Whoring the Trademark: "The Misfits"

Jim Oliver contributes the following to the W.T.T.M. "contest." My editorializing is in italics.

Dude. I've got the winner of this thing... hands down.

His name is Jerry Only and his band used to be the Misfits.

The Misfits were (and the actual Misfits remain), probably the best band ever for those of us that thrive on fast, violent music written about violence. They had mystery, they had style, they had speed and a willingness to kill you with their instruments. If the Clash took issues and put them in your face so you could bang around to them, the Misfits took just plain old loathing and turned it into musical catharsis.

Then Danzig left.

Fast-forward 15 years. After Jerry did battle with Danzig (who had gone on to make new music and wanted to preserve the legacy of the Misfits by laying it to rest), he finally gained control of the trademark. He got a new band and called them the Misfits. This lasted for 2 records that were okay but aren't legitimately comparable to the 1979 Misfits. This band fell apart halfway through their first tour (the 25th Anniversary Tour... bonk). The band fell apart again in 2001. And yet they still tour, like the "unholy living dead" from Danzig's London Dungeon.This line-up was startlingly similar to the line-up of "The Doors 21st Century" in that it had two long-term members (Only and Doyle), a poor replacement for the lead singer, and a relatively anonymous drummer.

The current incarnation of the Misfits is made up of former members of Black Flag, the Misfits the Ramones. They play songs from the most recently defunct edition of the band, plus Only's new work from his forthcoming "Project 1950."It's even lamer than that. The band is advertising its intention to play "old and new" Misfits songs, plus Ramones songs (because they've got that band's second drummer, Marky) and Black Flag songs (because they've got that band's momentary lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Dez Cadena). This threesome is referred to on "The Misfits'" site as "an all-star line-up." Essentially, this is "punk rock karaoke night," with none of the participants being noted for their work as a lead singer.

The current incarnation of the band arguably exists only to exploit the merchandise market that still exists for the Misfits' highly recognizable Fiend Skull logo. These shirts are great. If you don't mind supporting the "Only" remaining Misfit as he whores the trademark.

Thanks, Jim. This will be hard to top!