History II | The Fiend Crypt

In January 1978 Mercury Records released Per Ubu's debut album, The Modern Dance, thru subsidiary label Blank Records, they had acquired the label name from The Misfits who had already released the Cough/Cool single (August 1977) under the same label name. The band was given 30 hours of studio time in exchange for Mercury gaining exclusive rights to the Blank name but before they could enter the studio they would have to find a replacement for vacating drummer Manny. In his place Glenn brought on another one of his old cover bandmates (this time from Koo-Dot-N-Boo-Jang), Jim "Mr. Jim" Catania. According to some accounts, Mr. Jim was also part of an early Misfits rehearsal line up (January-February 1977) that consisted of Glenn, him and Diane DiPiazza possibly making him somewhat familiar with the material.

Mr. Jim was brought in-in January 1978 and after a few weeks of rehearsal the band entered C.I. Recording, Inc. in New York to make use of their 30 free hours of studio time. They were given the graveyard shift and made the most of their time, recording 17 songs during the sessions (which continued into February), mixing 14 of the songs as well as completing a mix-down tape. As part of the deal with Mercury, the label had first option of release but unfortunately they passed on the finished album.

Misfits rehearsal 1978-photo by George Germain/from the collection of Maurice Nunez

Misfits rehearsal 1978-photo by George Germain/shared by https://www.instagram.com/wearethefiendclub138/

The band also found time to play one show during this time frame, opening for Richard Hell at the Show Place in Dover, NJ. After several more spring shows The Misfits still had little to no money to release a full album and no label interest so they took 4 songs and released an EP in June 1978, the Bullet 7", on the newly formed Plan 9 label; A side: Bullet, We Are 138, B side: Attitude, Hollywood Babylon. Glenn had been artistic from an early age and even attended art classes after high school for a short while, he used those talents throughout the course of The Misfits designing flyers, shirts, stickers, buttons and album sleeves/inserts. For the Bullet EP Glenn used an image of John F. Kennedy riding in the presidential limousine on the day of his assassination, November 22nd, 1963. He added a blood splatter out of the back of his head and The Misfits logo in blood red; the insert as well contained an image of John F. Kennedy with blood splatter out of the side of his head with an added pistol to boot.

front and back of the Bullet 7"

In September Glenn had five 7" acetates made up for a proposed Teenagers From Mars single which also featured the song Static Age but this release never happened.

By October 1978 The Misfits would perform 12 shows and were beginning to establish a local foothold but their guitarist wasn't happy and chose to leave the band in favor of the band Active Ingredients. This left the band missing out on part of a planned tour of the midwest but they managed to get Rick Riley (Victims) to fill in for 2 shows in Toronto, Ontario Canada at Horseshoe Tavern in October. Mr. Jim wasn't feeling very happy either and he left later on that same October for his already existing band Continental Crawler.

The Misfits performing at Binsky's, date unknown.

The Misfits second year was coming to a shaky close, they got out a 2nd release and managed to do around 15 shows by October but they lost two members as well.

Up next...HORROR BUSINESS

This note was made possible by Misfits Central, James Greene Jr.'s book This Music Leaves Stains as well as various Misfits interviews. As always thanks to all the fiends (and photographers) that have provided all the photographic history.