In the early 2000's Jerry Only began talking about releasing a side project that would be an album of 50's covers and when he finally got Dez Cadena and Marky Ramone in the band (around that same time) he did just that.

In 2002 Jerry Only, Dez Cadena and Marky Ramone worked on a cover album-"side project", released as Project 1950 under The Misfits™ name.  Jerry had previously been heard/seen singing Earth Angel during a shoundcheck on April 23rd, 1997; although that song would not make it on Project 1950.  The earliest hint of the future "side project" came on July 1st, 2000 at The Dragon Convention where The Misfits™ performed This Magic Moment and Monster Mash.

5/29/03
Also coming soon: news on summer's worldwide launch of the new label Misfits Records, the release of the "Project 1950" CD,....

The MISFITS FIEND FEST will coincide with summer's wide scale launch of the newly formed "MISFITS RECORDS" label! The Festival, created specifically for the punk scene, finds many heavy hitters of the genre joining forces for a tour of the U.S. July thru August 2003.

The event will be headlined by the MISFITS all star line-up of founding member JERRY ONLY, with special guests MARKY RAMONE (of the world famous RAMONES) and DEZ CADENA (of BLACK FLAG) in support of the soon to be released "PROJECT 1950" CD. "Project 1950" (a Misfits side-project showcasing punk covers of 50's era classics), is slated for worldwide release in conjunction with the festival kick off.

Jerry Only's long awaited Misfits Side-Project..The release is truly unique and not to be perceived as a traditional Misfits album but rather a special project.


The eventual album would'nt truely be a side project as it was released as Misfits Project 1950, nor would it really be a 50's cover record as it contained more tracks from the 60's than the previous era.  The album featured not only the current Misfits™ line up but also Ronnie Spector (The Ronettes) and Jimmy Destri (Blondie) as well.

The album was released on July 29, 2003 and again on December 16, 2014 with 3 bonus tracks; Witchcraft, Daughter of Darkness and (You're the) Devil in Disguise.






Getting Black With the Misfits
ConcertLivewire's exclusive interview with Jerry Only of the Misfits
Sept. 12, 2003

Livewire: How do you rate it compared to the rest of the Misfits catalog?

Jerry: Well, it's not supposed to be a Misfit record, It's supposed to be uhh... I want to say "Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstein." (laughs) You know, it's kinda a music lesson is really what it was and for me it was very nostalgic. I grew up as young child listening to my mom's 45 collection and she would play them all to keep me occupied while I was playing with my toys so she could watch TV or hang out with her girlfriends. I grew up listening to all the oldies and always wanted to do them and I finally ran into a lineup of guys who were into the same thing as I was and they all wanted to do it. They all had the right credentials I mean for playing songs like "Donna" or "Diana." You're not really looking for that Slayer guitar sound - the kinda guitar sound that we would normally put on a Misfit record. You're kinda looking for something a little more, I don't want to say jazzy but a little more... classy sounding. I think I had the right guys in the right spot at the right time to where we were able to drop this record and the thing about Ronnie Spector is like a dream come true, ya know?


"The album "Project 1950" of The Misfits was made after you left the band. But one of the songs, "Monster Mash", was made while you still in the band. So, when you were still with The Misfits, there were already plans for that album?

Michale Graves - It’s a great question. I will give you an answer that I think that anybody has ever been, has never known. Well, we were in the band, and Doyle have ever liked that kind of music, so we decided to do a double album with covers of some of the greatest rock and roll songs ever. We use to talk about that all the time because you know, obviously, Jerry has ever love that music, so does Doyle, so does Chud, so do I. So yes, the answer is yes, there was talking about doing something like that. But then, when I left the band, Doyle left the band, and Chud left the band, Jerry went ahead and did the Project 1950’s. So, that was a great question!"