Halfbreed Billy Gram
Encyclopedia
"Halfbreed" Billy Gram is an American
musician
, screenwriter
, actor
, professional wrestling
manager
, color commentator and Native American political activist. He is best known for appearances with the Philly punk-metal band Saints in Hell and his solo project Ghostdance Tribe. He has also appeared for the professional wrestling promotion
s Combat Zone Wrestling
and IWA Mid South as the manager of Cult Fiction
.
members Tom Keifer
and Eric Brittingham
. In 1986, Gram was involved as an actor and animal wrangler on the film Street Trash
. 1991 saw the release of the indy CD/album Ghostdance Tribe, with singer/guitarist Gram as the writer of all the material, and performances by Tom Keifer
, Ronnie Younkins of The Kix
, Bill Mattson of Tangier
, all the members of Britny Fox
, Kevin Moore
of Dandelion
and Johnny Dee
of Doro
. For two weeks, in November 1999, Gram's Traditional Native Drum Group, The Sovereign Nation Singers were performing as part of a demonstration/event in front of The White House.
In 2005, Gram directed a documentary on the career of pro wrestler Ox Baker
. The film has yet to be released. In 2006 Billy appeared as a zombie in the film Shadow: Dead Riot. Billy also appeared that year in The Meltdown Memoirs, a documentary celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Street Trash
. In 2009, Billy was cast in director Fred Vogel's The Murder Collection as a college professor of Native American studies. Due to a technical difficulty the scene was cut from the film. No word from ToeTag Pictures on an impending future release.
In 2010, Gram was cast as a cross-dressing, necrophiliac grave digger in director Anthony Matthews' Revenge is Her Middle Name. The film, with Billy's scenes intact is set for a 2011 release. Two of Gram's old Ghostdance Tribe songs are included as part of the soundtrack. Also in 2010, Billy was cast as The Demon/Indian in director Adam Ahlbrandt's The Cemetery
and The Dungeon Master in director Tom Savini
's Wet Dreams segment for the anthology film The Theatre Bizarre
. Both films are also set for a 2011 release. The Theater Bizarre
debuts at The Fantasia Film Festival
in July 2011. In 2011 Billy was cast in several more features, including the next film from notorious cult director James Van Bebber titled Scales.
In 2003, after befriending Toby Klein and Deranged, Gram re-entered the world of pro wrestling, working small independent shows as Klein's manager.
In 2003 Gram created the concept of his stable Cult Fiction. The initial concept, an Ultra-Violent Four Horseman meet the Manson Family. The original group was conceived as Gram, along with Klein, Deranged, Brain Damage and The Necro Butcher.
(CZW) and IWA Mid South, as the leader and manager
of the faction known as Cult Fiction
, whose members in the ensuing years have included "Mister Insanity" Toby Klein
, Necro Butcher
, Brain Damage, Deranged, Ox Baker
, Masada
, J. C. Bailey
, tHURTeen, Tank and Tracy Smothers
. Late in 2007, Billy also began working as a color commentator for CZW. Gram's two wrestling charges in 2007 Toby Klein
and The Necro Butcher spent 2007 feuding with members of the Maven Bentley Association. The final event of CZW's calendar year Cage of Death 9 found Gram in the corner of Team CZW: Toby Klein
, The Necro Butcher, Drake Younger
and Danny Havoc
as they took on Team MBA: DJ Hyde, Brain Damage, Scotty Vortekz and Dustin Lee in the main event. At the end of 2007, the fans on CZW's official forums voted for their annual year end awards, and Gram was the winner of the award for "Best Mic Work".
became even more visible in CZW. Gram was the color commentator for CZW throughout most of the year. His Cult Fiction stable was relaunched in CZW, first with the addition of Brain Damage, and later Deranged. At Cage of Death 10, in the course of a match between Gram's charge Deranged and Gram's perennial nemesis DJ Hyde, Hyde assaulted Gram with an electric staple gun to the body and face. Gram would also be in the corner of Brain Damage later that night for the Main Event, making this the second year in a row Billy had been involved in the Main Event at Cage of Death.
Once again the fans on the aforementioned annual year end awards recognized Billy as he was again the winner of the award for "Best Mic Work", and for the first time "Best Manager", "Best Commentator" and the newly instituted "Mother F'n Bomb" award.
consisting of Nick Gage
, Nate Hatred
and their manager Dewey Donovan. CZW Tournament of Death
8 saw Gram in the corners of three separate entrants, Brain Damage, Deranged and the returning Toby Klein
with Gram delivering a mad display of fire breathing in the match between Deranged and Nick Gage
. The end of the year saw Cult Fiction
absent, with Gram alone confronting the new owner of Combat Zone Wrestling
DJ Hyde on several occasions demanding Cult Fiction's return. In December at Cage of Death 11, Gram was involved in another memorable CZW moment when the crowd was stunned as he accompanied the returning JC Bailey in a post match attack on European Death Match sensation Thumbtack Jack
. Gram then revealed that JC Bailey was the newest member of his Cult Fiction stable.
To close 2009, Gram and his Cult Fiction group were once again heavily acknowledged by fan votes in CZW's Annual Year End Awards. For the third consecutive year Gram captured the Award for "Best Mic Work", and for the second consecutive year "Best Manager" (by a landslide with 71.79% of the vote) and "Best Commentator" (also a landslide with 72.22% of the vote, despite the fact that Billy had only been in the commentary position for half of TOD 8 and one other match the entire year). "Tag Team of the Year" was awarded to Cult Fiction (48.84% of the vote) and the "Feud of the Year" Award went to H8 Club
vs. Cult Fiction
(55.56% of the vote). "Return of the Year" award went to Cult Fiction member JC Bailey. "Video of the Year" award also went to Cult Fiction for Welcome to My Nightmare in a category that saw all five nominations consist of Cult Fiction music videos.
, Drake Younger
, Scotty Vortekz and Eddie Kingston
who were newly dubbed The Suicide Kings. The Necro Butcher and John Zandig
also sided with the Suicide Kings at various points throughout the feud.
In June 2010, Gram and Cult Fiction were a huge presence at CZW Tournament of Death
. Both JC Bailey and Masada
with Billy in their corners were entrants in the tournament, and Brain Damage participated in a non-tournament grudge match against Drake Younger
. An interesting storyline spilled from this event as in a post show interview, Gram, distraught over having been assaulted by Scotty Vortekz in his match against MASADA
"quit" CZW. Many fans and co-workers believed Gram had seriously left the company. Gram made a shocking return in mid-August.
Gram and his Cult Fiction
stable continued their feud with The Suicide Kings for the remainder of the year. Eventually Drake Younger
turned heel
and became an ally to Cult Fiction
. The Suicide Kings two remaining original members were joined by Devon Moore and Dysfunction
. The feud would culminate at Cage of Death XII in December 2010, with this Kings lineup facing Cult Fiction
(Brain Damage, MASADA
and tHURTeen) and the newly monikered "Golden Boy" Drake Younger
with Gram in their corner. After all the participants, save the winner Devon Moore had been eliminated, Gram found himself in the unenviable position of being alone with Moore atop the Cage of Death. Moore threw Gram from the top of the structure. The result for Gram was five broken bones in his right foot and leg. This had been four consecutive years Billy had been on the Cage of Death show, three of the four as a manager in the actual Cage of Death match itself.
, Brain Damage and Deranged. Later in the midst of a feud between Cult Fiction and Corporal Robinson, Tank would also become a member of the group. In October of that year Gram led his duo of Brain Damage and Deranged to victory in IWA MS's Double Death Tag Team Tournament, as they defeated the teams of The Necro Butcher and Toby Klein
(who had temporarily defected from Cult Fiction), Corporal Robinson and Tracy Smothers
(Smothers turned on his partner and joined Cult Fiction), Danny Havoc
and Dysfunction
, and in the finals Drake Younger
and Devon Moore. This gave Brain Damage and Deranged the distinction of being the only wrestlers to ever win any major independent wrestling tournament twice in consecutive years.
In 2011, Billy played a pivotal role in IWA Deep South's annual Carnage Cup, where two more wrestlers Freakshow
and Matt Tremont joined Cult Fiction.
. Billy made allegations that Rotten had physically threatened himself as well as members of the Cult Fiction
faction that he leads. Gram publicly vowed that Cult Fiction
would never again appear in IWA MS. Billy then went on a public bashing of Rotten, lampooning him on wrestling websites and message boards.
Also in early 2011, Billy finally confronted his nemesis Ian Rotten
person to person on an internet wrestling show called And Then The Bell Rang hosted by Jerry Wiseman. Gram exploded on Rotten. Joe Bailey the father of JC Bailey, Bull Pain
, Mickie Knuckles
and Madman Pondo also confronted Rotten on the show. This started a numerous amount of internet radio appearances by Gram. In which he also challenged Ian Rotten
to meet him in a legit kickboxing match for charity. Shortly after this, Rotten announced that he was closing the doors of his promotion IWA Mid-South for good.
released by Dimension Films
. The film was also included on the European Blu-ray release of George Romero's Diary of the Dead, also from Dimension Films.
The film One for the Fire: The Legacy of Night of the Living Dead won a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award as best "Horror DVD" extra of the year 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
, color commentator and Native American political activist. He is best known for appearances with the Philly punk-metal band Saints in Hell and his solo project Ghostdance Tribe. He has also appeared for the professional wrestling promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
s Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
and IWA Mid South as the manager of Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
.
Music and acting
Gram was the singer/frontman for Philly punk-metal band Saints in Hell, whose lineup also included future CinderellaCinderella (band)
Cinderella is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy MTV rotation. They were famous for being a glam metal band, but then shifted over towards a more hard...
members Tom Keifer
Tom Keifer
Carl Thomas Keifer is an American vocalist for the band Cinderella.-Early life:Keifer grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at a young age. Keifer soon fell in love with the blues and was heavily influenced by this kind of music.Keifer joined his first rock band while in junior high...
and Eric Brittingham
Eric Brittingham
Eric Brittingham is a bass guitarist most famous for playing in the band Cinderella. He also was in a side-band with Cinderella bandmate Jeff LaBar simultaneously, called Naked Beggars, of which his wife, Inga Brittingham, is the lead vocalist.Brittingham suffered a 'mild heart attack' in...
. In 1986, Gram was involved as an actor and animal wrangler on the film Street Trash
Street Trash
Street Trash is a 1987 comedy horror film directed by J. Michael Muro . It won the Silver Raven at the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film...
. 1991 saw the release of the indy CD/album Ghostdance Tribe, with singer/guitarist Gram as the writer of all the material, and performances by Tom Keifer
Tom Keifer
Carl Thomas Keifer is an American vocalist for the band Cinderella.-Early life:Keifer grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at a young age. Keifer soon fell in love with the blues and was heavily influenced by this kind of music.Keifer joined his first rock band while in junior high...
, Ronnie Younkins of The Kix
Kix (band)
Kix is an American hard rock/heavy metal band who achieved popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Band members continue to tour, recently appearing at the Rocklahoma festival in 2008 in Oklahoma and the M3 Rock Festival in May 2011 in the band's home state of Maryland.-Formation:Kix was...
, Bill Mattson of Tangier
Tangier
Tangier, also Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 . It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel...
, all the members of Britny Fox
Britny Fox
Britny Fox was an American Glam metal band from the Philadelphia area, initially active from 1985 to 1992 then subsequently reforming in 2000. They are best known for their music video for "Girlschool" and their hit "Long Way to Love" .-History:...
, Kevin Moore
Kevin Moore
For the blues singer, see Keb' Mo'.Kevin Moore is a keyboardist, vocalist and composer and founder of the Chroma Key music project. He is also a former member of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater, co-founder of the progressive rock supergroup O.S.I. and has composed film soundtracks...
of Dandelion
Dandelion (band)
Dandelion was a grunge band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formed in 1989 by vocalist/guitarist Kevin Morpurgo, bassist Mike Morpurgo, guitarist Carl Hinds and drummer Dante Cimino. With the exception of Bayen Butler in 1993 as an additional guitarist, the band were able to establish themselves as...
and Johnny Dee
Johnny Dee
Johnny Dee is a fictional mutant character, in the Marvel Comics universe. He debuted in Son of M #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
of Doro
Doro (musician)
Dorothee Pesch , popularly known as Doro Pesch or Doro, is a female rock vocalist, formerly of the German heavy metal band Warlock ....
. For two weeks, in November 1999, Gram's Traditional Native Drum Group, The Sovereign Nation Singers were performing as part of a demonstration/event in front of The White House.
In 2005, Gram directed a documentary on the career of pro wrestler Ox Baker
Ox Baker
Douglas A. Baker better known professionally as Ox Baker, is an American former professional wrestler and actor, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I love to hurt people!" He has appeared in several...
. The film has yet to be released. In 2006 Billy appeared as a zombie in the film Shadow: Dead Riot. Billy also appeared that year in The Meltdown Memoirs, a documentary celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Street Trash
Street Trash
Street Trash is a 1987 comedy horror film directed by J. Michael Muro . It won the Silver Raven at the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film...
. In 2009, Billy was cast in director Fred Vogel's The Murder Collection as a college professor of Native American studies. Due to a technical difficulty the scene was cut from the film. No word from ToeTag Pictures on an impending future release.
In 2010, Gram was cast as a cross-dressing, necrophiliac grave digger in director Anthony Matthews' Revenge is Her Middle Name. The film, with Billy's scenes intact is set for a 2011 release. Two of Gram's old Ghostdance Tribe songs are included as part of the soundtrack. Also in 2010, Billy was cast as The Demon/Indian in director Adam Ahlbrandt's The Cemetery
The Cemetery
The Cemetery is an 1877 painting by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Hill. The painting is currently on display at the Malmö Art Museum in Sweden....
and The Dungeon Master in director Tom Savini
Tom Savini
Thomas Vincent "Tom" Savini is an American actor, stuntman, director, award-winning special effects and makeup artist. He is known for his work on the Living Dead films directed by George A. Romero, as well as Creepshow, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler, and Maniac. He directed the 1990...
's Wet Dreams segment for the anthology film The Theatre Bizarre
The Theatre Bizarre
The Theatre Bizaree is a 2011 horror anthology film. The six segments are directed by Douglas Buck, Buddy Giovinazzo, David Gregory, Karim Hussain, Tom Savini and Richard Stanley.-Cast:*James Gill as Donnie*Kaniehtiio Horn as The Writer...
. Both films are also set for a 2011 release. The Theater Bizarre
The Theatre Bizarre
The Theatre Bizaree is a 2011 horror anthology film. The six segments are directed by Douglas Buck, Buddy Giovinazzo, David Gregory, Karim Hussain, Tom Savini and Richard Stanley.-Cast:*James Gill as Donnie*Kaniehtiio Horn as The Writer...
debuts at The Fantasia Film Festival
Fantasia Festival
Fantasia International Film Festival is a genre film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996...
in July 2011. In 2011 Billy was cast in several more features, including the next film from notorious cult director James Van Bebber titled Scales.
Professional wrestling
Billy's initial training in professional wrestling took place at The Monster Factory in 1992. Gram worked sporadic indy shows from 1993 through 1995 and then quit the business.In 2003, after befriending Toby Klein and Deranged, Gram re-entered the world of pro wrestling, working small independent shows as Klein's manager.
In 2003 Gram created the concept of his stable Cult Fiction. The initial concept, an Ultra-Violent Four Horseman meet the Manson Family. The original group was conceived as Gram, along with Klein, Deranged, Brain Damage and The Necro Butcher.
Combat Zone Wrestling
In 2007, Halfbreed Billy Gram debuted in both Combat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
(CZW) and IWA Mid South, as the leader and manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
of the faction known as Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
, whose members in the ensuing years have included "Mister Insanity" Toby Klein
Toby Klein
Toby Klein is a professional wrestler well known for deathmatches in Combat Zone Wrestling and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South. He is a member of the Tough Crazy Bastards with Necro Butcher, due to their very similar styles in that their characters are both wild brawlers.-Career:Toby...
, Necro Butcher
Necro Butcher
Dylan Keith Summers is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Necro Butcher. Throughout the years he has worked for various promotions, including Beyond Wrestling, Firestormpro, Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Big Japan Pro Wrestling,...
, Brain Damage, Deranged, Ox Baker
Ox Baker
Douglas A. Baker better known professionally as Ox Baker, is an American former professional wrestler and actor, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I love to hurt people!" He has appeared in several...
, Masada
Masada (wrestler)
Not to be confused with Kazuhiko Masada, who also wrestles under the ring name MASADA.Brigham Paul Doane , better known by his ring name MASADA, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, NWA Wildside, and his...
, J. C. Bailey
J. C. Bailey
Joseph Carl Bailey, Jr. was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name J. C. Bailey...
, tHURTeen, Tank and Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers is an American professional wrestler.-Early career:Tracy started his career in the Memphis promotion on Saturday morning TV. Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers started teaming as The Southern Boys in Florida Championship Wrestling in 1987 where they feuded with The New Breed...
. Late in 2007, Billy also began working as a color commentator for CZW. Gram's two wrestling charges in 2007 Toby Klein
Toby Klein
Toby Klein is a professional wrestler well known for deathmatches in Combat Zone Wrestling and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South. He is a member of the Tough Crazy Bastards with Necro Butcher, due to their very similar styles in that their characters are both wild brawlers.-Career:Toby...
and The Necro Butcher spent 2007 feuding with members of the Maven Bentley Association. The final event of CZW's calendar year Cage of Death 9 found Gram in the corner of Team CZW: Toby Klein
Toby Klein
Toby Klein is a professional wrestler well known for deathmatches in Combat Zone Wrestling and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South. He is a member of the Tough Crazy Bastards with Necro Butcher, due to their very similar styles in that their characters are both wild brawlers.-Career:Toby...
, The Necro Butcher, Drake Younger
Drake Younger
Drake Wuertz is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Drake Younger. He has worked for a number of major independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South and Chikara...
and Danny Havoc
Danny Havoc
Danny Havoc is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South, and IWA Deep-South, where he is known as a hardcore wrestler.-Career:...
as they took on Team MBA: DJ Hyde, Brain Damage, Scotty Vortekz and Dustin Lee in the main event. At the end of 2007, the fans on CZW's official forums voted for their annual year end awards, and Gram was the winner of the award for "Best Mic Work".
2008
In addition, throughout the course of 2008 Cult FictionCult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
became even more visible in CZW. Gram was the color commentator for CZW throughout most of the year. His Cult Fiction stable was relaunched in CZW, first with the addition of Brain Damage, and later Deranged. At Cage of Death 10, in the course of a match between Gram's charge Deranged and Gram's perennial nemesis DJ Hyde, Hyde assaulted Gram with an electric staple gun to the body and face. Gram would also be in the corner of Brain Damage later that night for the Main Event, making this the second year in a row Billy had been involved in the Main Event at Cage of Death.
Once again the fans on the aforementioned annual year end awards recognized Billy as he was again the winner of the award for "Best Mic Work", and for the first time "Best Manager", "Best Commentator" and the newly instituted "Mother F'n Bomb" award.
2009
In 2009, Gram and his Cult Fiction team of Brain Damage and Deranged feuding with longtime CZW mainstays the H8 ClubH8 Club
The H8 Club is a professional wrestling tag team in Combat Zone Wrestling. The current team consists of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred.-History:The H8 Club has been around since the beginning of Combat Zone Wrestling. The original team was made up of Wifebeater, Justice Pain, Justin Kase, Ed O' Mac,...
consisting of Nick Gage
Nick Gage
Nicholas W. "Nick" Wilson is a hardcore professional wrestler best known from Combat Zone Wrestling. Along with being the first-ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion, he has wrestled at nearly every CZW show and has competed in more CZW matches than anyone...
, Nate Hatred
Nate Hatred
Nate Hatred is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his current tenure in the Philadelphia-based hardcore wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling where he is a member of the H8 Club...
and their manager Dewey Donovan. CZW Tournament of Death
CZW Tournament of Death
The Tournament of Death is an annual professional wrestling tournament organised by Combat Zone Wrestling since 2002, during which a number of wrestlers compete in various deathmatches in a single-elimination tournament which is similar to World Wrestling Entertainment's King of the Ring tournament...
8 saw Gram in the corners of three separate entrants, Brain Damage, Deranged and the returning Toby Klein
Toby Klein
Toby Klein is a professional wrestler well known for deathmatches in Combat Zone Wrestling and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South. He is a member of the Tough Crazy Bastards with Necro Butcher, due to their very similar styles in that their characters are both wild brawlers.-Career:Toby...
with Gram delivering a mad display of fire breathing in the match between Deranged and Nick Gage
Nick Gage
Nicholas W. "Nick" Wilson is a hardcore professional wrestler best known from Combat Zone Wrestling. Along with being the first-ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion, he has wrestled at nearly every CZW show and has competed in more CZW matches than anyone...
. The end of the year saw Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
absent, with Gram alone confronting the new owner of Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
DJ Hyde on several occasions demanding Cult Fiction's return. In December at Cage of Death 11, Gram was involved in another memorable CZW moment when the crowd was stunned as he accompanied the returning JC Bailey in a post match attack on European Death Match sensation Thumbtack Jack
Thumbtack Jack
Alexander Bedranowsky , better known by his ring name Thumbtack Jack and its abbreviation TJ, is a retired German professional wrestler, best known for his work in westside Xtreme wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling and IWA East Coast. He is well known for his hardcore style of wrestling.He held the...
. Gram then revealed that JC Bailey was the newest member of his Cult Fiction stable.
To close 2009, Gram and his Cult Fiction group were once again heavily acknowledged by fan votes in CZW's Annual Year End Awards. For the third consecutive year Gram captured the Award for "Best Mic Work", and for the second consecutive year "Best Manager" (by a landslide with 71.79% of the vote) and "Best Commentator" (also a landslide with 72.22% of the vote, despite the fact that Billy had only been in the commentary position for half of TOD 8 and one other match the entire year). "Tag Team of the Year" was awarded to Cult Fiction (48.84% of the vote) and the "Feud of the Year" Award went to H8 Club
H8 Club
The H8 Club is a professional wrestling tag team in Combat Zone Wrestling. The current team consists of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred.-History:The H8 Club has been around since the beginning of Combat Zone Wrestling. The original team was made up of Wifebeater, Justice Pain, Justin Kase, Ed O' Mac,...
vs. Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
(55.56% of the vote). "Return of the Year" award went to Cult Fiction member JC Bailey. "Video of the Year" award also went to Cult Fiction for Welcome to My Nightmare in a category that saw all five nominations consist of Cult Fiction music videos.
2010
2010 saw yet another, larger more dominant Cult Fiction emerge as Billy and Bailey were joined first by former N.J. All-Star Lucky, who was "beaten into" the faction by Bailey and Gram and christened with a new name, tHURTeen. These three were then joined by the returning Brain Damage and subsequently, International Death Match Superstar Masada. This version of Cult Fiction were immediately embroiled in a feud with Fan favorites Danny HavocDanny Havoc
Danny Havoc is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South, and IWA Deep-South, where he is known as a hardcore wrestler.-Career:...
, Drake Younger
Drake Younger
Drake Wuertz is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Drake Younger. He has worked for a number of major independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South and Chikara...
, Scotty Vortekz and Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston
Edward "Eddie" Moore is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Eddie Kingston. He is best known for competing in Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South and Ring of Honor...
who were newly dubbed The Suicide Kings. The Necro Butcher and John Zandig
John Zandig
John Corson was an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name, John Zandig. He is the founder and former owner of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling .-Biography:...
also sided with the Suicide Kings at various points throughout the feud.
In June 2010, Gram and Cult Fiction were a huge presence at CZW Tournament of Death
CZW Tournament of Death
The Tournament of Death is an annual professional wrestling tournament organised by Combat Zone Wrestling since 2002, during which a number of wrestlers compete in various deathmatches in a single-elimination tournament which is similar to World Wrestling Entertainment's King of the Ring tournament...
. Both JC Bailey and Masada
Masada
Masada is the name for a site of ancient palaces and fortifications in the South District of Israel, on top of an isolated rock plateau, or horst, on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. Masada is best known for the violence that occurred there in the first century CE...
with Billy in their corners were entrants in the tournament, and Brain Damage participated in a non-tournament grudge match against Drake Younger
Drake Younger
Drake Wuertz is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Drake Younger. He has worked for a number of major independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South and Chikara...
. An interesting storyline spilled from this event as in a post show interview, Gram, distraught over having been assaulted by Scotty Vortekz in his match against MASADA
Masada (wrestler)
Not to be confused with Kazuhiko Masada, who also wrestles under the ring name MASADA.Brigham Paul Doane , better known by his ring name MASADA, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, NWA Wildside, and his...
"quit" CZW. Many fans and co-workers believed Gram had seriously left the company. Gram made a shocking return in mid-August.
Gram and his Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
stable continued their feud with The Suicide Kings for the remainder of the year. Eventually Drake Younger
Drake Younger
Drake Wuertz is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Drake Younger. He has worked for a number of major independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South and Chikara...
turned heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
and became an ally to Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
. The Suicide Kings two remaining original members were joined by Devon Moore and Dysfunction
Dysfunction
Dysfunction can refer to:* Abnormality * Dysfunctional family* Sexual dysfunction* Dysfunction , an album by the rock band Staind...
. The feud would culminate at Cage of Death XII in December 2010, with this Kings lineup facing Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
(Brain Damage, MASADA
Masada (wrestler)
Not to be confused with Kazuhiko Masada, who also wrestles under the ring name MASADA.Brigham Paul Doane , better known by his ring name MASADA, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, NWA Wildside, and his...
and tHURTeen) and the newly monikered "Golden Boy" Drake Younger
Drake Younger
Drake Wuertz is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Drake Younger. He has worked for a number of major independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South and Chikara...
with Gram in their corner. After all the participants, save the winner Devon Moore had been eliminated, Gram found himself in the unenviable position of being alone with Moore atop the Cage of Death. Moore threw Gram from the top of the structure. The result for Gram was five broken bones in his right foot and leg. This had been four consecutive years Billy had been on the Cage of Death show, three of the four as a manager in the actual Cage of Death match itself.
Independent Wrestling Association: Mid-South
In 2008, Gram appeared frequently in Independent Wrestling Association: Mid-South leading the Cult Fiction stable. Managing Toby KleinToby Klein
Toby Klein is a professional wrestler well known for deathmatches in Combat Zone Wrestling and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South. He is a member of the Tough Crazy Bastards with Necro Butcher, due to their very similar styles in that their characters are both wild brawlers.-Career:Toby...
, Brain Damage and Deranged. Later in the midst of a feud between Cult Fiction and Corporal Robinson, Tank would also become a member of the group. In October of that year Gram led his duo of Brain Damage and Deranged to victory in IWA MS's Double Death Tag Team Tournament, as they defeated the teams of The Necro Butcher and Toby Klein
Toby Klein
Toby Klein is a professional wrestler well known for deathmatches in Combat Zone Wrestling and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South. He is a member of the Tough Crazy Bastards with Necro Butcher, due to their very similar styles in that their characters are both wild brawlers.-Career:Toby...
(who had temporarily defected from Cult Fiction), Corporal Robinson and Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers is an American professional wrestler.-Early career:Tracy started his career in the Memphis promotion on Saturday morning TV. Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers started teaming as The Southern Boys in Florida Championship Wrestling in 1987 where they feuded with The New Breed...
(Smothers turned on his partner and joined Cult Fiction), Danny Havoc
Danny Havoc
Danny Havoc is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South, and IWA Deep-South, where he is known as a hardcore wrestler.-Career:...
and Dysfunction
Dysfunction
Dysfunction can refer to:* Abnormality * Dysfunctional family* Sexual dysfunction* Dysfunction , an album by the rock band Staind...
, and in the finals Drake Younger
Drake Younger
Drake Wuertz is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Drake Younger. He has worked for a number of major independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South and Chikara...
and Devon Moore. This gave Brain Damage and Deranged the distinction of being the only wrestlers to ever win any major independent wrestling tournament twice in consecutive years.
In 2011, Billy played a pivotal role in IWA Deep South's annual Carnage Cup, where two more wrestlers Freakshow
Freakshow
Freakshow most commonly refers to:* A freak show, an exhibition of raritiesFreakshow or Freak show may also refer to:-In music::* Freakshow, a Britney Spears song featured on her 2007 studio album, Blackout...
and Matt Tremont joined Cult Fiction.
Feud with Ian Rotten
Also in 2008, sometime around the end of the year, Gram become involved in a public feud with IWA-MS owner Ian RottenIan Rotten
John Benson Williams is an American professional Wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in Global Wrestling Federation , Extreme Championship Wrestling , and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.-Early career:After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar"...
. Billy made allegations that Rotten had physically threatened himself as well as members of the Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
faction that he leads. Gram publicly vowed that Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
would never again appear in IWA MS. Billy then went on a public bashing of Rotten, lampooning him on wrestling websites and message boards.
Also in early 2011, Billy finally confronted his nemesis Ian Rotten
Ian Rotten
John Benson Williams is an American professional Wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in Global Wrestling Federation , Extreme Championship Wrestling , and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.-Early career:After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar"...
person to person on an internet wrestling show called And Then The Bell Rang hosted by Jerry Wiseman. Gram exploded on Rotten. Joe Bailey the father of JC Bailey, Bull Pain
Bull Pain
Rick Gantner, known by his ring name Bull Pain, is an American independent professional wrestler, currently best known for his work in IWA Mid-South, and for his past career as part of the Texas Hangmen tag team in promotions such as American Wrestling Association, United States Wrestling...
, Mickie Knuckles
Mickie Knuckles
Mickie Lee Knuckles is an American professional wrestler who has worked for a number of major independent promotions, including Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, Chikara and Combat Zone Wrestling. She also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name Moose...
and Madman Pondo also confronted Rotten on the show. This started a numerous amount of internet radio appearances by Gram. In which he also challenged Ian Rotten
Ian Rotten
John Benson Williams is an American professional Wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in Global Wrestling Federation , Extreme Championship Wrestling , and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.-Early career:After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar"...
to meet him in a legit kickboxing match for charity. Shortly after this, Rotten announced that he was closing the doors of his promotion IWA Mid-South for good.
Writer
In 2008 One for the Fire: The Legacy of Night of the Living Dead, a documentary written by Gram, was released. It celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the definitive horror film of Independent American Cinema. The film is included on the 40th Anniversary edition of Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
released by Dimension Films
Dimension Films
Dimension Films is a motion picture unit currently a part of The Weinstein Company. It was formerly used as Bob Weinstein's label within Miramax Films, to produce and release genre films...
. The film was also included on the European Blu-ray release of George Romero's Diary of the Dead, also from Dimension Films.
The film One for the Fire: The Legacy of Night of the Living Dead won a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award as best "Horror DVD" extra of the year 2008.