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Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein
OF
Doyle talks about how the crowds reacted when the Misfits reformed without Glenn Danzig, how easy it can be to become a vegan, and how the photographer for his senior picture got him to move his devilock out of the way for the shot.
©Tim Tronckoe photography
METAL PULP AND PAPER: Doyle, thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us here at Metal Pulp And Paper today, we appreciate it. 
 
DOYLE:
Thank you for having me.  
 
MPAP:
In April of 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey the Misfits band was founded by your older brother Jerry Only and Glenn Danzig. You were originally a roadie for the band weren't you? 
 
DOYLE: Actually…I believe there was a girl bass player in place before Jerry. I'm not sure of the date when they started together. Yes I used a roadie for the band and my brother and all that.
 
MPAP: What did your parents think about this? What did they also think about the Misfits as well first starting out?  
 
DOYLE: Well of course my dad thought we were crazy. And should just stick to machining. My mom thought it was awesome. She also was the one who started us on music when we were little with all her old 50s 45s. She always had the radio on always. She thought it was really neat. 
 
MPAP: During this time, you eventually learned how to play guitar, being taught by Glenn Danzig and your brother eventually leading you to join the Misfits in October 1980. Prior to this, the current guitar player, Bobby Steele, was not showing up for band practices. In a way were you glad Bobby Steele didn’t show up so you could jump in and take over on guitar? 
 








DOYLE:
Yes Glenn showed me the 2 bar chords (which today is pretty much still all I know) and Jerry showed me the notes on the six string in the fifth string so I learned that and then when Bobby wouldn't show up to rehearsal I would just jump in and play the songs and when he didn't show up to the studio to record one day... I had my guitar and my amp there because Bobby was going to use it because it sounded better and he didn't show up so Glenn just looked at me and said "fuck it you play it "I looked back at him and said "I will…!!!" 
I was 15... 

 
MPAP: What was that like being so young in a band that was soon on its way to becoming huge? Did you ever imagine it? 
 
DOYLE: The band didn’t get recognition until
Cliff Burton from
Metallica started wearing
our shirts and
Danzig blew up on the music
scene and was headlining
Ozzfest and all of
that. And yes from day one I thought it would
blow up huge. And I'm still waiting for it.

MPAP: If you could go back to that year when first joining the Misfits for just five minutes, what do you think current year Doyle would want to say to the 1980 Doyle? Would you give any advice?
 
DOYLE: Trust no one ever.
 
MPAP: Unfortunately, the Misfits wouldn’t last very much longer and the gig would come to an end in with Danzig disbanding the Misfits in 1983. Was this devastating? Did you see it coming? 
 
DOYLE: I wonder where it would've went if we didn't break up…?
  

MPAP: After that, you would go onto to form Kryst the Conqueror with your brother Jerry for a couple years, but it wasn’t until 1995 your brother settled a legal battle out of court with Glenn Danzig, effectively allowing him rights to the band's name on a performing level. Was this something tough to do at first?
  

DOYLE: No..Jerry and I were awarded performing and recording rights as well as merchandising rights together…And Danzig was awarded merchandising rights as well.
 
MPAP: How did the crowd’s fist react to your shows without Glenn on vocals? 

DOYLE: Violently at first…I had to punch a few jokers in the head. Another day at the office. But then eventually they stopped.
 
MPAP: You’ve mentioned in previous interviews you went full vegan at the start of 2014 with the help of your girlfriend Alissa White-Gluz, singer of the band Arch Enemy who has been vegan most of her life. Was it hard at first to become a vegan when life out on the road can be full of gluttony, truck stop and greasy bar food? 
 
DOYLE: No…I never really ate bad to begin with. And it's very easy, we have an app called HappyCow. Alissa and I often say that the vegans are the REAL hunters, we have to go find vegan restaurants… everyone else can just eat "SHIT FOOD" from anywhere. 
 
MPAP: While out on tour, what are some of the cities that have the best food for vegans to enjoy? 
 
DOYLE: New York, LA, Montreal…Frankfurt Germany.
 
MPAP: Is there a venue you like to go play at that has some great vegan food nearby that you can go to before the show? 
 
DOYLE: No.
 
MPAP: What would you recommend someone to do in taking the first steps to towards becoming a vegan? I’m sure it’s tough at first? 
 
DOYLE: It's not tough if you want to do it…Just make sure that's what you want…Google all the recipes you want (every dish in the world can be made vegan and taste better than the original...) 
any questions you want…I'm lucky I have a built-in vegan genius in my life.

 
MPAP: Once the show is over and it’s time for a break from the music, what are some things you like to do in your spare time? 
 
DOYLE: Go to bed. 
 
MPAP: Just a few more things to ask. 
True or False: The stiletto hairstyle and the iconic “devilock” has been a part of your image for a very long time now. Did you use it for your senior picture? 

 
DOYLE: I did…But then the photographer broke
my balls to make me move it 
(my devilock) for one shot…
and then he made me laugh and that's the fucking picture 
they used.

MPAP: True or False: In September 1982, the Misfits were arrested in New Orleans on charges of grave robbing while attempting to locate the grave of voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau, but bailed themselves out of jail and skipped their court date to drive to their next performance in Florida?  
 
DOYLE: True. 
 
MPAP: Care to elaborate on this story a bit? 
 
DOYLE: No.
 
MPAP: All good things must come to an end, but before we go, by now everyone knows that in September 2016, Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only and you would be performed together as 'The Original Misfits' for the first time in 33 years. You reunited for two headlining shows in September 2016 at the Riot Fest in Chicago and Denver along with original Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. What was this like to be back on stage again with the Misfits? 
 
DOYLE: Funny! Those two guys are clowns. And it felt very normal. Just another day at the office. I just go to my job I don't pay attention and nothing else.
 
MPAP: I am sure there was a sea of the iconic "Fiend Skulls" everywhere? 

DOYLE: The school shirts I really didn't notice because when you are playing a huge show like that you don't see individuals…
 
MPAP: I know it’s been asked a hundred times already, but do you think with this recent reunion some new Misfits material could happen with Glenn Danzig back on vocals in the future? 
 
DOYLE: I don't think. It hurts my head.
 
MPAP: Thank you, Doyle, for taking the time to answer some questions for Metal Pulp And Paper.  
 
DOYLE: Thank you again.
 
MPAP: Any last words you’d like to say to your fans out there? 
 
DOYLE: Nope. 

Left to Right: Jerry Only, Arthur Googy, Glenn Danzig, and Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein in 1981
©metalpulpandpaper