After 20 years of writing, recording and performing the peculiar sounds of “horror rock,” Jerry Only and Misfits are still ready to throw down and will come through Murfreesboro on Dec. 1.
This band has undergone more changes in its time together than you’ve had showers in the last year.
From the beginning, here is a brief history of where the infamous Misfits have come from:
In 1977, Glen Danzig and Jerry Only formed Misfits, a band now categorized under the strange yet existing genre of “horror punk.” This subgenre of “punk rock” music actually has a reasonably large following with fansites and information all over the web. Danzig and Only (pay attention–Only refers to the musician) wrote and recorded the first Misfits album, Static Age, in 1978. Possibly due to the strange nature and course production of the album, basically no one showed interest.
Not giving up, Misfits went on to record Walk Among Us, in 1982. This record was picked up and co-released by two labels, Ruby and Slash. Then one year later, Misfits released Earth A.D. After this release, lead singer, Danzig, decided to part ways with the band in pursuit of other projects (Samhaim, Danzig.) The darkest of these early Misfits albums, Earth, marked the end of the “Danzig period” and what a lot of devout fans would call the end of Misfits.
However, Jerry Only and the rest of the band were not ready to give up on Misfits. For over 10 years, Only and the band fought through a series of legal battles with Danzig over Misfits. Refusing to give anyone but himself credit for the creative work of Misfits, Danzig did finally agree to let Only perform and release music under the name Misfits.

Jerry Only and Dez Cadenaby performing in Mexico in 2006. Photo by Toni François

In 1997, 15 years since itslast release, Michale Graves was to front the band for the comeback album, American Psycho. Along with a couple of recorded music videos, this gave fans a brand new piece of punk rock in which to rejoin the pit and thrash again. While the primary movement of punk rock was nearing its end, there was (and still is) a major niche market, and this album appealed to it.
Then in 1999, Misfits released Famous Monsters. The second “post-Danzig” album doesn’t stray from the horror punk Misfits forte. The album’s title and many of its themes are loosely based on the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland (published for about 20 years, ending in 1983.) The record’s cover is designed to resemble a cheesy horror-ridden comic book on which each of the Misfits can be found in various gruesome positions laden in the extent of eccentric goth-punk fashion.
In 2003, Jerry Only, still the driving force behind Misfits, released an album of covers without the help of any members featured on Famous Monsters or American Psycho. In fact, he went as far as taking the position of front man and performing all lead vocals for this release. The album strays far from anything Misfits had previously released. It is a cover album featuring this Misfits’ take on songs like “This Magic Moment” and “Great Balls of Fire.” A horror-punk band covering The Drifters and Jerry Lee Lewis? Really?
I guess it worked; the album sold enough copies to convince Only to stick with what he was doing.
Nowadays the boys are back on the road spreading their musical seed to as many people that will cram into a dark room and listen to them. Currently the Misfits are founding member Jerry Only, former Black Flag guitarist, Dez Cadena and original Misfits drummer, Robo.
“When fans come to a Misfits show, they get a band who gets up there and gives them all they’ve got,” says Only. “We give them the real thing–that’s how we’ve always done it. At a show, everyone’s just part of the band, there’s no them and us– we’re all us.”
Historic? Hilarious? Horrific? However you describe them, Misfits have solidified their place as a band to be remembered. Jerry Only is now 50 years old and is still sporting the “devilock” hairstyle and jamming as hard as any 20-year-old. That alone is enough to get me out to the show. If it isn’t for you, then my suggestion would be to jump online and catch a few videos of these guys performing. From the elaborate stage and costumes–all designed by the band–to the solid delivery of music, Misfits put on a show worth checking out.

If you go:

The Misfits
Tuesday, Dec. 1
527 Main St.
$20