Haunted by The Misfits

I previously posted about the time-spanning popularity of The Rolling Stones band t-shirts, and lately I've seen people wearing t-shirts of a much lesser-known band. It seems that everywhere I turn I am greeted with shirts bearing the "Fiend Skull," (left) the symbol of the band the

The Misfits are a hardcore punk band from New Jersey that made their debut 30 years ago. However they have been getting more recognition now than ever before. Here is an excerpt from their website bio that explains their style:

"What further separated the band from their hard-core peers of the 70's punk scene was their inspired fixation on horror movies. It was from that inspiration that they created an entire world out of a passion for the genre. Utilizing B-movie-style artwork, the band appeared with slick, black "devil lock" hairstyles and horror make-up. The Misfits cast a fiendish aura of mystery embodied by ghoulish charm and landed themselves a massive cult following. That following continues to expand world wide on a daily basis."

Isn't that perfectly appropriate just in time for Halloween? Any band that sites horror movies as an influence is fine by me.

Quite honestly, I think the sudden popularity of the band is due to their "Fiend Skull" symbol. Last year skulls appeared on everything, and the Misfits logo just looked trendy. This may have either allowed old fans to come out strong, or created new fans who wondered what this band was all about. I also suspect that many people wear their t-shirts completely unaware that they are actually wearing a band tee. (NOTE: Don't embarrass yourself by wearing a kick-ass band's t-shirt without knowing at least one of their songs, never underestimate the passion of a hardcore fan.)

This recent vintage fetish phenomena is present in music as well as fashion, as there is an intense need to be surrounded by everything old and seemingly forgotten. Although vintage clothing has been popular for some time, the trend expanded into vintage concert tees, and eventually old school music. There is a divide between current artists using the newest technology to create their sound, and the resurgence of bands from the 80s and earlier. Personally I love it all, and I think the current mash-up between the two is really exciting.

Here is the Misfit's video for "Dig Up Her Bones" (isn't that sweet?):

Where can you find it?
You can find some Misfits merch at Hot Topic, check it out here.