They are The Misfits, their songs are better... or so they say. The Misfits is an American rock band born in Los Angeles, California, and rival to Jem and The Holograms.
Since its inception, the band's lineup has been comprised of members Pizzazz (main vocals, rhythm guitar and leader of the band), Roxy (lead guitar) and Stormer (keytar and lyricist). The band's fourth member is saxophonist Jetta, who joined the band later.[1] Their manager is former Starlight Music executive, Eric Raymond.
Background
When Jerrica Benton first assumed control of Starlight Music following her father's death, one of her first problems arose from meeting with her then business partner, Eric Raymond. Eric explained his distaste for Jem and The Holograms, stating that the industry needed "fresh blood". It is at that point that he introduced The Misfits, who made their entrance by riding into the office riding atop motorbikes designed to look like guitars.
Since then, despite losing the Battle of the Bands and having to make their own way through the music industry, they have been a highly successful (though accident-prone) rival, cutting their way through the much harder and edgier new wave music scene.
Despite their carefree and often aggressive personalities and apparent little concern for others —often putting people in dangerous situations, which apparently they just see as amusing circumstances they can take advantage of—, there is a fine line the Misfits won't cross if they acknowledge other people's lives are in fact being threatened, such as when they risked their own lives to save The Holograms from a bomb planted on the stage they were going to perform.[2] Furthermore, should the situation require it, they may even put their differences aside and be open to collaborate with others, all in the sake of a common benefit.[3] In fact, in the last episode it is Pizzazz herself who takes the initiative and proposes Jem a truce between both bands.
In season three, a new band called The Stingers was introduced into the show, who from then onward became the main antagonists and with most of the episodes focusing on them. As a result, The Misfits were relegated as being only recurrent trouble doers until the end of the series.
Band members
The Misfits are a mix of characters whose personalities are quite varied but generally follow the same brand of desire and deceit.
The only possible exclusion to this is Stormer, who has, on many opportunities, displayed herself to be of a much kinder and softer nature.
They are led by Pizzazz, an almost-entirely mean-spirited young woman whose desire to make it to the top of the charts and achieve fame and fortune makes it clear that, in her mind, there is only room for one victor, and that is the Misfits themselves.
Roxy is a mix of good and bad; sometimes Stormer gets her nice influence on her but Pizzazz comes along and Roxy is always there to support her plans.
Stormer is the youngest and most kind Misfit. She usually avoids showing this kinder side when around her bandmates. She plays keytar and writes the lyrics for the Misfits.
Jetta is a mythomaniac, meaning she loves to tell lies about her great lifestyle back home. She is a really selfish person and is the new addition to the Misfits, providing a great and new sound with her saxophone.
Music style
The musical style of the Misfits runs in complete opposite tangency to that of Jem and The Holograms. While the latter band's music generally cover topics such as love, tolerance, understanding and redemption, the Misfits' music typically revolves around ideas of selfishness and greed. To them, music is about personal success and the self-gratifying rewards it offers.
Fashions
The fashions for the Misfits were called Smashin' Fashions.
Songs by The Misfits
Collaborations with other artists
| Song | Featured artists |
|---|---|
Solo projects
| Song | Featured artists |
|---|---|
Dolls
Trivia
- The Misfits started as a trio, but then they became a quartet.
- Clash always asked Pizzazz to be the fifth Misfit, but this never happened. However, in the doll line, Clash was the fourth Misfit and Jetta was the fifth.
- The Misfits won the Music Awards, defeating Jem and The Holograms, for the first and only time in the series.
- The Misfits filmed their own movie called "The Misfits Hit it Big", but "Starbright" by Jem and The Holograms got more attention.
- The last new song performed by the Misfits was "Top Of The Charts", although this was a collaboration with The Holograms and The Stingers, excluding the vocalists of these bands, Jem and Riot.
- The first and the last song performed by the Misfits in the series was "Outta My Way", last heard in A Change of Heart.
- Jetta was not released in the UK.
- There are up to seven Smashin' Fashions that did not get released.
- During the first two seasons, most of the episodes had two Jem and The Holograms' songs and one Misfits' song.
- After the first season, many of the Misfits' songs were reused.
- The Misfits appeared in a mid-credit scene in the live-action film.
- There is a real-life band called the Misfits, but they are not even close to the ones from the Jem universe, playing punk rock, later punk metal, with their lyrics and style derived from horror works.
References
- ↑ As seen in The Talent Search (Part 1).
- ↑ As seen in The Princess and the Singer.
- ↑ As seen in Island of Deception.