-reunion-in-new-jersey-video-footage-available/|website=Blabbermouth|date=December 28, 2009|accessdate=February 22, 2017}}

Goolsby had written many songs that he intended to work on with Gorgeous Frankenstein, but since the band project was abandoned, most of this material became part of Blitzkid's last album, Apparitional.{{cite web|title=Interview with Argyle Goolsby of Blitzkid, June 22, 2011|url=http://www.digitaldiversion.net/2011/06/interview-with-argyle-goolsby-of-blitzkid-june-22-2011/|website=Digital Diversion|accessdate=December 11, 2016|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819072824/http://www.digitaldiversion.net/2011/06/interview-with-argyle-goolsby-of-blitzkid-june-22-2011/|url-status=dead}} From the ashes of Gorgeous Frankenstein, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein founded a new horror metal band eponymously named Doyle with vocalist Alex Story in 2012.

File:Argyle Goolsby 924 GilmanStBerkeley CA Nov 2016 2.png – Alternative Music Foundation) in Berkeley, California, November 2016]]

Following Blitkid's disestablishment in 2012, Goolsby started a solo career with a new band project named Argyle Goolsby and the Roving Midnight.{{cite journal|last1=Dickens|first1=Tad|title=Three shows that fell through the cracks – Argyle Goolsby, Sly Devil, Ray Scott|journal=The Roanoke Times|date=April 28, 2016|accessdate=February 12, 2017|url=https://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_entertainment/music/three-shows-that-fell-through-the-cracks---argyle/article_85f26b80-0d60-11e6-ab40-3b81edacb487.html}} He has been steadily releasing EPs and singles since 2012. In 2015, a compilation album, Saturnalia of the Accursed{{cite web|last1=Steffens|first1=John|title=We review Argyle Goolsby's 'Saturnalia of the Accursed'|website=Rue Morgue|accessdate=February 12, 2017|url=https://www.rue-morgue.com/?s=argyle+goolsby}} which collects two EPs and a few other songs was released as well as a cover of "Save Me Tonight" by White Sister, originally featured on the soundtrack of Fright Night (1985)."

In 2016, Goolsby started a series of concert with a fully acoustic band, The Hollow Bodies, playing both his own material and some Blitzkid songs.

{{main|Calabrese_(band)}}

On 14th of April 2024 Calabrese announced that Argyle Goolsby was joining the band.{{Cite Instagram |user=calabrese666 |postid=C5uV4e5RSsT |date=14 April 2024 |title=Written with the sacred unholy sharpie, Goolsby is now one of us. 🔥 Let this orange sticky note be the scripture that binds us in rock and name |access-date=14 May 2024}}

Goolsby has always been fascinated by cryptozoological monsters, Horror movies and horror fiction, which are the core inspiration for his songwriting as well as folklore and ghost stories (especially those native to his home in Appalachia).{{cite web|last1=McBride|first1=Wallace|title=Punk shadows|url=http://www.collinsporthistoricalsociety.com/search?q=Argyle+Goolsby|website=The Collinsport Historical Society|accessdate=March 11, 2017}}

His work is also inspired by the aesthetics of the Gilded Age, German Expressionist films and the era of silent cinema in general.

His lyrics deal with real-world subjects projected through horror-themed metaphors, a writing style he acknowledges being influence by the Misfits.

For Goolsby, horror is not only an inspiration, but it is also a lifestyle, an aesthetic approach that focuses on "a conjured presence". In this respect, during his live performances, he is often disguised as a monster, personifying a vampire or a zombie.

If shocking can be considered as a major aspect of Goolsby's songwriting and style, it is also part of his own reflection on horror as a means of expression. As he suggests it himself:

"If you really stop to think about it, a lot of the monsters aren't really the monsters, it is man that's the monster. So a lot of horror movies are social commentaries in a way, which is what punk rock is. So a really nice blend of metaphor and humanity for the most part and that's what I like the most about it. I like the duality of man, you can be a monster and you can be human. It's just all wrapped together."

Goolsby has a copyrighted bass design called "The Haxxan" (Iron Lung Guitars, England), a name that refers to Häxan, a Danish silent horror movie, but he is most noted for his use of a Fender Aerodyne bass and a Telefunken M80 chrome microphone. He also makes use of "The Levitation Station" during his live performances. This personal invention can be described as a custom microphone stand on which he can climb and hover, giving the illusion of floating.

File:Goolsby_Hover_Cleveland_2018.jpg|{{small|Goolsby on The Levitation Station at The Winchester in Cleveland, October 2018}}

File:The Haxxan Argyle Goolsby bass detail.jpg|{{small|The Haxxan, detail}}

File:Goolsby_Hover_2_Whisky_LA_2018.jpg|{{small|Goolsby high atop the Levitation Station at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, October 2018}}

File:The Haxxan Argyle Goolsby bass full.jpg|{{small|The Haxxan, complete design}}

File:Goolsby_Skullmic_Germany_2017.png|{{small|Goolsby with his custom Skull Mic in Germany, 2017}}

File:The Haxxan Argyle Goolsby bass freboard strings.jpg|{{small|The Haxxan, Iron Lung logo}}

• Johnny Ott – guitar/backup vocals
• Shadow Windhawk (Noah Bailey) – guitar/backup vocals
• Mike Groch – bass/backup vocals
• Dave Noonan – drums
• Marc Poulin – drums
• Andrew Winter – drums
• Adam Parent – drums
• Tony Kirkham – drums
• Willie Wolfbite – bass
• Howie Wowie – bass
• Emilio Menze – bass
• Gozer – guitar
• Carlos "Loki" Cofino – guitar
• Jimmy Ray Harrington – guitar
• Nate Bane – guitar
• Jason Trioxin – guitar
• Nick Arabatzis – keyboards
• Jack Deskins – keyboards/saxophone

Aside from his musical career, Goolsby also works as a tattoo artist in his hometown of Bluefield. As an ordained minister, he offers his services to officiate wedding ceremonies or provide live entertainment through GigSalad, an online marketplace for booking entertainment and services for events.

Goolsby runs his own label and publishing company, A Corpse with No Name Productions (A.C.W.N.N.), located in New Milford, Connecticut.{{Cite web |url=https://acorpsewithnoname.com/home |title=A Corpse With No Name |access-date=February 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117022305/https://acorpsewithnoname.com/home |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |url-status=dead }}

He married his longtime girlfriend Jordan Paoletta on October 21, 2017.[https://www.instagram.com/p/BapPnAPjiga/ According to his Instagram account] The service was officiated by Victoria Price at Witch's Dungeon Classic Movie Museum in Bristol, Connecticut.[https://www.instagram.com/p/BawiBKJD6cp/ According to his Instagram account]

{{main|Argyle Goolsby Discography}}

;Albums

• Terrifying Tales – Death by Jersey, independent, 1999; A Corpse with No Name Music, 2006
• Let Flowers Die, Antidote Records, 2001
• Trace of a Stranger, Fiendforce Records, 2003
• Five Cellars Below, Fiendforce Records 2006
• Apparitional, People Like You Records, 2011

;Split EPs, 7", 10"

• Blitzkid / Mister Monster, Exhuming Graves and Making Dates, EP, Fiendforce Records, 2004
• Blitzkid / The Spook, Everyday Is Halloween – Tales of Terror And Unspeakable Horror, 7", Fiendforce Records, 2004
• Blitzkid / The Cryptkeeper Five, No Balls Records, 2007
• Blitzkid / Nim Vind, Fistfull of Balls, Volume 1, 7" (2x), No Balls Records, 2010
• Blitzkid / The Cryptkeeper Five, Split Personalities, 10", The Black Sneer, 2012

;Singles

• "Head Over Hills", 7", "I Used to Fuck People Like You in Prison" Records, 2011

;Compilation

• Anatomy of Reanimation, Fiendforce Records, 2008

;Video

• Terrifying Tales – Death by Jersey, A Corpse with No Name Music, 2006 (live at Connections in Clifton, New Jersey on May 28 and October 31, 2005)

• Deep Dark (EP), 2003

• Dr. Chud's X-Ward, Diagnosis for Death, Bloodwork Records, 2004

• A Wolf's Age, not on label, limited edition, 2009 (vocals, two songs written, credited as Steve Matthews){{cite web|title=1476 – A Wolf's Age|url=https://www.discogs.com/1476-A-Wolfs-Age/release/4628319|website=Discogs|date=September 21, 2009 |accessdate=February 23, 2017}}

• A Dream Not Quite Remembered..., EP, No Balls Records, 2012
• Under The Witness Stars, EP, A Corpse with No Name, 2013
• Argyle Goolsby / The Big Bad, The Wild And Woeful West Virginia, 7", A Corpse with No Name, 2013
• "Thickets", Single, A Corpse with No Name, 2015
• "Your Enemy's Best Friend", File, MP3, Single, A Corpse with No Name, 2015
• "Baskerville", Single, A Corpse with No Name, 2015
• Saturnalia of the Accursed, Compilation, No Balls Records/A Corpse with No Name, 2015 (Includes "The Being", a song inspired by the Flatwoods monster)
• Darken your Doorstep, A Corpse with No Name, 2017
• "Save Me Tonight", Single, A Corpse with No Name, 2017
• Hollow Bodies, A Corpse with No Name, 2018

• Serpenteens, "Destroy Your World" (vocals), The Superhuman Monstershow, Blood and Guts Records, 2007
• The Spook, Let There Be Dark (vocals), Fiendfoce Records, 2008
• The Crimson Ghosts, Dead Eyes Can See (vocals), Fiendfoce Records, 2008
• The Crimson Ghosts, Generation Gore (vocals), Contra Light Records, 2010
• The Cryptkeeper Five, The Unbeatable Cry (vocals), The Cryptkeeper Five self-released, 2011
• Zombina and the Skeletones, "Love Is Strange" (vocals), Zombina and the Skeletones self-released, 2014
• The Big Bad, The Big Bad, (vocals), Digital release, 2014
• Pyogenesis, A Century in the Curse of Time (vocals), AFM Records, 2015
• The Fright, "Edward" (vocals), Rising Beyond, 7Hard, 2015
• Bloodsucking Zombies from Outer Space, Mister Barlow (vocals), Earthquake Files, 2016
• Mister Monster, Life at the end of October (bass/vocals), 2017 (upcoming album)

• Michael P. Russin, Blitzkid: Death by Jersey, 2009 (live at Connections in Clifton, New Jersey, on May 28 and October 31, 2005)
• You Must See It to Believe It!!!, Live, Evilive, 2010 (includes two videos ("Gorgeous Frankenstein" and "Man or Monster") and a 2008 tour documentary){{cite journal|last1=Carman|first1=Keith|title=Gorgeous Frankenstein You Must See It To Believe It!!!|journal=Exclaim!|date=October 14, 2010|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/gorgeous_frankenstein-you_must_see_it_to_believe_itchik_chik_chik|accessdate=December 13, 2016}}
• Paul Basile, Living the American Nightmare, 2011 (documentary about Myke Hideous)
• Jeff Frumess, Blitzkid: Return to the Living, 2016
• Lloyd Kaufman, Shakespeare's Sh*tstorm, Troma Films, 2019

File:Blitzkid Summerbreeze2007 02.jpg|{{small|With Blitzkid at the Summer Breeze Open Air (August 2007)}}

File:Goolsby Blitzkid Russia 2012.jpg|{{small|With Blizkid in Russia (2015)}}

File:Goolsby Whisky October 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles (2018)}}

File:Gollsby Whisky a Go Go LA 2.jpg|{{small|Performing at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles (2018)}}

File:Goolsby Whisky a Go Go LA 1.jpg|{{small|Performing at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles (2018)}}

File:Goolsby USA 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing in the US (2018)}}

File:Goolsby USA October 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing in the US (2018)}}

File:Goolsby USA November 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing in the US (2018)}}

File:Goolsby Tampa November 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing in Tampa, Florida (2018)}}

File:Goolsby Savage Mouintain Punk Fest 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing at Savage Mountain Punk Fest (2018)}}

File:Goolsby Club Red Mesa AZ October 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing at Club Red Mesa, Arizona (2018)}}

File:Goolsby Calgary Canada 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing in Calgary, Canada (2018)}}

File:Goolsby Brick By Brick San Diego November 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing at Brick by Brick, San Diego, California (2018)}}

File:Goolsby Whisky LA 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles (2018)}}

File:Argyle Goolsby skeleton glove.jpg|{{small|Portrait with skeleton gloves}}

File:Argyle Goolsby portrait.jpg|{{small|Portrait}}

File:Argyle Goolsby on coffin.jpg|{{small|Portrait on coffin}}

File:Argyle Goolsby WGT Leipzig May 2016.jpg|{{small|Performing in Leipzig, Germany (2016)}}

File:Goolsby Newark September 2018.jpg|{{small|Performing at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles (2018)}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.argylegoolsby.com/ Argyle Goolsby's official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161012225816/http://acorpsewithnoname.com/ A Corpse with No Name Productions]
• [http://blitzkid.com/ Blitzkid's official website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goolsby, Argyle}}

Category:Living people

Category:1979 births

Category:American rock singers

Category:American punk rock singers

Category:American punk rock bass guitarists

Category:Horror punk musicians

Category:American male singers

Category:Songwriters from West Virginia

Category:Musicians from Bluefield, West Virginia

Category:Singers from West Virginia

Category:Guitarists from West Virginia

Category:American male guitarists

Category:21st-century American bass guitarists

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:American male songwriters