Misfits: The Devil's Rain – new album

Out internationally today, October 4th, 2011, listen to the MISFITS' new album, ‘The Devil's Rain’, in its devilish entirety over at AOL Music – click here. ‘The Devil's Rain’ is the group's first original material album in over a decade; the 16 tracks  were produced and mixed by Ed Stasium and mastered by Greg Calbi. The album's artwork was created by American comic book artist Arthur Suydam. ‘The Devil's Rain’ was released via MISFITS own label, Misfits Records.

MISFITS were formed over 30 years ago in Lodi, New Jersey by Glenn Danzig and Jerry Caiafa (Jerry Only). Taking for their name the title of Marilyn Monroe's final movie, “The Misfits”, the group had set out to immortalize black and white B horror films in their music, helped by hand made musical weapons and stiletto hairstyle they called the “devil lock”. Joined by drummer Manny Martínez, the group recorded their first single, ‘Cough/Cool’, in 1977. Manny was soon replaced by new drummer “Mr. Jim” Catania, and guitarist Frank LiCata (“Franché Coma”) joined up for the four-song EP ‘Bullet’, released by the band's own Plan 9 label in 1978. That same year the MISFITS recorded a full-length ‘Static Age’ which would be eventually released in 1997 via Caroline Distribution. Franché Coma would quit the group to be replaced by guitarist Bobby Steele, joined by new drummer Joey Image (born Johnny Poole). This line-up recorded the three-song EPs ‘Horror Business’ and ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ in 1979. Image and Steel left the band after the UK tour with THE DAMNED and were replaced by drummer Arthur Googy (also known as Joseph McGuckin) and guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (Paul Caifa, younger brother of Jerry). ‘3 Hits From Hell’ EP (1981) was followed by the first full-length album, ‘Walk Among Us’, released in 1982 through Slash Records subsidiary Ruby:

“Utterly devoid of political confrontation or social uplift, embracing a costume sense that might have given KISS pause and generally coming across like the horror-movie nightmares they looked like on the cover, the MISFITS just wanted to entertain and do their own thing - and that they did, brilliantly. Nearly every song on the album - 13 total, delivered in a light-speed 25 minutes - is a twisted classic, with the band's trademark '50s/'60s melodies run through a punk/metal meatgrinder on full display,” [wrote Ned Raggett, AllMusic]

During the national tour in support of the album that followed the release, Googy was kicked out of the band by Danzig and was replaced by former BLACK FLAG drummer Robo (Julio Roberto Valverde Valencia). A live EP ‘Evilive’, featuring guest appearance by BLACK FLAG frontman Henry Rollins, was recorded during the tour (released in 1987). Danzig disbanded the MISFITS in late 1983; an album entitled ‘Earth A.D.’ was released by him in 1983, and a farewell single, the three-song ‘Die Die My Darling’ was issued in 1984. After a decade-long legal battle, the MISFITS were resurrected in 1996 by founding member Jerry Only. He recruited singer Michale Graves and drummer Dr. Chud (David Calabrese) with whom he recorded the full-length ‘American Psycho’. Released in 1997 on Geffen Records, the effort debuted  at number 117 on Billboard's Top 200.

“It was great making a new record and getting back in touch with our fans,” [remembers Only] “Sticking to our punk roots, the longest song on the album is three minutes and nine cuts are under two. We still had the classic backup vocals, the '50s sounding chord progressions, the different beats, but the sound of our instrumentation was way better than what was possible when we started out.”

‘Famous Monster’ was released through Roadrunner Records in 1999, followed by the covers album, ‘Project 1950’, in 2003. By this point the MISFITS line-up included Jerry Only on vocals and bass, BLACK FLAG's Dez Cadena on guitar, and Marky Ramone (RAMONES) on drums. Ramone has been since replaced by Eric “Chupacabra” Arce.