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.
Horror Business
Misfits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Driving late at night
Psycho '78
My bathroom is new
You, you don't go in the bathroom with me
Psycho '78
12 o'clock, don't be late
My mirrors are black
You don't go in the bathroom with me
With you
I'll put a knife right in you
I'm warning you
I'll put a knife right in you
I'm warning you
I'll put a knife right in you
Too much horror business
Drivin' late at night
Psycho '78
My bathroom is new for you
You, you don't go in the bathroom with me
Psycho '78
I'm talking about
12 o'clock, don't be late
I say, all this horror business
My mirrors are black for you
You, you don't go in the bathroom with me
With you
I'll put a knife right in you
I'm warning you
I'll put a knife right in you
I'm warning you
I'll put a knife right in you
I'm warning you
I'll put a knife right in you
I'm warning you
You, nobody can do
What I can do, no
These lyrics are typical of the horror punk genre Misfits are known for, featuring violent imagery and a foreboding atmosphere. The singer is warning someone not to push their luck, lest they face the consequences. The first line "too much horror business" sets the tone for the song as the singer is consumed by the horror and gore that surrounds them. The rest of the song describes driving late at night, referencing the classic horror movie "Psycho '78" and the singer's new bathroom.
The bathroom becomes a central image in the song, representing the singer's private space and their willingness to defend it. The line "you don't go in the bathroom with me" suggests that the singer's privacy must be respected, and anyone who tries to invade it will face a violent end. This is further emphasized by the repeated chorus line "I'll put a knife right in you, I'm warning you", which is a chilling reminder of the consequences of crossing the singer.
The song as a whole plays on the fear of invasion and the unknown, which are common themes in horror movies. The singer sees the world as a scary and unpredictable place and is ready to defend themselves and their space at any cost.
Line by Line Meaning
Too much horror business
There's an excessive amount of horror-related activity happening in my life.
Driving late at night
I'm traveling during the late hours of the night.
Psycho '78
I am mentally disturbed and unstable, similar to the character in the movie 'Psycho' released in 1978.
My bathroom is new
I just renovated my bathroom.
You, you don't go in the bathroom with me
You aren't allowed in my private space, such as my bathroom.
Psycho '78 12 o'clock, don't be late
You better be on time when we meet, or else my unstable personality might take over.
All this horror business
The sheer amount of horror-related activities and thoughts I'm dealing with is overwhelming.
My mirrors are black
I purposely painted my mirrors black to reflect my dark thoughts and persona.
With you, I'll put a knife right in you
If you cross me, I won't hesitate to use a knife when dealing with you.
I'm warning you
I'm giving you a heads up and telling you what I'm capable of doing.
You, nobody can do what I can do, no
No one can replicate or match what I can do or the level of horror I can create/inflict.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GLEN DANZIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jennifer Reyes
The genius of the Misfits was that they made songs about old horror movies sound romantic. The best thing to come out of NJ.
Chris Walshe
That's absolutely true. Genius. Love songs about death. Harmony, melodic songs about killing. Genius.
Gore Gore Girl
I play this song to celebrate when I'm done cleaning the bathroom.
PunkRockZombie205
Ha ha
Anessa Kisaki
lmao
optimoose Jones
thatzim wtf hold up
extremely creative username
ol' timmer hold up
Real RagnarTV
lmao. "My bathroom is new"
Sou Suzumi
"You don't go in the bathroom with me With you I'll put a knife right in you I'm warning you" is peak lyricism. We'll never be able to get close to this kind of poetry anymore.
ocho cabra
agreed 100 fucking percent