The Misfits Biography

Misfits are a punk rock band formed in 1977
and led by singer and songwriter Glenn Danzig and bassist Jerry Only. They
were highly influential on the genres of punk and heavy metal.[citation
needed] Though they ceased recording and performing in 1983, the band
reformed (led by Only and without founder and former frontman Danzig) in
1995.



The early Misfits were often quite melodic, featuring
Danzig's versatile singing, which had a style rooted in Italian tenors
such as Mario Lanza and in 1950s doo-wop. Musically, the band has also
displayed some Rockabilly influences (but not as much as Psychobilly
bands). Early Misfits songs tended to have catchy, sing-along choruses,
initially backed by Danzig's distorted keyboard accompaniments and
later by willfully crude guitar-rock. The band began as a largely untrained
ensemble. After several lineup changes and increasing international
acclaim, Danzig disbanded the Misfits in 1983.



The band often
wore corpse paint when performing, and bassist Jerry Only reputedly
invented a hairstyle called the devilock (a variation of the "tidal wave"
hairstyle) with the front coming to a point in front of the nose or chin, a
style still worn by fans (a.k.a. Fiends) today and contributed to the
foundation of horror punk. In 2000, The Misfits were placed by VH1 at 91 on
their list of 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.



When the band
originally reformed, it featured Michale Graves on vocals, Jerry Only on
bass, Dr. Chud (Cannibalistic Human Underground Drummer) on drums, and
Jerry's brother Doyle on guitar. Doyle is currently estranged from the
group and is working with a new group named Gorgeous Frankenstein, which
formed in 2005. Doyle recently reunited with Glenn Danzig's band Danzig
to perform special sets of Misfits songs on Danzig's Blackest of the
Black 2005 and 2006 tour.



A third, touring incarnation of the
band, without Danzig, is presently led by the only other constant original
member, bassist Jerry Only. Members of the touring group have included
Marky Ramone (of the Ramones), and both drummer ROBO (who was a member of
the original band), and guitarist Dez Cadena of Black Flag
fame.