Land of the Dead (Misfits song)

Last updated
"Land of the Dead"
Misfits - Land of the Dead cover.jpg
The single's cover by Arthur Suydam is an homage to the Living Dead film series.
Single by the Misfits
A-side "Land of the Dead"
B-side "Twilight of the Dead"
ReleasedOctober 27, 2009
Recorded2009
Genre Horror punk
Length4:59
Label Misfits
Songwriter(s) Jerry Only
Producer(s) The Misfits
Misfitssingles chronology
"Day the Earth Caught Fire"
(2002)
"Land of the Dead"
(2009)
"Twilight of the Dead"
(2011)

"Land of the Dead" is a single by the horror punk band the Misfits, released October 27, 2009 through Misfits Records. It is the first release of new studio material from the band since the 2003 covers album Project 1950 , and their first release of new, original material since 1999's Famous Monsters . [1] [2] [3] It is also the only release by the band's 2005–2010 lineup of Jerry Only, Dez Cadena, and Robo.

Contents

The single's cover artwork, by Marvel Zombies artist Arthur Suydam, is based on the band's "Crimson Ghost" skull logo. [1] [2] Both the cover art and the single's two songs, "Land of the Dead" and "Twilight of the Dead", are an homage to director George A. Romero's Living Dead series of zombie films. [1] [2] [3] "Land of the Dead" is named after Romero's 2005 film of the same name, for which Twilight of the Dead was a working title. "Land of the Dead" and "Twilight of the Dead" are the third and fourth Misfits songs to be titled after Romero's Living Dead films: Previous Misfits lineups had recorded "Night of the Living Dead" (1979), titled after the 1969 film, and "Day of the Dead" (on the 1997 album American Psycho ), titled after the 1985 film.

The first pressing of the single, consisting of 1,000 copies on 12-inch translucent red vinyl, was made available exclusively through the band's website and online store. [1] [2] A second pressing of 1,000 on translucent orange vinyl was available exclusively at the band's performances beginning October 30, 2009. [1] [2] The single was released for download through iTunes and other digital music retailers beginning October 27, 2009. [1] [2] It had its radio airplay premiere the same day on Sirius XM Radio's "Faction" channel. [4]

The band re-recorded both songs for their 2011 album The Devil's Rain , with the new versions also being released on the "Twilight of the Dead" single.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jerry Only

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Land of the Dead"2:14
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Twilight of the Dead"2:45
Total length:4:59

Personnel

Band
Artwork

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. Over the next six years, Danzig and bassist Jerry Only were the group's main members through numerous personnel changes. During this 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; he has served as the band's longest tenured guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robo (musician)</span> American drummer

Julio Roberto Valverde Valencia, better known by his stage name Robo, is a Colombian-American drummer. He came to prominence in the early 1980s with punk band Black Flag, and more recently has been a member of Misfits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danzig (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Danzig is an American heavy metal band led by former Samhain and Misfits singer Glenn Danzig. Formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey, the group early on became a unique voice in the rock scene, playing a bluesy, doom-laden metal with Glenn Danzig crooning in the style of Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley. Danzig's openly satanic lyrics and image stirred controversy. After a major hit with a live version of its 1988 song "Mother", the band experimented with industrial music but later returned to heavy metal. As of 2023, Danzig has released 12 studio albums, two EPs, one live album, and one compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night of the Living Dead (song)</span> 1979 single by the Misfits

"Night of the Living Dead" is the fourth single by the horror punk band the Misfits. It was released on October 31, 1979, on singer Glenn Danzig's label Plan 9 Records. 2,000 copies of the single were pressed on black 7" vinyl. The night of its release the band performed at Irving Plaza in New York City and sold the single at the door.

<i>Walk Among Us</i> 1982 studio album by the Misfits

Walk Among Us is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band Misfits, released in March 1982 by Ruby Records and its parent label Slash Records. It was the first full-length album to be released by the band, although it was the third to be recorded, after Static Age and 12 Hits from Hell. The recording sessions for Walk Among Us took place at multiple studios between June 1981 and January 1982, and the album also includes the track "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?", which was recorded live at the Ritz in New York City. The album features a re-recording of the single "Night of the Living Dead", which was released on October 31, 1979.

<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.

<i>Project 1950</i> 2003 studio album by the Misfits

Project 1950 is the sixth studio album by the American horror punk band the Misfits, released in 2003. It consists of cover versions of rock and roll songs from the 1950s and 60's and marks bassist Jerry Only's debut as the Misfits' lead singer. Except for Only, no members of the band from their previous album returned for Project 1950.

<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">Halloween (Misfits song)</span> 1981 single by the Misfits

"Halloween" is the fifth single by the American punk rock band Misfits. It was released on October 31, 1981 on singer Glenn Danzig's label Plan 9 Records. 5,000 copies of the single were pressed on black 7-inch vinyl, some of which included a lyrics sheet. This was the first Misfits release to use their Famous Monsters of Filmland-inspired logo, as well as the first to refer to the band as simply "Misfits".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Day the Earth Caught Fire</span> 2002 single by the Misfits and Balzac

"Day the Earth Caught Fire" is a song by the Japanese horror punk band Balzac from their 1995 album The Last Men on Earth. In 2002 it was covered by the Misfits for a split single celebrating Balzac's signing to the newly formed Misfits Records, with Balzac covering a medley of the Misfits songs "The Haunting" and "Don't Open 'Til Doomsday" from the 1997 album American Psycho. Balzac also filmed a music video for their version. The international version of the single was titled "Day the Earth Caught Fire" and had the Misfits as track 1 and Balzac as track 2, while the Japanese release was titled "Don't Open 'Til Doomsday" and had the tracks in reverse order.

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."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Suydam</span> American comic book artist (born 1953)

Arthur Suydam is an American comic book artist known for his work on Marvel Zombies, Deadpool, Black Panther, and KISS Zombies. He has done artwork for magazines including Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated and National Lampoon, while his comic book work includes Batman, Conan, Tarzan, Predator, Aliens, Death Dealer, and Marvel Zombies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scream! (Misfits song)</span> 1999 single by the Misfits

"Scream" is the ninth single by the horror punk band the Misfits, and the first single released from their 1999 album Famous Monsters. The music video for the song was directed by George A. Romero, famous for his Living Dead series of zombie films.

<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>The Devils Rain</i> (album) 2011 studio album by the Misfits

The Devil's Rain is the seventh and most recent studio album by horror punk band Misfits, released October 4, 2011, through the label that the Misfits own, Misfits Records. It is the band's first album in eight years, following 2003's covers record Project 1950, and the first of original material since 1999's Famous Monsters. It is also the only release by the band's lineup of Jerry Only, Dez Cadena, and Eric "Chupacabra" Arce. The Devil's Rain was produced by Ed Stasium, who previously worked with the band on Famous Monsters.

<i>Dead Alive!</i> 2013 live album by the Misfits

Dead Alive! is a live album by the Misfits. It was released on February 5, 2013 by Misfits Records. Album artwork was provided by Jason Edmiston.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Misfits "Land of the Dead" Coming Halloween 2009!". misfits.com. Misfits. 2009-10-10. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Misfits' "Land of the Dead" Coming This Halloween". Blabbermouth.net. 2009-10-11. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  3. 1 2 "Misfits to release "Land of the Dead" for Halloween". Punknews.org. 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  4. "Jerry Only Takes Over Faction on Sirius-XM-Satellite Radio". misfits.com. Misfits. 2009-10-22. Retrieved 2009-10-23.