The Phoenix
Toronto, Ontario
October 22, 2008
The Phoenix
Toronto, Ontario
October 22, 2008
I’m
still trying to figure out what to say about the Misfits. There’s lotsa shit
floating around in my melon about them, some good, some bad so I’m gonna open up
a can of each, throw em in a pot, bitch the heat and see what we’re left with
after I boil the fuck out of it.
Let’s start with the bad. I like to end on a positive note. How many fuckin
lineup changes can a band go through? OK, I already know the answer to that one,
I’m a Kiss fan. (shhhhh). How many Misfits tunes instantly grab you by the nuts
and leave lingering memories? Very few I’d say but then I’m one of the guys that
never really grew much of an appreciation for hardcore or early punk. Sure I
always dug the look and gave props to the punks for having the balls to make
themselves the object of ridicule to all the mainstream swimmers out there but
honestly I always thought their soundtrack was pretty fuckin lame. I mean for
how heavy looking they were, a lot of their soundtrack sounded and looked like
it was being played by Fonzie with Turrets Syndrome.
A lot of the punk stuff was just off to me. Musically fucked. Off time, not off
beat, bad musicianship, horrible stage antics and live shows that were just a
fuckin mess. The whole horking deal was just fucked if you ask me. A few of the
crossover type bands like D.R.I., S.O.D., The Ramones,
Forgotten Rebels and Dayglo Abortions were the
ones that tickled my scrotum pretty nicely. Granted most of the bands I somewhat
considered “punk” that I was into, leaned more towards the metal genre.
If it wasn’t for
Metallica’s deceased bass God,
Cliff Burton, the Misfits probably would have sailed right under my, and many
other people’s, radar to be lost and forgotten forever. The first time I
actually HEARD a Misfits tune was on Metallica’s $5.98 EP, Garage Days
Revisited. Their cover of Last Caress/Green Hell prompted me to go running out
and buy both Earth A.D. and Legacy of Brutality albums. Man was I disappointed
when I put the first tape in only to hear what sounded to me like some
semi-Elvis impersonator singing for a band that sounded like a bunch of cerebral
palsy victims. And that’s being mean to the cerebral palsy victims that I’ve
heard play music. The music really grew on you but the shit sounded like
it was recorded on the very ghetto blaster I was playing it on. Pffft. Ghetto
blaster… No man, I didn’t just turn 40. Who the fuck calls it a ghetto blaster
anymore? I think it’s “politically incorrect” now… They’re called “lower income
area media playback devices” now.
So other than the painted faces, spiked shoulder pads, theatrical stage setup
and infamous “fiend skull” logo which ensures mega merch sales, what does the
Misfits have that keeps their gig’s ticket sales so high? Nostalgia? Loyalty?
Originality? Marketing? Fucked if I know but whatever they’re doing, it’s
working.
Maybe now’s a good time to take a peek at some of the Misfits good qualities. I
already mentioned originality. In a time where it’s all been done before, it’s
kinda nice to be able to say that your favourite band carved a niche that many
imitate but few duplicate. Sure, not everything they did was totally original
but their soundtrack was SO original, only those into something completely
different had a chance to “get it”.
The Misfits have had some heavy hitters in their corner rooting for them too. I
already mentioned Metallica, but then there was also the Ramones, or at least
members of the Ramones, who cited them as influential and/or respected peers.
Musically they’re tight. I dunno if they always were but I suspect so. When I
saw them in ’97, they were dead on and that was only with 2 original members
intact. Of course Glen Danzig wasn’t around but they still had Jerry Only and
long time member Doyle, AKA Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, who’d played together for
eons. Marky Ramone showed up that night completely
unannounced and opened up the show. Later on, Marky actually filled in on drums
at some point. He could have gone and hung out anywhere. Why the Misfits?
Clearly the Misfits have "something" which attracts people to them.
Either way, love em, hate em or indifferent, there’s a longevity with the boys
from Jersey that is undeniable. Jerry Only, the Only original member left in the
power trio, is treated like a king by his fans, and a grateful king at that.
After the show he was mobbed by the fans and hung out to sign autographs and
pose for pics til every fan was satisfied. I’ve always been convinced that’s the
shit that goes a LONG way when you’re one of those bands that could easily be
left behind in this day and age of 15 minute loyalty from ADD ridden youth.
In closing let me just say that if it’s a musical treat you’re looking for, the
Misfits isn’t the band for you. But if you wanna rock out to some tight three
chord heavy rock n roll, dive into a raging mosh pit, kick up fuck for a bit and
just feast your eyes on a smorgasbord of hellish stage scenery, then look no
further. The Misfits are still here.
The Embassy
London, Ontario
Summer '97
This show was fuckin great. The Misfits roll
into town, pull out a weight bench and start hammering away at the weights
right there on the sidewalk outside the seediest bar in London, Ontario.
What the fuck is this? Getting ready for the show? With three
long time members still
intact, this was a pretty good night to see the Misfits. Lately, who the
fuck is left in the band? Glen Danzig is gone, Doyle
is gone, Jerry Only even buggered off for a while there, whoever is left doesn't matter but the name lives on. What is
it? Menudo? They hit a certain milestone and they get kicked out of
the band? Oh well, at least I got to see them with Jerry and Doyle in the
band still. Opening for them was a surprise unannounced visit from
Marky
Ramone and his band the Intruders. What a night. Really good
show. Lotsa lights and props and cool looking outfits and guitars.
Good sound. I was somewhat into the Misfits from way back when
Metallica
introduced me to them with their remake of Last Caress and Green Hell.
I bought a couple of their tapes Earth A.D. and Legacy of Brutality but thought most of the tunes sounded like they were recorded on a ghetto blaster in someone's basement. It sounded SO BAD I found it hard to get into. A couple of the tunes were catchy like Halloween, Die, Die My Darling, Demonomania, Last Caress and Green Hell but most I thought sounded like weird pissed off 50's tunes or something.
Recently I was on their web site and downloaded a tune they had up for grabs called New York Ranger... I wanna be a New York Ranger! I wanna live a life of Danger! It was the fucking lamest piece of SHIT I've heard in a long time. I felt EMBARRASSED for them. I can see why Glen Danzig left the band a long time ago! That said, if you're into a rock n roll show for the same reason I'M into a show, go see these guys. They will definitely give you your money's worth.
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