The Magic Of The Misfits
Who They Were, And Why It Matters
The original Misfits were a raw, raucous punk rock outfit with transgressive lyrics and an underground sound. The modern ear, accustomed to polished production with compression and precise EQing, reacts strongly against the gritty underproduced sound of 1980s punk rock. But there is a certain charm to the Misfits that is easily missed if you don’t listen closely. There’s more to the Misfits than misplaced nostalgia by old punk rockers who were there for their 80s shows. And if you’re willing to dive in, you might experience some of that magic for yourself. There’s a reason why rock t shirts so often feature the Misfits logo, even though the Misfits are less well-known than Danzig’s solo career.
Obscure But Relevant
A rock t shirt bearing the Misfits skull and logo
The reason for this is that the Misfits, while relatively unknown to the listening public, are often listened to and deeply respected by artists themselves. How many people have heard Metallica’s cover of the Misfits’ “Die, Die, Die My Darling” without knowing who the original artist was? Some of the most famous rockers are deeply influenced by the Misfits, even if the Misfits themselves never had breakout popularity. There is a distinct pattern in rock music where an obscure but very well-reviewed artist has a strong influence on subsequent artists who reach much greater heights of popularity. The Misfits are one case of this.
That Certain Something
For example, try listening to the song Halloween. The tune is immensely catchy, and the production isn’t bad either. The lyrics are the sort of thing that made old ladies clutch pearls back in the 1980s. Its remake, Halloween II, contains the same chorus with a slower tempo. In both cases, we can see what makes rock musicians love the Misfits. There’s a je ne sais quoi, some quality underlying Danzig’s singing-in-a-can and the buzzing guitars and poppy choruses, that is like nothing else ever recorded. It’s catchy and poppish, but also edgy and abrasive. It’s hard, but also upbeat. It’s the product of a kid in the 80s dreaming of rock stardom but who is too uncompromising to clean up his act and sing a sappy love ballad.
This quality is subtle. It takes some time to hear it. You have to sit with the music for a while. That’s why a lot of people pass over the Misfits for more famous acts; it’s music for musicians more than anything else. When you see the Misfits logo, it’s usually on a rock t shirt or bass drum or guitar, or someone’s guitar case or gig bag, or as a sticker on someone’s amplifier. The people who tote Misfits swag are nearly always musicians, because that’s who is in-the-know enough to understand and respect their music.
