John Cafiero

Last updated

John Cafiero is an American punk rock musician and filmmaker. He is best known as the frontman for the punk supergroup Osaka Popstar, whose debut album was released the summer 2006. The full album lineup toured the UK in September 2006, followed by a tour of the United States and Canada with the legendary punk band The Misfits in Fiend Fest '06. [1]

Contents

Biography

Cafiero directed and co-produced (with wife Suzanne Cafiero) [2] the music videos of the Misfits' songs "American Psycho" and "Dig Up Her Bones", which appeared on MTV's 120 Minutes and public-access television cable TV in the United States, and on MTV Japan and the Space Shower TV channel in Japan in late 1997. They were screened at the Euro-Underground Film Festival and Rhode Island International Film Festival in late 1998, garnering a "Best of Fest" award for the former and a Horror Writers Association nomination. [2] [3]

For his direct-to-video directorial debut, Cafiero directed and co-produced (again with wife) Big Money Hustlas for the Insane Clown Posse and appeared in front of the camera as "The Director" [4] alongside the Misfits as themselves. The film was released in 2000 and topped the Billboard video sales charts for several weeks. [3] Over the course of nine months in 2003–2004, he directed a documentary about the punk band Ramones, entitled Ramones: Raw . [5] [6]

In 1998, Cafiero wrote and sang (as guest vocalist) the song "I Wanna Be a NY Ranger" with the Misfits. [7] In a Hit Parader article on the song, he names the Ramones as his childhood heroes and the New York Rangers as a defining New York City team. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misfits (band)</span> American horror punk band

The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the pioneers 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, Danzig's first recruit to the Misfits was drummer Mr. Jim and bassist Diane DiPazza, however, DiPiazza never showed up. Mr. Jim was replaced by Manny Martinez shortly after. Jerry Only joined on bass guitar shortly after. Over the next six years, membership would change frequently, with Danzig and Only being the sole 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dez Cadena</span> American punk rock singer and guitarist

Dez Cadena is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag from 1980 to 1983. Cadena played guitar with Misfits from 2001 to 2015, initially joining the band alongside Doyle, Jerry Only and Robo for their 25th Anniversary Tour and has served as the band's longest tenured guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dickies</span> American punk rock band

The Dickies are an American punk rock band formed in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, in 1977. One of the longest tenured punk rock bands, they have been in continuous existence for over 40 years. They have consistently balanced catchy melodies, harmony vocals, and pop song structures, with a speedy punk guitar attack. This musical approach is paired with a humorous style and has been labelled "pop-punk" or "bubble-gum punk". The band have sometimes been referred to as "the clown princes of punk".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marky Ramone</span> American drummer

Marc Steven Bell is an American drummer. He began playing in hard rock bands in the New York City area, notably Dust and Estus. He was asked to drum for punk rock band Richard Hell and the Voidoids. He replaced drummer Tommy Ramone in the Ramones in 1978, and went by the stage name Marky Ramone from then on. He has also played drums for other punk rock and heavy metal bands, including his own band Marky Ramone and the Intruders. He continues to keep the Ramones legacy alive around the world with his band Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Only</span> Musical artist

Gerald Caiafa Jr., better known by his stage name Jerry Only, is an American musician, best known as the bassist for the Misfits and later the vocalist as well. He is the only member to appear in every Misfits lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dig Up Her Bones</span> 1997 single by the Misfits

"Dig Up Her Bones" is the seventh single by the punk rock band the Misfits. It was the first single released by the re-formed lineup of the band, after the original incarnation broke up in 1983. It was the only single released from their 1997 album American Psycho, and the accompanying music video was the first official Misfits music video ever released.

<i>Cuts from the Crypt</i> 2001 compilation album by Misfits

Cuts From the Crypt is a collection of demos, formerly unreleased tracks and cover songs by the American horror punk band Misfits. All the album's tracks were recorded by the band in the years following their reformation without original singer Glenn Danzig. The enhanced version also contains the music video for the song "Scream!".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster Mash</span> 1962 novelty song

"Monster Mash" is a 1962 novelty song by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The song was released as a single on Gary S. Paxton's Garpax Records label in August 1962 along with a full-length LP called The Original Monster Mash, which contained several other monster-themed tunes. The "Monster Mash" single was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 20–27 of that year, just before Halloween. It has been a perennial Halloween favorite ever since. In 2021, nearly 60 years after its release, "Monster Mash" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 37.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michale Graves</span> American singer

Michael Emanuel, better known by his stage name Michale Graves, is an American singer. He is best known as the lead vocalist for the 1990s re-incarnation of the horror punk band Misfits from 1995 to 2000, leaving briefly in 1998. Graves grew up in Dumont, New Jersey. He has also released several albums as a solo artist.

David Calabrese, known professionally as Dr. Chud, is an American horror punk drummer best known for his work with the Misfits.

Osaka Popstar is a punk rock supergroup formed in 2006 by New Yorker John Cafiero. In 2006, Cafiero teamed up with several well known punk rock artists to create the anime based punk group, Osaka Popstar. They released their debut album/DVD on May 23, 2006. Their lyrics consist of topics such as characters in Japanese anime like Astroboy and Sailor Moon. The first single off the album was a cover of singer/songwriter Daniel Johnston, entitled "Wicked World."

<i>Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk</i> 2006 studio album by Osaka Popstar

Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk is the first, and so far only, album released by Osaka Popstar. The title references the fact that the band includes members of legendary punk bands such as The Misfits, Ramones, Black Flag and The Voidoids.

<i>Psycho in the Wax Museum</i> 2006 EP by Misfits

Psycho in the Wax Museum is an EP by the American punk rock band Misfits. It features two songs that were previously unreleased and were recorded during the American Psycho sessions. The versions included are instrumental, as it has been reported that the vocals were never recorded. The single was only available via an offer from Misfits Records where proofs of purchase had to be sent in from Osaka Popstar's Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk, Balzac's Beyond the Darkness and the Misfits' Project 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wanna Be a NY Ranger</span> 1998 single by the Misfits

"I Wanna Be a NY Ranger" is the eighth single by American horror punk band Misfits. It was written by John Cafiero and originally intended to be performed by the Ramones for a promotional campaign for the New York Rangers and Madison Square Garden. However, the Ramones retired in 1996 and Cafiero instead presented the song to the Misfits, who recorded it with Cafiero singing lead vocals. A condensed 30-second version with then-Misfits singer Michale Graves on vocals appeared later that year on the Short Music for Short People compilation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misfits discography</span>

The discography of Misfits, a horror punk band formed in Lodi, New Jersey, in 1977, consists of seven studio albums, three live albums, four compilation albums, four EPs, nineteen singles, one video album, five music videos, one box set, one demo, and one cancelled album.

<i>Fiend Club Lounge</i> 2005 studio album by the Nutley Brass

Misfits Meet the Nutley Brass: Fiend Club Lounge is a tribute album to the American horror punk band Misfits, recorded by the Nutley Brass and released in 2005 by Misfits Records. It features cover versions of Misfits songs from the band's early era, 1977 to 1983, performed in an instrumental "lounge" or "space age pop" style.

The Cryptkeeper Five are an American punk rock/rock and roll band formed in 1997 in Trenton, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Other (band)</span> German horror punk band

The Other is a German horror punk band formed in Cologne in 2002. The band's music style blends elements of punk rock and heavy metal, with lyrics and stage costumes inspired by horror fiction and films. Although most of their material is in English, they also write and perform songs in German.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy (American band)</span> American punk rock band

Energy is an American punk rock band, from Stoughton, Massachusetts, formed in 2006.

References

  1. "Misfits Records Presents "Fiend Fest '06" Featuring the Misfits With Special Guest Appearance by Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk!" (Press release). Market Wire. September 12, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
  2. 1 2 "Film Festival Screenings". Official Misfits Website. Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
  3. 1 2 "Bio". Official Misfits Website. Archived from the original on May 15, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
  4. "Big Money Hustlas". IMDB. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
  5. Ian Jane (December 21, 2004). "Ramones – Raw". Maniac Reviews. DVD Maniacs. Archived from the original on May 11, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
  6. Jennifer Vineyard (October 22, 2004). "Marky Ramone Hopes To Show The Ramones' Happier Days With 'Raw'". MTV News . Retrieved September 21, 2006.
  7. "I Wanna Be A NY Ranger". Official Misfits Website. Archived from the original on October 21, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
  8. "Misfits Meet the NY Rangers in April's Hit Parader". Official Misfits Website. Archived from the original on October 21, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2006.
  9. Rene Daigle (April 2002). "I Wanna Be A NY Ranger". Hit Parader.