ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT

Biography.

The Kings of Skate Rock!

Violet Ray is a skate rock band started in Cleveland, OH in 2017 by veteran skateboarder and punk rock musician Billy Somerville. We play music about skateboarding, by skateboarders and for skateboarders. Skate army never dies! Playing lead guitar is Mike Layton, bass is Rich Kauffman and drums is Eric Riehm.

Musician with dark hair and makeup singing into a microphone, playing a pink leopard-print guitar, wearing a bat-patterned shirt, with a drummer in a sleeveless shirt playing a Ludwig drum kit behind him, against a colorful brick wall background.

A man with a beard and short hair playing a bass guitar on stage, with a colorful graffiti-style brick wall in the background.

A bearded man with tattoos is playing an electric guitar on stage in a dimly lit, graffiti-covered venue, with a microphone stand nearby, illuminated by purple and blue lighting.

Man with a beard and tattoo, smiling, holding drumsticks, standing in front of a colorful brick wall.

LISTEN UP.

WATCH NOW.

Achievements & Analytics.

Featured on playlists:

Best Punk Debuts 2025

All Punk Rock Hits

Notable Analytics:

2k+ Monthly Streams

Top Song: All Hail Cardiel

Audience Analytics:

United States & Canada

Germany, Australia, UK

Press Coverage.

"Packed with strong riffs, quick tempos, bouncing bass lines and of course, Skateboarding references, this album is pure Punk Rock fire."

- Rustbelt Rock Review

“Violet Ray isn't just reviving a genre-they're reminding us that skateboarding and punk have always gone hand-in-hand. Raw, loud, and full of heart, This is Skate Rock is more than an album-it's a battle cry for the new generation of skaters keeping the flame alive."

- Punk Rock Magazine

TOURING.

Motor City Get Down Festival - Detroit, MI

Skate Rock Saturday - Pittsburgh, PA

Home for the Holidays - Lakewood, OH

Cedars West End - Youngstown, OH

DISCOGRAPHY.

Violet Ray E.P. - 5/2018

This is Skate Rock - 4/2025

Double Kick - 10/2025

Skate Gang - 4/2026

CONTACT INFORMATION.

William Somerville

Big Spin Records

216-633-2424 | violetraymusic@outlook.com | violetraymusic.com