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.
Marilyn
Misfits Lyrics
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Found her lying on her chest
Her face all turning blue
You think it was an overdose
But could it have been the pact
Could it have been the Kennedys
Was it LAPD
Baby not to me
Funny, funny, funny mystery
Baby not to me
Rotted corpse, sex decay
Breasts all full of slugs
No answer for the accident
Her cunt has all dried up, you see
5:25 August fifth, 1962
Make it seem a suicide
Make it seem a suicide
Make it seem a suicide
Make it seem a suicide
It ain't a mystery
Baby not to me
Funny, funny, funny mystery
Baby not to me
It ain't a mystery
Baby not to me
Funny, funny, funny mystery
Baby not to me
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa-oh
The Misfits' song "Who Killed Marilyn" is a tribute to legendary Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe, who died on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36. The lyrics are a commentary on the various conspiracy theories surrounding her death, which was officially ruled a suicide by drug overdose. The song questions whether it was really an accident or whether someone, such as the Kennedys or the LAPD, might have been involved. The lyrics paint a macabre picture of a "rotted corpse" and "breasts all full of slugs," reflecting the dark and tragic circumstances surrounding Marilyn's untimely death.
The chorus of the song ("It ain't a mystery, baby not to me, funny, funny, funny mystery, baby not to me") suggests that the true cause of Marilyn's death is known to the singer, perhaps implying that there is more to the story than what has been officially revealed. The repetition of the phrase "Make it seem a suicide" at the end of the song reinforces the idea that there may have been a cover-up or manipulation of evidence surrounding Marilyn's death.
Line by Line Meaning
5:25 August fifth, 1962
On August 5th, 1962 at 5:25, the incident occurred that is the subject of this song.
Found her lying on her chest
When Marilyn Monroe was found, she was lying face down.
Her face all turning blue
When Marilyn Monroe was found, she had turned blue in the face due to a lack of oxygen.
You think it was an overdose
Many people believe that Marilyn Monroe overdosed on pills.
But could it have been the pact
Some people believe that Marilyn Monroe was killed as part of a political conspiracy.
Could it have been the Kennedys
Some people believe that the Kennedys were involved in Marilyn Monroe's death.
Was it LAPD
Some people speculate that the Los Angeles Police Department was responsible for Marilyn Monroe's death.
It ain't a mystery
The singer believes that the true story of Marilyn Monroe's death is not as mysterious as some people make it out to be.
Baby not to me
The singer is confident in his belief that he knows what really happened to Marilyn Monroe.
Rotted corpse, sex decay
The singer is describing what Marilyn Monroe's body would look like after so many years had passed since her death.
Breasts all full of slugs
The idea here is that Marilyn Monroe's body would decay to the point where it is unrecognizable and no longer beautiful.
No answer for the accident
The singer contends that although Marilyn Monroe's death was ruled an accidental suicide, the true cause of her death will never be known.
Her cunt has all dried up, you see
The singer is indicating that Marilyn Monroe's body would no longer be sexually attractive after so many years had passed since her death.
Make it seem a suicide
In the singer's view, there was a cover-up of the true events that led to Marilyn Monroe's death.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa-oh
This line is simply a refrain that is repeated several times throughout the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GLEN DANZIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind