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[T366]The Casualties Punk Rock

by Jimmy Cox, Jim

Few rock bands can define the musical genre of punk rock as well as the Misfits. Along with popular acts such as the Sex Pistols, this band helped to define punk rock, as well as create an offshoot of its own, referred to as horror punk. This band has had several transformations in its members but has always kept the punk rock spirit alive.

When the band first formed in 1978, Glenn Danzig was the front man of the band. He wrote several songs, played the electric piano, and was singer for the band. The other members at this point were Jimmy Battle, Manny Martinez, and Diane DiPiazza. Jimmy and Diane only stayed with the band about a month before they were replaced by Jerry Caiafa. When the band was set with its members, they went to the studio and began recording.

The Misfits' very first single was called "Cough Cool." They released the song themselves through their own recording label, Blank Records. Though they played a few shows and did not immediately have a large fan base, the band continued to play and worked on its own particular sound. By October they began to be influenced by other punk rockers, such as the Ramones, and brought in a new guitarist, Franche Coma. It was around this time that they caught a break and had the opportunity to record a full-length album. They recorded 17 songs, including "Teenagers from Mars" and "Return of the Fly." By the end of 1977, The Misfits were beginning to gather a fan base, and Manny Martinez was replaced by Jim Cantania. There were no labels that were immediately interested in The Misfits' first album, so the band took four of its songs and released them as an EP under their own label.

The band began touring in support of their EP and began to take on a ghoulish appearance. Two of the band's members were not happy with the direction the band was taking. Franche Coma and Jim Cantania left the band and were quickly replaced with Joey Image and Bobby Steele. The band started touring together over the next year, and Jerry Caiafa began his signature hairstyle to be known by many punk rockers as the "devil lock." The band's fan base was growing, as was their popularity. They were perfecting their horror punk style all along, and they decided to start a fan club dubbed "The Fiend Club."

The band suffered a bad experience on an England musical tour that led to the loss of Joey Image as a band member, though they released another EP shortly after their return. They took some time off to recover and regrouped with more ideas for new band members and replacing some of the old.

This band has had its ups and downs. Their turnover rate has been high, but in the end, The Misfits is a band that helped to define what is now called punk rock. They were not afraid to stand out from others and look to a dark and negative theme to sustain them as rockers. Their devotion and dedication has won them two decades of being involved and very influential in the music business. The Misfits created their own successes and have persevered in the punk rock movement.

I was about 12 when I realized I didn't want to belong to the mainstream. I truly believed that I saw them for what they were: materialistic, self serving, social slaves. Looking back I'm surprised this came to me at such an early age, but whatever, it did, I knew they were wrong. I thought there had to be something better out there, a place where people were just cool, not trying to hard. A place where you could be a free thinker, where we weren't completely consumed by things, where we didn't have to try and climb the social ladder or just look out for number one, where we cared about the greater good of humanity and changing the fucked up world we lived in. So I turned to punk rock. I had heard the Circle Jerks “Group Sex” and the Violent Femmes, “Blister in the Sun”, which for a short period became my theme song, telling everyone to just piss off into the air... Anyhow, after making the decision to not be a part of the society of snotty little brats I was being exposed to on a regular basis, I promptly came home from school and shaved my head, cut up my t-shirts, added some combat boots to my wardrobe and wa-la: Instant punk.

Now, what took me quite a bit longer to realize was that the punk scene wasn't any better, in fact, maybe it was worse! It started out ok I guess but I quickly realized that they were just like the rest of them. For example,I remember going into “Zipperhead” a local punk store, which was an institution on South Street in Philadelphia. I was 13 years old, and yeah maybe I didn't look as punk as the kids working there, who, mind you, seamed like Gods to me at the time. They were I'm guessing anywhere in age from 16-22. So to me they were the coolest, you know.,whatever, I was young! Anyway, man did they treat me like shit. Their Punk Rock elitism was insane. Like “Oh, you don't know who Vice Squad is? What's wrong with you?” Well, for fucks sake. I wasn't born with a Mohawk. Yeah ,they were mean, snobby,& everything I hated in the world and they were my idols.

I went into a state of denial. I just tried harder to be punker than the next guy. As embarrassing as this is to admit I studied punk rock books, learned lyrics, dyed my hair blue, I did whatever it took to be punk. So this went on and on. It seems insane now and I don't think I ever realized what I was doing, but I guess I was trying to keep up with the Jones ya know? So, now that I'm a lil older I have come to see the err of my ways. Now what I think is Punk Rock is completely different than most and ya know what i think about the scene..i think it sucks, everyone trying to be hipper, more troubled more down trodden than the next guy. The kids in the scene are just as bad as any other group in the world, criticizing each other, shunning one another, all doing the same thing. Have you noticed the roller derby craze that has swept the scene recently?? Everyone's got tons of tattoos, now they are just as trendy as Z Cavaricci's were back in the day. It's frightening really.. So all I can say, in conclusion, is fuck em all. They are no better than you, do what ya want and think what ya want and don't forget where you came from..find that place, go back to it and never ever leave.

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Both Jimmy Cox & Maureen Keough are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jimmy Cox has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Horse Racing and Investments. If You're After ! We've got the largest range of rock, punk, metal and goth merch available online. Get everything from band buttons to. Jimmy Cox's top article generates over 2740000 views. to your Favourites.

Maureen Keough has sinced written about articles on various topics from Music. Maureen Keough is runs Too Fast Apparel, a punk and rock n roll clothing store that carries clothing and accessories for babies, toddlers, and adults. She writes daily in her blog at. Maureen Keough's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.