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Bobby Steele has been in bands since at least 1970, beginning with the short-lived band Living End and moving on to Burlap Candle (1971); after high school Bobby joined Stars Rock 'n' Roll Show (late 1974), which became a top drawing cover band in NJ. He has been trudging the back alleys of the punk scene since at least the mid-70's when he joined the band Parrotox (1976-1978), along with his stints in Slash (performed one show in 1978), The Skabs (September 1978-October 1980) and The Whorelords (October 1978). While Bobby was in The Skabs and The Whorelords he placed an ad in the Aquarian stating he was looking for a band that had professional management and a record deal already in place. A few days after the ad appeared Bobby got a call from Glenn Danzig and after a few lies from Glenn, Bobby was lured in to audition for The Misfits who had recently lost guitarist, Franché Coma (along with drummer Mr. Jim).
The Misfits new guitarist Bobby Steele performing at Max's Kansas City in New York; early 1978
"I ran an ad in The Aquarian, the New Jersey music paper. I was looking for a punk band that had management and a record deal. A few days later, I got a call from Glen Danzig. At that point, all I had heard was the “Cough/Cool” 45 on a jukebox, and I thought, “God, this band really sucks.” So when I got the call from Glen, I didn’t take it too seriously. I was at a point where I was doing auditions just to get used to auditioning. When I got there, they played the "Bullet" 45 for me, and it just clicked. After years of reading record reviews of people like David Bowie and all these British glam bands described as “high energy music,” I’d had a picture of this exact sound in my head and it was always a disappointment when I heard the actual bands. But the Misfits nailed it. So right on the spot I was like, “I’m in,” and I went and told my friends, “This is gonna be the biggest band since KISS.”https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mv9a8p/bobby-steele-140-v15n10
Bobby Steele (w/Arthur Googy on drums) performing at Exile in Long Island City, NY on July 10th, 1980;
this was his last show with The Misfits. photo by John Rynski
Bobby of course joined The Misfits (November 1978) and went on to play some 20 shows with them before being abruptly fired from the band when he showed up to perform at their Halloween 1980 show at Club 57 Irving Plaza in New York. He also appeared on The Misfits Horror Business 7", Beware 12" (select tracks), Night of the Living Dead 7" and recorded guitar for 3 Hits From Hell 7"; his work can also be heard on Legacy of Brutality (select tracks), the coffin box-set (select tracks) and 12 Hits From Hell*.
*12 Hits From Hell was slated for a September 2001 release but was pulled due to complaints from both Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only; contrary to Jerry's belief, Bobby Steele did not record any new guitar tracks for the doomed release.
The Undead Bobby Steele performing at A7 Club in New York (1981);
photo by Glen E. Friedman
Although a little downtrodden over being booted from The Misfits, Bobby didn't rest for long and the previously formed Skabs became The Undead. The Undead played their first show on January 30th, 1981 at A7 Club in New York; they actually opened for The Misfits on December 17th, 1981 at The Ritz in New York. The band entered the studio twice that year as well; Grampa Studios in Brooklyn (February 1981) and Mix-O-Lydian in Boonton, NJ (August 1981). 1982 brought more shows as well as the beginning of The Undead discography with Nine Toes Later (June 25th, Stiff Records); Glenn Danzig actually helped finance the 4 song EP and planned to release it on his label, Plan 9. The Undead also appeared on the New York Thrash compilation (ROIR/Reachout International Records) with the songs Social Reason and Nightmare that same year which were recorded on March 16th, 1982.
In 1983 the Verbal Abuse 7" (Post Mortem Records) was released which included songs recorded off and on from February through May of that year. Bobby also appeared on Mourning Noise' debut 7", Dawn of the Dead (Nightlatche); the albums cover was designed by Glenn Danzig. That same year Bobby formed Post Mortem Records and reissued 9 Toes Later on the label.
The song In Eighty Four appeared on the compilation, Flipside Vinyl Fanzine Volume 1 (Flipside/Gasatanka) in 1984. They also began working in the studio off and on at the beginning of the year.
1985 brought the release of the 7" single, Never Say Die! (Post Mortem Records); comprised of songs recorded in 1983 but the band continued to work in the studio off and on throughout the year.
Never Say Die! single
Never Say Die! LP
Never Say Die! was released (Rebel Records in Germany/Post Mortem Records) as a full album in 1986 which included material from their previous releases; the band also continued to work in the studio off and on until September of that year.
Yet another version of Never Say Die! was released in 1987, this time on cassette (Post Mortem Records); both A-side and B-side included the full release. 1988 included several shows but not much else for the band.
Never Say Die! cassette
In 1989 Act Your Rage! (Post Mortem Records) was released which included unreleased material recorded from 1984-1986. They also appeared on the cassette compilation Foundation Forum (Foundation Forum) with the song Evening of Desire.
The song The Way We Behave was released on 3 compilations in 1990; The Bleu Tapes (Neu Bleu/cassette), The World's In Shreds Vol. 4 (Shred) and Brain Food (Dead Issue Records).
Dawn of The Undead was released in Australia (Shagpile/Post Mortem Records); in 1991 it included mostly previously released material. The CD/cassette version included 6 more songs than their vinyl counterpart. The CD version would get a U.S. release on October 31st, 1997 (Shock Records/Post Mortem)
In 1992 their first live album, Live Slayer was released (Skreamin' Skull Records/Skyclad Records); comprised of two shows recorded in 1990 and 1991. That same year, The Invsible Man 7" single (Skyclad/Skreamin' Skull/Post Mortem Records) and Evening of Desire 12" single (Overground Records) were released.
The Undead toured the U.K. in May 1993 and performed several U.S. shows. There's A Riot In Tompkins Square 7" single (Overground Records) was released on May 10th, 1993 containing the title track and a live-two song B-side. The song In Eighty Four appeared on The Best Of Flipside Vinyl Fanzines (Flipside Records) compilation.
In 1994 The Undead appeared on two compilations as well; Destroy! (Ox) with the song Shadows and Sex on the Strip (Umbilical Records) with the song Put Your Clothes Back On.
In 1996 the band appeared on two more compilations; Music From The Film: Welcome To The Dollhouse (London Records/Inner-State Recordings) with the song Evening of Desire. The song was also featured in the film Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995). The song I'm So Happy appeared on compilation Anarchy in the N.J. (Umbilical Records/Reinforcement Records).
Bobby recorded 3 songs in his bedroom in 1995 which he/The Undead had done several times since the bands beginnings. Bobby released those songs on The Undead (Post Mortem Records); only 25 cassettes were created and handed out to record labels/fans.
During 1997 Bobby continued to record songs in his bedroom and used Le Studio Majeur in Montreal, Canada on July 6th, 1997 to record songs for a radio broadcast, which included his take on Glenn Danzig's/Misfits Last Caress. Bobby also appeared on Times Square Learn It (Peep Show) that year.
Til Death! (Underworld Records (Canada)/Post Mortem Records) was also released on April 24th, 1998; comprised of songs recorded from 1997-1998. Bobby also appeared on two tracks on Mourning Noise' Death Trip Delivery 1981-1985 (Grand Theft Audio) which was released on April 4th.
1999 saw the release of the split EP, Live On Arrival (Plague Records/Post Mortem Records) with The Malignmen. Released May 7th, 1999.
Y2K brought the release of another split EP, this time with Times Square; The Undead/Times Square (Transparent Records).
In 2002 the 7" EP's Third World USA (No Balls Records) which was a studio/live split release and Rock 'N' Roll Whore (Munster Records) were released. Be My Ghoul (No Balls Records) another studio/live split 7" EP came out in 2003.
After a 3 year discography gap, The Undead released Halloween 7" single featuring a cover of Glenn Danzig's/Misfits Halloween on the A-side. Also in 2007 the split studio/live album Still The Undead...After All These Years (Black Bird Records (Spain)/Post Mortem Records) was released. That same year, Bobby released a digital version of his take on The Misfits cancelled 12 Hits From Hell album called 12 Hits From Hell Un-Covered; there were plans to release a limited number of physical copies on No Balls Records with side A consisting of the album while the B side would be screened artwork.
Two years later, the 7" I Made A Monster (Post Mortem Records) and the split EP The Undead/The American Plague (No Balls Records) were released. Bobby also co-wrote the song The Night Has Eyes which appeared on Grave Robber's Inner Sanctum (Retroactive Records).
2010 saw the release of the I Want You Dead 7"/cd (Post Mortem Records).
A 5 year discography gap came to an end when The Morgue...The Merrier (Post Mortem Records) was released in 2016.
The very next year, the 7"/cd release Having An Undead Summer (Post Mortem Records) was released.
Band members have came and gone (so has a toe and tip of a thumb) over The Undead's near 40 year history but one thing has remained,
Bobby Steele's persistence, work/punk ethic as well as his songwriting, vocals and guitar. Bobby has persevered despite being born with spina bifida and having to use a cane; most recently he busted a hip (January 7th, 2019), had surgery (January 9th, 2019) and got right back out on the road less than a month later. The Undead's current line-up also includes Diana Steele (guitar/keyboard/vocals), Joe Stoker (drums), Jason Fresta (bass/vocals).
Former members of The Undead include; Chris Natz (October 1980–September 1982), Patrick Blanck (October 1980–September 1982), Brian Payne (on and off between 1982–1986), Bobby Savage (December 1982-May 1983), Steve Zing (on and off between 1983–1986), Olga de Volga (September 1983-December 1983), Robo (September 1983-December 1983), Vinnie (October 1984), Lori Wedding (December 1984), John Fiore (March 1986-May 1986), Adolfo Galella (March 1986-May 1986), Rich Matalian (June 1986-September 1986), Tom (April 1987-May 1987), Stacey Morris (1987), West Rocker (1987, 1988), Pete Lisa (1987), Tony DiLeo (1988–1989), Time Taylor (1988–1990), Eddie Enzyme (1989–1990), Rich Pressley (1990), Steve Sloppy (1990), Jim Joyce (1990–1992), Joe Darone (1990–1992), Phil Portuesi (1993), Jerr O'Hara (1993, 1993–1994), Brian (1993), Ratty (1993), Anthony D'Amico (1993–1995), John Rosado (1994–1995), Jay Von Hack (1996), Eddie Van Migraine (August 1996), Atom Cheeze (1996), Will Harper (1997, 1998), Mormo Stinkbat (1997, 1998), Greazy Tony (February 1998), Joel Gausten (1998–1999, 2002, 2006–2008), Mr. D (1998), Sebastian DeChamplain (August 1998), Ian Lawrence (on and off between 1998–2000), Gram Slam (on and off between 1998–1999), Rahne Pistor (on and off between 1998–1999), Bryce Bernius (on and off between 2000–2006), Roxy Michaels (2002), J~Sin Trioxin (2002), Argyle Goolsby (2002), Joff Wilson (2006–2007), Hiromu C Yanagiya (2008–2011), Zombie Alex Kopec (2010-2011), Paul Mauled (2007, 2012-2016), Ryan Rattcliff (2016-2017), Johnny James Gatyas (2017-2018), Jaw (1999–2000), Joey Image (2000–2002), Angel Bartolotta (2001), Hitomi (2008–2010), Serial Bill Gotta (2010-2015), Boris (2015-2016, 2017) and Tristan Michael (2017-2018)