Group

Misfits

New Jersey punk band

From: Lodi, United States
Since: 1977–present
Rating: ★ 4.2 (5 votes)
Releases: 99

horror punk
hardcore punk
punk rock
punk
rock

About

The Misfits are an American punk rock band, often recognized as pioneers of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. The group was formed in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter, and keyboardist Glenn Danzig. Shortly after, bassist Jerry Only joined, and the pair remained the core members through numerous personnel changes over the next six years. During this period, they released several EPs and singles, and with Only's brother Doyle on guitar, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983) were released—both considered touchstones of the early 1980s hardcore punk movement. Over the years, the band has undergone many lineup changes, with Jerry Only serving as the group’s only constant member.

The Misfits disbanded in 1983, and Glenn Danzig went on to form Samhain and then Danzig. Several albums of reissued and previously unreleased material were issued after the group's dissolution, and their music became influential to the subsequent punk rock, heavy metal, hard rock, and alternative rock scenes. After a series of legal battles with Danzig, Only and Doyle regained the rights to record and perform as the Misfits. They formed a new version of the band in 1995 with singer Michale Graves and drummer Dr. Chud. This incarnation of Misfits had more of a heavy metal sound, and released the albums American Psycho (1997) and Famous Monsters (1999) before dissolving in 2000. Jerry Only then took over lead vocals and recruited former Black Flag guitarist Dez Cadena and former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone for a Misfits 25th anniversary tour.
This lineup released an album of cover songs in 2003, titled Project 1950, and toured for several years. In 2005, Marky was replaced by Robo, who had previously drummed for the Misfits (1982–1983) and Black Flag. This lineup released a single titled "Land of the Dead" in 2009. The Misfits' lineup of Only, Cadena, and drummer Eric "Chupacabra" Arce released a new album, The Devil's Rain, in October 2011. In 2015, Cadena announced he would be taking a break from music after receiving a cancer diagnosis and was replaced by Only's son, Jerry Caiafa III (stage name Jerry Other). That same year, Soulfly's Marc Rizzo joined the band on guitar, temporarily filling in for Cadena before Caiafa became the sole guitarist.
In September 2016, for the first time in 33 years, Danzig, Only, and Doyle reunited for two headlining shows as the Original Misfits at that year's edition of Riot Fest, along with drummer Dave Lombardo and second guitarist Acey Slade. The Original Misfits lineup has continued performing sporadically.

From Misfits (band) on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.