skinema book

Danzig / Misfits Interview




For over 20 years, thousands of skateboarders have gone bananas for the hard hitting sounds of a small punk band from Lodi, NJ, by the name of The Misfits. And although the original line-up hasn't worked together in more than a decade, kids continue to play the old records, get the logos tattooed on their body, and go nuts for the classic Misfits sound. Since disbanding, the original lead singer, Glenn Danzig, went on to a semi-successful solo career, hitting it big time with a song called "Momma, I'm Coming Home," or "Mother" (whichever—both songs sucked), and the original bassist, Jerry Only, went on doing The Misfits, with an ever-changing roster. And although both Danzig and The Misfits have new albums out and are touring, all die-hard Misfits fans want to know is: Are they ever getting back together? And if so, can they please hurry up?


Danzig Speaks

You were signed to Hollywood Records [a division of Disney] for a second. What happened there?

Three weeks into our deal, Roy Disney found out we were signed to his label. They promised me my own label. Michael Eisner himself said, "You're going to be totally autonomous and no one is going to screw with you." It was the biggest load of bullshit. Three weeks in he pulled the plug on us when he saw this Tower Pulse cartoon where me and Eisner are shaking hands and Mickey Mouse has all these 666's on his head and upside down crosses and people on rides burning and shit. People started protesting, sending e-mail and faxes that we were on the label. So we got out of there.

The Misfits are still touring. Are you planning on seeing the show?

Nope. It's not The Misfits. I think it would have more credibility if they had never done a band before it or if Jerry just called it "The Jerry Only Band." There's no original members in the group except for him. It lacks any kind of credibility except "let's make some money off of this."

I guess what everyone wants to know is: Is there any way you would ever work with The Misfits again?

No.

I read somewhere that Jerry said, "You can only have your head up your ass for so long. Eventually we'll work together again."

Never happen. If anyone has their head up their ass, it's him. You know, I'm not the one out on the road calling something The Misfits that's not. Ok? So let's get real about that.

You're a pretty burly guy. Do you think you can kick that new singer's ass?

You know what? Only time will tell.


The Misfits Retaliate

One big departure from the old stuff is, I noticed, there's no swear words on the album

Not one. We're not compromising the music. But I guarantee, there's not gonna be a swear word on the record because I don't write a song and be a wise guy and say one stupid word that keeps it from being on the radio. If I can write a song and sell it to you without resorting to that kind of crap, it shows much better authorship and much more involved thinking in your lyrics. With this album, we've gotten to a position where we don't hear about the old so much. People are more interested in the new band, which is where we are today—which is where I want to be. I want to be living in the now, instead of in the past. We still play some of our old songs. We still think that stuff is very important, but now we do more of the new stuff.

So, what's your relationship like with Glenn Danzig these days?

Nah, we don't talk.

You seem like a big guy, do you think you could knock him out?

Probably.


So, there you have it. The chances of a reunion are as likely as a Beatles reunion with John. Neither Glenn nor Jerry wanted to really get too into the topic, but I feel Jerry believes, one day, Glenn will see the light. Either way, there is one thing these two, once-close friends, can agree on: both think they can kick the other's ass. And I'll be honest, I'm a bigger fan of fist fights than reunion tours. So, let's get it on!






Comments

Ryan C.
17 Nov 2007, 10:08
I didn't know they hate eachother. :(
da grizz
10 Dec 2007, 12:41
I like fun!
shit filet
20 Dec 2007, 16:27
i could really go for some meatballs right now
Alex R
05 Mar 2008, 04:11
Danzig is a retard and his band sucks. The Misfits still kick ass! Except for project 1950. Crocodile Cock!
will
17 Mar 2008, 19:54
Danzig is a big baby, and obviously retarded. check out the video of that ass getting the shit knocked out of him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbTAyjA5EKI

all danzig does is talk shit on the misfits, even though its the only respectable part of his career.
Marc C.
03 Apr 2008, 01:25
Original Misfits are indescribably one, if not, the biggest influence in todays bands.

For them not to let "by gones be by gones" is like taking a load of shit on their previous achievements, which if you think about it, it makes them nothing.

Their egos stop them from doing the best thing ever, and all because of a childish fit, it seems like. Thanks alot fucking cunts..
J.J. 2k8
03 Apr 2008, 04:52
Well said, Marc, I agree.

msvpp
09 Apr 2008, 16:01
i was at the very last misfits' show in detroit (the REAL misfits, with glenn). after the show the band treated some of us to denny's. there was an elvis song playing once we were seated and glenn sang every lyric, note for note. this was back when he was a pretty chill, fun guy. i also watched the rocky horror picture show w/ those guys at a mall in toledo, ohio. what does all this mean? nothing. because they're all a bunch of washed-up old men now still playing costume party. and i'm a washed-up old man still telling these lame stories.
msvpp
09 Apr 2008, 16:05
oh, and you know what everyone is afraid to admit? that they always SUCKED live! glenn pretty much played all the instruments on the the records except for drums. so, who cares about a shitty reunion???
:'(
09 Apr 2008, 22:10
i do. :(
Fiend for life
26 Feb 2009, 15:06
Has anyone noticed this? That when glen was with the misfits, they were semi-popular and prosperous; and when he left, Glen became less popular and The Misfits MORE popular? Danzig may have been the founder of the band, but he could never create the sound that Doyle, Jerry, and Graves did. I'm not saying i hate danzig, but his lyrics and voice sucked. I'd rather see michale and doyle rejoin than danzig.
Fiend for life
26 Feb 2009, 15:09
and msvpp is a douche bag.
qli
27 Feb 2009, 04:04
dude, i couldnt agree with you more.
qli
27 Feb 2009, 04:05
dude, i couldnt agree with you more.
qli
27 Feb 2009, 04:09
ahgh fuck i'm retarded.
qli
14 Sep 2009, 19:03
Yep, I sure am!
sigh
22 Jun 2010, 19:33
Misfits are what keeps me going still to this fucking day.
this is bullshit!
fist fight all you want but you guys are fighting like little fuking princess'
W
30 Oct 2010, 13:54
Some of the comments here are insanely retarded.

First: saying that the Misfits are the only "respectable" part of Danzig's career is ridiculous. Samhain/Danzig may not be to your liking but the man doing what he wants to do as a musician and songwriter is more respectable than rejoining the Misfits if it doesn't feel right to him.

His lyrics and voice sucked? I can't even begin to comment on how misguided this is. Strictly your (badly misguided) opinion.

I will agree that Jerry/Doyle/pick-a-drummer playing the music is essential to the Misfits but don't forget Danzig wrote most of the *music*, too.

Next: the video clip of Danzig "getting the shit knocked out of him." Is this still the only thing that people who don't like Danzig can point to as a way to shame him? He isn't the first person to get punched and won't be the last. So what? Who cares? Shit happens. If that guy hit you, you'd be laying on the floor, too. If Danzig hit you, you'd probably also be on the floor. So let's tally the score: shitty band with no talent gets 15 minutes of fame for a backstage altercation....Glenn Danzig is a legend and has dedicated over 30 years of his life to music encompassing songs and albums that will live on for a long, long time. Show a little fucking respect.

Again, the "reforming" of the Misfits: it isn't shitting on their fans or work to not get back together. It's shitting on their fans and previous work if they reformed half-heartedly rather than being 100% dedicated to it. Danzig understands that, Jerry doesn't. Anyone that thinks Jerry is the "good guy" in all of this should dig back through history and remember that Jerry and Doyle didn't think the Misfits were going anywhere and they wanted to work for their dad. Danzig carried on in music the whole time. So Jerry wakes up one day and says he wants to reform the Misfits (maybe because his shitty band Kryst the Conqueror wasn't cutting it) and then Glenn is the bad guy for not wanting to reform the band? Bullshit. I would love to see Danzig fronting the Misfits but only if it was due to a genuine desire and dedication to doing it. If anyone could be construed as shitting on the legacy it should be Jerry since he not only continued on with a new vocalist when Danzig wouldn't rejoin but now he is carrying on without Doyle, as well. So 2/3 of the "classic" line up are not in the band because neither wants to work with Jerry. So, tell me, who is wrong? Everyone else or Jerry?

Having said that, I do like the Graves-era Misfits albums and I think they are quite good. It's not the same and it never will be unless Danzig, Jerry and Doyle are all in the band together.

It is just tiring to watch how many people just love to hate Danzig. What did he do to you? You have this perception of him that's portrayed through other people's criticism or some shitty magazine making fun of him. What have you contributed to the musical world? To musical history? Most likely not as much as Glenn Danzig because very few have dedicated as much of their life to quality music as he has. So go fuck yourselves.
june
06 Dec 2010, 15:11
very well said, W.
Ghost
06 May 2011, 11:29
You tell em, W. fucking arrogant pricks. DANZIG RULES. Nu-age MISFITS SUCK!
themeforajackal
17 Jul 2011, 06:41
I can't believe most of these bullsh$t comment's on here reguarding glenn!

seriously,he wrote 99.99% of the music..The whole idea of the misfits was because of him not to mention their sound..Oh and doyle and jerry couldn't even play their own instruments,even when it came to recording.Glenn had to do that as well..

Graves,ppfffttt!enough said their,but atleast he brought something to the former ressurected misfits..A lot more then jerry's done for the band..With some ecception of licensed incense,shoe laces,teddy bears etc..what a joke.

I can't believe jerry's still carrying on with this over marketed bullwink!His own brother won't even work with him and he can't even release any new material..The only thing he can do is just cover the original songs that ''GLENN'' wrote..I'm sicka hearing people taking jerry's side and calling themselves ''FIENDS'',pfffttt.A real fiend knows whats what...
Mymirrorsareblack
15 Aug 2011, 09:24
Danzig is playing a show with the misfits later this month. Turning into a martian one last time. it doesnt matter who wrote what or when. danzig misfits were the original. that was the misfits and they are gone now. this new bullshit was made for highschoolers and emo kids that have never been socked in the head at a show.
S
10 Oct 2011, 16:39
Just saw Danzig and Doyle perform original misfits songs in Chicago this weekend. and they were fucking unbelievable.. still talented as ever and they put on a GREAT show. i never got to see them when they were still together, i was like -10 years old so seeing them live was one of the greatest things i could ask for!

stop bickering like little kids, i like graves too but dont bash on the guy who formed one of the greatest bands that ever existed.
A concerned punk
21 Dec 2011, 10:30
Hey dumbasses, onlys misfits blow, and if you're gonna post that video of Danzig getting knocked out check out Jerry only fighting dr death.

And anyone who like the current misfits just supports the tarnishing of what was once a credible punk band. It's so fucking obvious that only is a douche I don't see how anyone could take his side.

Plus, he believes in Christianity. This makes him an idiot as well. And do you people really support him changing misfits lyrics to more family friendly words? If so, you're fucking posers and shouldn't listen to The Misfits.

It looks to me like the kids who like stuff like slipknot, green day and the like are the ones supporting only, and that's fucking hilarious.
A concerned punk
21 Dec 2011, 10:52
In less bigoted terms, how can you people, after looking at all the facts, support only?

The misfits broke up, and he felt bad about the "evil" things he did with the misfits, so he formed a Christian metal (what a laugh) band called Kryst The Conqueror. Looking at this bands songs makes it evident that Only can't write a fucking song. In fact, the lyrics are genuinely laughable.

So in the 90's Only was running out of money because no one liked his shitty band. Even though he regrets the "evil" things he did with the misfits, he decided to reform the band. (for some reason) this lineup was decidedly good, mainly due to the artistic integrity of Graves.

So Graves got sick of him, and he kicked him out. In fact, graves once asked only what he'd do ifndoyle and dr chud quit the band, and he said " I don't care who's in my band"

Why does that bastard think he has the rights to call the misfits "his" band? He didn't write any songs worth a damn ( if he wrote any at all) he wasn't a founding member, and all he's done for the band is turn them into a family friendly outline of what the public thinks a "dark" band is.

Jerry Only is a fucking bastard. He has little to no actual talent. ( playing bass isn't hard, and his bass playing isn't even special in any way.) He's ruined any hope of a misfits reunion with Danzig or graves. Even Doyle has said some things about only's "Misfits", and he's his own brother.

I don't think that nearly every past member of The Misfits would hate him if he was a nice guy with artistic integrity. He's a money hungry asshole and he's tricking today's youth into hating Danzig. That's fucking sinister.

And seriously, check out only fighting dr death. Danzig was caught off guard by a sudden blow to the face ( more or less, I won't say he didn't get knocked the fuck out) only was in a set up match and both contestants knew they were going to fight. He got fucking destroyed.

And notice how Danzig said "time will tell" and only said "yes". With Danzig a master of jeet lune do, and only a master of being a joke I think it's clear who would win,
Beaumont
09 Jan 2012, 11:14
Shit, man. Danzig got dusted by Def Leppard after a festival, and you still think he can fight! And it wasn't the whole band pilin' on the punches, just one wiry guy. That ruined his image in one moment of violence. Stop lickin' his balls.
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