We were lucky to catch up with Violet Staley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Violet, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

They encouraged me to attend Girls Rock! Camp. Girls Rock! Chicago is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a socially just community with girls, transgender youth, and gender expansive youth. I would not be where I am today without Girls Rock! Camp. To sum it up, you get to choose your instrument, learn how to play your instrument, create a band with other campers, write a song together and then you get to perform your song live at a local venue such as The Metro or Bottom Lounge and record it at an actual studio. That’s how Saffron and I met, started a band and never stopped since.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Violet Staley and I play guitar and sing in Won’t Stay Dead.

Won’t Stay Dead is a Horror-themed punk band with grunge and new wave influences from Chicago, blending catchy hooks and harmonies with macabre lyrics. We formed in 2017 and have been playing with the current lineup since late 2022.

We released our first full-length album ‘Purgatory’ October ’21 on Don’t Panic Records & Distro. In October ’22, we were featured on ‘Horrorpunk’s Not Dead! Vol. 1,’ a horror punk comp released by We Are Horror Records, featuring contributions from Voice of Doom, Grave Robber, 5¢ Freakshow, Chesty Malone and the Slice ‘em Ups, Siblings of Samhain, and many more.

We have played all over Chicagoland, at Subterranean, Beat Kitchen, Reggie’s, Cobra Lounge, Liar’s Club, Livewire, and more, opening for local and national acts such as The Falcon, Blitzkid, Tightwire, The Dopamines, The Raging Nathans, Days N Daze, Flatfoot 56, Calabrese, The Bollweevils, Stellar Corpses, Huntingtons, Grave Robber, and Much the Same.

We have also played outside the Chicagoland area in Midwest cities Toledo, OH; Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, WI; Rockford, IL; and Grand Rapids, Lansing, & Saginaw, MI.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of playing in Won’t Stay Dead is representing women in the music scene. Saffron and I are the only women on most bills that we play. Women will a lot of times come up to us after our set and say how happy it made them to see us up there. I especially love playing to younger crowds, because I hope that seeing Saffron and I up there on stage will inspire and empower young women to pursue their creative dreams. Our last show of the year was 17+ and after our set my friend told me that she heard a younger girl yell “oh my god, there’s girls in this band?!” while we were setting up on stage. That made me smile.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe the best way to support local artists is by going to their shows and buying their merch. Going to local shows not only directly supports the bands, but also keeps local venues alive. You might discover your new favorite band by going to a show at Liars Club, you never know! Another great way to directly support the bands is by buying their merch. We have worked really hard to create a stand out merch display at our shows. We even hand make some of our merch, such as the details on our lighters and cigarette cases. Buying our merch also helps support other local artists. Our current shirt and hoodie designs feature art by Kyle Bak, Liz Gollner, and Shaman Goad with future designs to come by Vinnie Malave from The Horror House. All of our shirts, hoodies and hats are printed by Tim Pearson with Dragon Eye Printing. Artists supporting other local artists, it’s all connected!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wontstaydeadband.wixsite.com/main
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wontstaydead?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wontstaydeadchicago?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wontstaydead4128?si=PsC4gKxHWgompOC3

Image Credits
Kennedy Cottrell