The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the progenit… Read Full Bio ↴The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. The group was founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Glenn Danzig, and drummer Manny Martínez. Jerry Only joined on bass guitar shortly after. Over the next six years, membership would change frequently with Danzig and Only the only consistent members. During this time period, they released several EPs and singles, and with Only's brother Doyle as guitarist, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983), both considered touchstones of the early-1980s hardcore punk movement. The band has gone through many lineup changes over the years, with bassist Jerry Only being the only constant member in the group.

The Misfits disbanded in 1983, and Glenn Danzig went on to form Samhain and then Danzig. Several albums of reissued and previously unreleased material were issued after the group's dissolution, and their music later became influential to punk rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock. After a series of legal battles with Danzig, Only and Doyle regained the rights to record and perform as the Misfits. They formed a new version of the band in 1995 with singer Michale Graves and drummer Dr. Chud. This incarnation of Misfits had more of a heavy metal sound, and released the albums American Psycho (1997) and Famous Monsters (1999) before dissolving in 2000. Jerry Only then took over lead vocals and recruited former Black Flag guitarist Dez Cadena and former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone for a Misfits 25th anniversary tour.

This lineup released an album of cover songs titled Project 1950 and toured for several years. In 2005, Marky was replaced by Robo, who had played with Black Flag in the early 1980s and had also previously been Misfits' drummer from 1982 to 1983. This lineup released a single titled "Land of the Dead" in 2009. The Misfits' lineup of Only, Cadena, and drummer Eric "Chupacabra" Arce released a new album titled The Devil's Rain in October 2011. In 2015, it was announced that Cadena would be taking a break from music after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and was replaced by Only's son Jerry Caiafa II, presented as Jerry Other. That same year Soulfly's Marc Rizzo joined the band, also playing guitar. He filled in for Cadena, before Caiafa would move on to become the sole guitarist for the band.

In September 2016, for the first time in 33 years, Danzig, Only, and Doyle reunited for two headlining shows as the Original Misfits at that year's edition of Riot Fest, along with drummer Dave Lombardo and second guitarist Acey Slade. The Original Misfits lineup continued performing sporadically through 2019.

Each incarnation of the Misfits has made use of horror film and science fiction film-inspired themes and imagery, with makeup, clothing, artwork, and lyrics drawn from B movies and television serials, many from the 1950s through 1970s. Musically the band are often recognized as progenitors of the horror punk and psychobilly subgenres and have drawn from punk rock, heavy metal, and 1950s rock and roll and rockabilly to inform their style. Rolling Stone describes them as "the archetypal horror-punk band of the late 1970s and early '80s", and they are considered icons in punk music and culture.

Eyes
Misfits Lyrics

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20 Eyes in my head
20 Eyes in my head
20 Eyes in my head
They're all the same, they're all the same

20 Eyes in my head
20 Eyes in my head
They're all the same, they're all the same

When you're seeing 20 things at a time
You just can't slow things down, baby
When you're seeing 20 things in your mind
Just can't slow things down

Then all those eyes
They're just crowding up your human face
Then all those eyes
Take an overload

20 Eyes in my head
20 Eyes in my head
20 Eyes in my head
They're all the same, they're all the same

When you're seeing 20 things at a time
You just can't slow things down, baby
When you're seeing 20 things in your mind
Just can't slow things down

Then all those eyes
They're just crowding up your human face
Then all those eyes
Take an overload

20 Eyes in my head
20 Eyes in my head
20 Eyes in my head
They're all the same

20 Eyes in my head
They're all the same
20 eyes in my head
They're all the same

20 eyes in my head
They're all the same

Overall Meaning

The Misfits' song '20 Eyes' is a punk rock classic that captures the frenetic and chaotic energy of the genre. The lyrics describe the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed and unable to slow down, using a metaphor of having 20 eyes in one's head. The repetition of the phrase "20 Eyes in my head" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape this state. The lyricist acknowledges that all the eyes are "the same," suggesting a sense of monotony or sameness in the overwhelming stimuli.

The chorus emphasizes the inability to slow down, with the repeated phrase "When you're seeing 20 things at a time / You just can't slow things down, baby." The second verse describes how having all these eyes "crowds up" one's human face and leads to an "overload." The imagery suggests a loss of control and a feeling of being suffocated by the constant flow of information.

Overall, the lyrics to '20 Eyes' capture a feeling of frenetic energy, overwhelm, and loss of control. The metaphor of having multiple eyes creates a vivid and memorable image of what it feels like to be in this state.

Line by Line Meaning

20 Eyes in my head
I have 20 eyes in my head

They're all the same, they're all the same
All of my eyes are the same

20 Eyes in my head
I have 20 eyes in my head

They're all the same, they're all the same
All of my eyes are the same

When you're seeing 20 things at a time
When you are looking at 20 things at once

You just can't slow things down, baby
It is difficult to process everything quickly

When you're seeing 20 things in your mind
When you are imagining 20 things

Just can't slow things down
It is hard to slow down your thoughts

Then all those eyes
All of my eyes

They're just crowding up your human face
They are making my face feel crowded

Then all those eyes
All of my eyes