Misfits formed in Lodi, New Jersey in 1977 around Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only and invented horror punk — B-movie ghouls, the Crimson Ghost skull, and Danzig's Elvis-influenced baritone croon. Walk Among Us (1982) and Legacy of Brutality (1985) are the essentials. Shop Misfits vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Misfits formed in Lodi, New Jersey in 1977 around Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only. They are widely cited as the foundational horror punk band, with thematic and aesthetic influence on subsequent generations of punk rock, metal, and broader heavy underground music. Their distinctive Crimson Ghost skull logo and devilock hairstyle have become culturally embedded. The band dissolved in 1983 amid creative tension between Danzig and Only. Danzig formed Samhain (1983-1987) and then Danzig (1987-present). Only reformed Misfits in 1995 with his brother Doyle and original drummer Robo, releasing material across multiple subsequent decades. The original lineup of Danzig, Only, and Doyle has reunited for occasional Original Misfits tour appearances since 2016. Their foundational influence on punk rock, horror punk, and broader heavy underground music is widely documented.
Misfits's sound is foundational to horror punk as a recognized genre - combining punk rock, horror punk, hardcore punk, gothic rock, and metal with Danzig's distinctive Elvis-influenced baritone vocal delivery, melodic punk arrangements, and lyrical content drawing extensively on horror films, B-movies, science fiction, and broader macabre themes. Their foundational influence on horror punk as a recognized genre is widely documented.
Original Plan 9 Records pressings of the late-1970s and early-1980s Misfits catalog are foundational items in punk and horror punk collecting, with collector premiums on rare pressings. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile reissues, and the comprehensive Caroline reissue programs have been released.
Listeners new to Misfits typically start with Walk Among Us (1982) or Legacy of Brutality (1985).
