The Misfits; the band not the movie....

[zombiehorror]

I'm a HUUUUUUGE Misfits fan

Didn't want to hijack the Rob Zombie HB2 thread with this but you're definitely speaking my language on that one......Been a fiend since picking up Walk Among Us on cassette in 1988.

That sounds like a hell of a show...I'm a HUUUUUUGE Misfits fan and Halloween II would have been worth the price of admisson for me...especially then, when we were really Misfit starved.

It was a great surprise hearing him do Halloween II especially since at that point he had pretty much put Misfits/Samhain behind him.  The crowd went nuts and there was just something special about hearing that song on halloween, not to mention that their were bonfires in the lawn section with people dancing and going crazy around them!  What a great night, Glenn still mentions that show as one of his favorites and a stand out from all the shows he's done.

[BlackLagoon]

They are without a doubt one of my all time favorite bands, and I think we have a few UMA'ers who feel the same..I know we discussed it before.

I always knew who they were, but didnt really get into them till almost the end of high school..late bloomer. What had happened was they did the "Resurrection Tour" where they brought out Michale Graves and Dr. Chud as the new members. At that time they had 2 new songs "Mars Attacks" and "Blacklight"...they put on a show at in their then hometown of Vernon NJ, and at 30 min from me I went and was blown away. From then on I went and bought everything Misfits related...and if you held a gun to my head I probably couldnt pick a favorite song...right now? Probably "Spook City Usa"...then again I could put on "Devilock" or "Bullet" and by the 1st chorus...that becomes my favorite song...no band ever is catchier. Actually its like my old guitarist said: "The Misfits are like crack, you listin once...then your just hooked for life".

True story..a girl I was dating pretty hardcore last year lives in Vernon, and after I got comfortable I finally wore the "Evillive" t-shirt over her house..she asked me about it and then said "wait...Mr. Caifa??"......it turns out that growing up Jerry Only was her neighboor.

I could obviously talk about this forever, I have met and live close to everyone except Glenn..and now Doyle is out in Vegas...but every member of that band past or present was nothing but the coolest most down to Earth person ever, I have plenty of autographs and a ton of free goodies and press kits Jerry handed me.

If the Misfits are your thing I highly suggest you check out more of the NJ Horror Punk family they gave birth to....X-Ward, Sardonica, Gotham Road, Calabrese, Graves...and of course Blitzkid..who are not from NJ, but are incredibly awesome!

Now I gotta listin to "Skulls"....because its my favorite Misfits song lol

[zombiehorror]

and I think we have a few UMA'ers who feel the same..I know we discussed it before.

Yep did a quick search and found the few other threads, don't know how I missed them?!?

I always knew who they were

I had a friend in highschool that always wore the t-shirts and I'd ask him about them and tell him to bring me in a tape but he never did prompting my 88' purchase of Walk Among Us.

, but didnt really get into them till almost the end of high school..late bloomer. What had happened was they did the "Resurrection Tour" where they brought out Michale Graves and Dr. Chud as the new members. At that time they had 2 new songs "Mars Attacks" and "Blacklight"...they put on a show at in their then hometown of Vernon NJ, and at 30 min from me I went and was blown away. From then on I went and bought everything Misfits related...

I just happened to have a friend that was still on the old Fiend Club mailing list and he got the postcard for The Misfits "Resurrection" he showed it to me and we were both apprehensive but after seeing them on June 8th, 1996 at Mississippi Nights I was sold that at least they were good live.  My friend was less than excited when after the show he asked Mike why they didn't sing Cough/Cool and Mike replied, "Cough/Cool that song sucks!".  Well at least he gave his honest opinion but then I think that was alot of Mike's problem was that he didn't really respect the older material.

From then on I went and bought everything Misfits related...and if you held a gun to my head I probably couldnt pick a favorite song...right now? Probably "Spook City Usa"...then again I could put on "Devilock" or "Bullet" and by the 1st chorus...that becomes my favorite song...no band ever is catchier. Actually its like my old guitarist said: "The Misfits are like crack, you listin once...then your just hooked for life".

I usually go with Horror Hotel, just something about it that's always struck me.  But it is hard to pick once you start going thru the songs in your head.  I used to get all kinds of people in the Army hooked.  They see me wearing the shirts and wonder what the big deal was with this Misfits band.

True story..a girl I was dating pretty hardcore last year lives in Vernon, and after I got comfortable I finally wore the "Evillive" t-shirt over her house..she asked me about it and then said "wait...Mr. Caifa??"......it turns out that growing up Jerry Only was her neighboor.

I could obviously talk about this forever, I have met and live close to everyone except Glenn..and now Doyle is out in Vegas...but every member of that band past or present was nothing but the coolest most down to Earth person ever, I have plenty of autographs and a ton of free goodies and press kits Jerry handed me.

The only way that could possibly cooler is if you'd actually have grown up with them.....LOL!

Now I gotta listin to "Skulls"....because its my favorite Misfits song lol

That song just says Misfits, I mean for christ's sake they used to ask fiends to send them skulls, any skull it didn't matter!!  I have a tattoo on my upper back of the picture of Glenn double exposed with the Crimson Ghost on my back above it reads, "I Need Your Skull"  and below, "Misfits" of course.  That song is a definite fave.....

[LundyAfterMidnight]

What's the definitive Misfits CD, if you were to recommend only one?

[zombiehorror]

What's the definitive Misfits CD, if you were to recommend only one?

That's a loaded question, it varies greatly depending on who you ask.  My quick answer would be Misfits, a.k.a. Collection I because The Misfits (actually Glenn's songwriting) had 3 distinct periods from 77-83.  With this collection you get a good overall of Static Age; Hollywood Babylon, Theme for a Jackal, Horror Business, Teenagers From Mars; next up you get some cuts from Walk Among Us; I Turned Into A Martian, Vampira, Mommy, Night Of The Living Dead; and finally some of Earth A.D. tracks Earth A.D., Devilock, Death Comes Ripping, Green Hell and Wolfblood.  You also get these tracks as performed originally by The Misfits.  There are a few other songs on the cd (Skulls, Astro Zombies, etc.) not listed above that the versions are not from other albums they were part of Glenn's later Misfits overhauls.

On both Legacy of Brutality and Collection II Glenn reworked or in some cases just rerecorded the tracks.  Not to mention that LOB is a muddy mix.

If you can check out some stuff online and then if interested and if it's still available for a decent price just get the Coffin set.

But I think Collection I is a good starting point, if you like classic punk then Static Age (an album that never existed back in 78' but is available now...long story) is the album for you, if you like a little heavier punk the Walk Among us is it but if you prefer thrash punk then Earth A.D. would probably suit you....But if you are one of those rare individuals (ok maybe not so rare) that likes it all then just get them all!!  The Misfits although a punk band were much more with Glenn controlling their output.

There is also the previously unreleased Walk Among Us concept album now called 12 Hits From Hell.......which is another long story.......

OK, just forget all that and get Misfits/Collection I~Crimson Ghost on the cover in yellow!

[BlackLagoon]

What's the definitive Misfits CD, if you were to recommend only one?

Oh man..its so hard to say..I think Zombiehorror made some great points but I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in here for min, and its easy.

Just go buy the box set. I think when I got it when it came out it was 100.00, now you can get it for what? 60.00? They just have so many songs...and with the box set you're gonna hear Cough/Cool and She played on piano...then your gonna hear what is in my opinion the "Original Thrash Album" (yup..before Venom, Possessed and Slayer influenced Metalliaca, Megadeth and Testament...the original thrash sound is Earth A.D.) Listen to Slayers Reign In Blood, then go back and check out Earth A.D....the structures, the speed...its a thrash album mixed by a punk producer.

If I had to turn someone on to the Misfits...I would say go pick up Walk Among Us, then pick up Static Age...very very different sounds...but the more you listen the more they will kinda...come together.

I know Mike had some problems with Jerry and vice versa...some problems we know about,  some are better left alone. I also know that Doyle doing the whole Gorgeous George/Frankenstein thing was A: for his wife, and B: because of the Graves departure with him and his older brother not seeing eye to eye on...which brings me to this...

We are NEVER gonna see a real Misfits reunion...I love Jerry to death, but this isn't the Misfits..AND I did think Land Of The Dead was great! But theres something missing still, having said that..The last time the Misfits as a unit were great..was the Jerry, Doyle, Chud, Graves line up...yes I know its not Legacy Of Brutality...but I thought American Psycho and Famous Monsters were INCREDIBLE albums with a line up and stage show that was just as electric.

Doyles tone on those albums will go pound for pound with any death metal band out there...they kept their classic hooks and catches, and really injected some serious metal into it. I loved that era and I thought we could at least get a Famous Monsters reunion..but it doesn't seem like it.

On a side not, I am in a little metal band for fun and the guy who runs the studio..his best man was Jerry Calabrese..Dr. Chud! So I have this conversation weekly lol...it still pisses me off we cant get an original line up on stage for an hr...I mean Samhain did it right? (minus Eerie Von)

Speaking Of Samhain....

[Gasport]

I second Blacklagoon's assessment of Jerry Only. I met him a number of times at Chiller in NJ.  He saw me loading up with a bunch of MISFITS bumper stickers and asked why i wanted so many. When i told him i taught guitar and a bunch of my students were huge fans that i wanted to bring signed bumper stickers home for, he got really excited, signed every one and refused to let me pay! These guys should teach public relations to all up and coming bands. I was floored by his generosity... Every one of the kids i gave one to absolutely MELTED in disbelief!!

[LundyAfterMidnight]

Thanks guys!!

[BlackLagoon]

I second Blacklagoon's assessment of Jerry Only. I met him a number of times at Chiller in NJ.  He saw me loading up with a bunch of MISFITS bumper stickers and asked why i wanted so many. When i told him i taught guitar and a bunch of my students were huge fans that i wanted to bring signed bumper stickers home for, he got really excited, signed every one and refused to let me pay! These guys should teach public relations to all up and coming bands. I was floored by his generosity... Every one of the kids i gave one to absolutely MELTED in disbelief!!

Thats a great story, before I met him I had known he had a machine shop and was planning on mass marketing his bass and his brothers guitar, so I sent him a long letter about being a fan and how he helped influence my bass playing...a week later I got a big white enevelope with a huge yellow Misfits sticker on it that said "Jess, THANX--Jerry Only"...Inside were 2 cool post cards, one of the Crimson Ghost with charictures of the band members..and my fave...a photo of the Bride Of Frankenstein that said Misfits...there was also tickets to a Misfits show in Germany...which I just framed...then I ran into him in NYC and he gave me a charm in the shape of Doyles guitar..after a really cool conversation...


Then there was the whole "Madison Scare Garden" debacle...to which a mosh pit broke out so badly and after me and some drunken a--hole getting into a fight..I managed my way to the front of the crowd...they started playing Static Age and Jerry put his bass head out and I held onto that cyclops skull as he shook it...man just to feel that bass vibrate from his chords...holy crap I was dying!

Anyway, it got waaaaaaay out of hand and they cut the show short...later that night I met Graves and he autographed my ticket. Jerry came out and said "All you guys here  for the midnite show...send in your tickets and we'll send you back a shirt" I was reluctant because my ticket was signed and now stuck on the inside cover of my Famous Monsters cd....anyway I did it...one week later I got my ticket back and a free Misfits t-shirt that said "I survived The Misfits at Madison Scare Garden"

Nothing but stand up guys....take lessons Gene Simmons!

[zombiehorror]

Just go buy the box set. I think when I got it when it came out it was 100.00, now you can get it for what? 60.00? They just have so many songs...and with the box set you're gonna hear Cough/Cool and She played on piano...then your gonna hear what is in my opinion the "Original Thrash Album" (yup..before Venom, Possessed and Slayer influenced Metalliaca, Megadeth and Testament...the original thrash sound is Earth A.D.) Listen to Slayers Reign In Blood, then go back and check out Earth A.D....the structures, the speed...its a thrash album mixed by a punk producer.

If I had to turn someone on to the Misfits...I would say go pick up Walk Among Us, then pick up Static Age...very very different sounds...but the more you listen the more they will kinda...come together.

I just looked it up and you can get the coffin set for just a little over $40 from Amazon, so really you can't go wrong just picking that up if you like The Misfits.  On the other hand if you just don't get them then you'd be out $40 as opposed to just $13 for 1 cd.  That's why I would suggest just looking for some tracks on the net.  Here's a link to the whole Collection I~

http://www.lala.com/#album/576742227317588519

You can listen to 2 tracks but if you want to listen to more you have to sign up, but it is free.  Looking at the site a little more and they have every damned album, you can listen to every Misfits song before ever purchasing a cd.

Give it a listen then make the call as to whether or not to buy something.  Either way Lundy please come back and tell us what you think about them.

If I had to turn someone on to the Misfits...I would say go pick up Walk Among Us, then pick up Static Age...very very different sounds...but the more you listen the more they will kinda...come together.

That's what's so hard about turning someone on to The Misfits, they may absolutely hate one or even two of the albums but that 3rd one will grab them.  And eventually they may come to like the other ones that they didn't get at first.  That's why I would recommend a collection cd, personally Collection I, but really Collection II or Legacy will do in a pinch.

[Radioactive Rod Whitenack]

I'm a longtime Misfits fiend as well, but I've let my rabid fandom waver over the last few years. The passion you guys have shown for the band here has re-energized my love for all things Misfits. I've got the coffin box and was a card carrying Fiend Club member for many years. I have a personally signed Jerry Only action figure sitting on my desk.

The Danzig era was some of the greatest punk rock ever recorded, and Jerry's re-imagining of the Misfits with a dose of metal in "American Psycho" and "Famous Monsters" was a whole lot of fun. Those shows with Graves were usually amazing.

For newbies who want to get a feel for the Misfits, I recommend sampling some of their masterpieces. Go on Youtube or somewhere similar at listen to "Last Caress," "Die Die My Darling" and "Halloween." If you're not sold after hearing those three tunes, you never will be. Be sure to listen to the original Danzig vocals, not Jerry singing them live.

As for my favorite Misfits record, that's a tough one because so many were originally released in Single LPs, but I have to go with "Walk Among Us."

[zombiehorror]

I'm a longtime Misfits fiend as well, but I've let my rabid fandom waver over the last few years. The passion you guys have shown for the band here has re-energized my love for all things Misfits. I've got the coffin box and was a card carrying Fiend Club member for many years. I have a personally signed Jerry Only action figure sitting on my desk.

The Danzig era was some of the greatest punk rock ever recorded, and Jerry's re-imagining of the Misfits with a dose of metal in "American Psycho" and "Famous Monsters" was a whole lot of fun. Those shows with Graves were usually amazing.

As for my favorite Misfits record, that's a tough one because so many were originally released in Single LPs, but I have to go with "Walk Among Us."

[sung to the tune of Comeback]
Come back little Radioactive Rod Whitenack and join the fiends...LOL!

I've let my devotion to the newer material waver but never the 77-83 stuff.  One day when I get the ol' (err...I mean new) monster basement finished there will definitely be a small corner reserved for my Misfits stuff.

[coughcool]

I have been a Misfits fan for 20 plus years. That being said The Danzig Era was over with the Misfits and Samhain. I was so excited when Danzig released his first solo album Danzig. I missed seeing him opening up for Metallica. Matter of fact I still haven't seen him live. I went to see The Misfits w/Graves. But that was not disclosed before the show. So I walked out of that show along with most of the crowed.I have know idea why I'm babbling on. I do sport some Misfit/Danzig tattoos I have never regretted getting. Ok I think the two Misfit albums that blew my socks of first listen too would be Earth A.D & Walk Among Us. What has been done to the Misfit name over the last few years is a disgrace. IMO The Misfits minus Danzig is not The Misfits. Just like Dead Kennedy's minus Jello Biafra is not Dead Kennedy's.

[zombiehorror]

Misfits post and pre Danzig can be a topic like religion and politics it can get pretty heated....LOL.  My attitude was always that nothing will ever tarnish The Misfits 77-83 that legacy is set in stone and it was all built on the lyrics and music of Glenn Danzig.  But at the same time that Misfits was a group of people discussing ideas and concepts together and making group decisions.  Which of course Glenn and Jerry were always there to make that final decision.  So when I heard about the reformation of The Misfits spear headed by Jerry I went in open minded.  This new Misfits was Jerry's from the get go, the very opposite of the original, where as Glenn wrote everything back then now The Misfits wrote more as a group but they lost everything else because Jerry was in control and that was eventually the newer Misfits demise.  If they were but a shadow of the original back in 96' then just what the hell are they now that they are a shadow of even that era?!?!

Glenn's Misfits were true punk icons, DYI to the end.  The music was pure and was written from the soul of a true artist.

Jerry's Misfits were a wannabe KISS marketing machine, if there's a product out there then Jerry will authorize the Misfits name on it or let you slap a Crimson Ghost on it.  They produced some decent metal-pop-punk music, which Jerry had complete control over turning the songs into "Misfits" style tunes, that was nowhere near the genius of Glenn's stuff .  Maybe I only liked it because it was labeled Misfits but then again I didn't like Project 1950 and didn't care for the new singles so that can't be it.

You must, I repeat, you must see Glenn at least once before he packs it in for good!!  I've seen him 6 times since 92' and have yet to be disappointed even in 2002 when he was sick and chugging down cough syrup on stage.  He never fails to give his all and to his credit he always picks the best musicians to back him up.

[Radioactive Rod Whitenack]

I agree with everything zombiehorror just said. That being said, I love Jerry Only as an icon. He's hard not to love even when tries real hard not to earn it. He is the Misfits version of Gene Simmons for all that's both good and bad about that fact. The one thing he ISN'T however is a lead vocalist. He has absolutely no vocal range whatsoever, and it's sad that he will likely never give up the center stage now that he has it.