The Misfits are a horror-themed punk rock band formed in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey and originally led by singer Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Anzalone).

The Misfits’ iconic skull graphic was lifted from the 1946 television serial, ‘The Crimson Ghost,’ while the typeface is from the 1950s-’60s magazine, ‘Famous Monsters of Filmland.’

Glenn Danzig was very interested in Marilyn Monroe, and took the band’s name from The Misfits, Monroe’s last film. The band’s early lyrical and graphical focus was on retro (1930s-’50s) science fiction, horror films, and B-movies.

The early Misfits were often quite melodic, featuring Danzig’s versatile singing, which had a style rooted in Italian tenors such as Mario Lanza and in 1950s doo wop. Early Misfits songs tended to have catchy, sing along choruses backed by Danzig’s distorted keyboard accompaniments. The band began as a largely untrained ensemble. The song Last Caress ... read more »