The Definitive 1000 Songs Of All Time 1955 to 2005: Number 555

Number 555

The Misfits

"Monster Mash"

(1999)

Genre:Alt Punk

Old or the new? Bobby "Boris" Pickett 1962? vs Misfits 1999? Traditional or shlock? Whatever the arguement, the fact is, Monster Mash is a cult classic from any genre. Hippy often tells me his time period was far superior. Music was more fun, more wholesome, with songs like "Splish Splash", "Yakety Yak", "Flick The Fire Engine" (huh?), "Guitarzan", "The Twist" & probably millions more and he is probably 100% correct, but the truth is we can't (will not?) return to those days. The world is to digital now. We watched Saddam Hussein being hanged, we watched Brtiney embarrass herself, simply. we do not miss a thing now. Back in Hippy's day nothing was "now" or "instant" you had to wait weeks before you could get your mits on a new album by Elvis or the Beatles. Motion picture films took months to be released. This is why the world will never have its wholesome fun again & to be honest i don't think people care anymore. Just don't tell Hippy.

art by anamoli3

Genuinely shocking or tasteless, campy fun? It was sometimes hard to tell which way the Misfits wanted to be taken, and the immense cult following that has grown up in the years after their actual existence (1977-1983) seems divided in its own assessment. It certainly wasn't the Misfits' musicianship -- which was as crude as the recording quality of most of their oeuvre -- that endeared them to so many, although Glenn Danzig possessed one of the most distinctive and tuneful bellows in hardcore punk. Rather, it was Danzig's penchant for catchy, anthemic melodies, often delivered at warp speed, and his lyrical obsession with grade-B horror films and splatter imagery that helped the Misfits build a rabid posthumous following. Name-drops and covers by metal bands like Metallica and Guns N' Roses kept the Misfits' songs circulating during the mid- to late '80s, when their tangled discography remained only sporadically in print -- reissues were maddeningly incomplete, and much of the band's prime material was confined to rare singles and EPs. The mid-'90s saw a spate of CD reissues that, while not quite presenting all of the Misfits' songs in the most concise, collectible format, at least succeeded in getting them all back into print, allowing those who missed the band the first time around to hear why they've enjoyed such enduring cult popularity.

The Misfits

In an attempt to cash in on the renewed interest, Jerry Only and Doyle re-formed the Misfits in 1996 -- without Danzig, instead recruiting vocalist Michale Graves and drummer Dr. Chud. American Psycho appeared in 1997 on Geffen Records, followed two years later by Famous Monsters. In 2001 that lineup issued the rarities/outtakes collection Cuts from the Crypt; it contained nothing from the Danzig era. The covers album Project 1950 followed in 2003. By this point the Misfit lineup included Jerry Only on vocals and bass, Black Flag vet Dez Cadena on guitar, and Marky Ramone behind the drums. In June 2005 Misfits Records (via Ryko) released Fiend Club Lounge, a collection of Misfits classics redone in a "cocktail nation" style. ~ [Steve Huey, All Music Guide]

For The Coasters see Number 630 (Yakety Yak)

For Metallica visit Mellow Mix Vol #033

For Chubby Checker see Number 743 (The Twist)

For Elvis see Number 840

For the Beatles see Number 947, 894 & 587

For Guns 'N Roses see Number 557

What does Rolling Stone think about the Misfits?

Taken from American Psycho: In 1977, the original misfits wedded the melodic use of power chords to a B-movie aesthetic. Their second record, Walk Among Us, is a classic because singer Glenn Danzig avoided mere camp by injecting songs like "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?" and "Vampira" with adolescent lust, range and nastiness. After a Halloween show in 1983, the Misfits broke up, leaving behind a fanatic cult following. A coffin-shape box set – a fitting epitaph – brought together most of their recordings.

End of story? Not exactly. The Misfits have returned from the grave – resurrected not by Satan but by litigation. After a nine-year fight, bass player Jerry Only, a founding member, and his brother Doyle were allowed to record and tour as the Misfits (adding Michale Graves on vocals and a new drummer). Graves does a credible imitation of Glenn Danzig. But the singer's generic vocals are as likely to career into Dexter Holland territory or a pointless Elvis imitation ("Day of the Dead"). The band seems desperate to claim the Misfits' self-proclaimed legacy of brutality ("Walk Among Us"). The musical formula hasn't changed: some old-style punk, a little metal and an occasional all-out thrasher. But this album feels less like the Misfits and more like Elvira. The song titles read like a quick trip through the video store ("The Haunting," "This Island Earth," "The Hunger," "Mars Attacks," etc.). There are few hooks and no memorable songs on American Psycho. All this longtime fan can say is, "Quick, Van Helsing, a stake." (RS 760)

What do the other columnists think? Hmmm?

Tez: 2 Stars (Like the song , but, ah to dance to? I don't think so)

Gazza: 4 Stars (Would have thought the old fragster would have censored me)

Hippy: 0 Stars (Not saying a thing till we all hold hands and chant for peace)

Crowbarred: 3 Stars(Misfits remind me of The Living End ~ Tainted Love Ohhh)

Jasmine: 1 Star (This is so behind my life, ya'll)

Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs ranked this song at Number (This is exactley why you don't work for Rolling Stone) the Album ranked at Number (Your'e Fired!)

This song has a crowbarred rating of 73.5 out of 108