In 1987, Michael Bishop was invited to join an underground band in Richmond, Virginia, whose trashy, theatrical collision of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror made them subversive standouts in the city’s punk scene. Bishop already had a reputation as a gifted bassist, and he was still in high school when he joined Gwar. The band’s obscenely […]
Tag: Misfits
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Emma Ruth Rundle and Thou join forces on the style-crossing May Our Chambers Be Full
Sacred Bones has been the label home for some of the most hallowed collaborations in heavy music, such as the Body and Uniform’s enduring alliance and the soul-stirring Marissa Nadler and Stephen Brodsky duo outing Droneflower. Baton Rouge upstarts Thou and singer-songwriter Emma Ruth Rundle become the latest artists in that tradition with the sludgy […]
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Nearly 50 years after they formed, Wire are still doing it right
Before I first press play on an “aging punks still at it” record, I try to prepare myself for the worst. Whether the band in question have retained only one original member in a completely retooled lineup (like present-day Gang of Four), or replaced their figurehead (like the Misfits did in the 90s), or awkwardly […]
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Danzig Sings Elvis is a covers album we didn’t need
For Glenn Danzig, the past 15 years have been especially weird. Starting with the infamous 2004 backstage TKO punch delivered by North Side Kings singer Danny Marianino, the Misfits mastermind—in his heyday one of the most enigmatic and distinctive vocalists in punk history—has been on a downward spiral of unintentional self-parody and apparent madness. Every […]
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Once Riot Fest has you, how does it treat you?
The Riot Fest grounds themselves provide a pretty different experience than, say, Lollapalooza or Pitchfork.
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The reunion of the original Misfits is pure punk-rock joy
Hands-down the funniest moment of 2016 happened at Riot Fest, during the insanely hyped reunion of Misfits members Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only, and Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein. In the middle of an uncomfortably long stretch of between-song banter, while the front man explained how he thought the giant glowing pumpkins on the stage were “cool […]
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How Logan Arcade got its Misfits-playing robot dogs
The Biscuits began life as decrepit Chuck E. Cheese animatronics in the collection of Logan Arcade proprietor James Zespy—and now they’re lean, mean horror-punk machines.
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Can Riot Fest turn nostalgia into a renewable resource?
Maybe Riot Fest can book amazing reunions forever—but only by building current bands into tomorrow’s back-from-the-dead headliners.
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Evanston new wavers the Front Lines exemplify the richness of the overlooked midwestern scene
Formed at Northwestern in 1979, the Front Lines played diverse and ambitious tunes—but they split after just a few years, done in by drummer turnover.
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Unearthing influential Chicago proto-hardcore band Six Feet Under
Despite their influence on midwestern punk, Six Feet Under have fallen off the map—but Moniker Records is working on an archival release.
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Bands dress up as better bands for Halloween at Cole’s
Bands dress up as better bands for Halloween at Cole’s, Gramps the Vamp celebrate their spooky, funky new LP, and more.
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The Misfits at Riot Fest split the difference between funny and awesome
The Misfits went over so well at Riot Fest that it wouldn’t surprise anyone there if they decided to keep their reunion going with a tour.
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Thirteen thoughts on the Misfits reunion
There are so many reasons to be wary of the Misfits reunion. But nobody can argue with the songs!
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Morrissey, Deftones, Ween, and Death Cab for Cutie join the Original Misfits at this year’s Riot Fest
The first Riot Fest lineup announcement ups the ante with more big names after last week’s big Misfits reveal.
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Riot Fest scores a coup with a reunion of the original Misfits
Three key early members—including front man Glenn Danzig and bassist Jerry Only—will headline Riot Fest as the Original Misfits.