The MisFiTs

    The Misfits on Facebook. I am a huge fan of the Misfits. Or, what I should say is, I was a huge fan. These days I'd have to put them in the nostalgia category as far as where their music ranks on my desire to listen. I can still pull a lot out of my memory, though because the songs are still prominant in my long term memory. They have a lot of songs I like to refer to as cerebral cling on's. Frankly, I lost interest in The Misfits a few years after there original singer left the band.  The reason I picked the misfits for this blog is because of their re-branding they have done over the past decade or so. This Horror punk band would be as obscure as other punk bands from the 80's like Susie and the Banshees or the Dead Kennedy's, if not for their trademark skull that many of us have probably seen a million times now on campus. This is especially true of a punk band that's founder found God and changed a lot of the lyric style of the band.    

  Today there is a lawsuit brewing between the man who formed the band, Jerry Only and his original singer because Only figured out how to re-brand the bands name and logo and now he is making a lot of money off merchandising. Glenn Danzig who co-wrote many of their most infamous songs, now wants a portion of the profits. They never release anything new and yet I see people wearing the skull almost every day. Even people who had not been born yet when I stopped listening to them around 1986. I think the brand itself says more about the people wearing it than the band anymore. I felt like a misfit when I was a teenager and I think the a lot of people can just relate to that feeling. With their target audience, middle ager's and misfits everywhere, the Misfits, as a band is far less relevant. The Misfits as a brand on the other hand, seems to be doing just fine.

  I liked what Jarvis says about the five lesson for advertising. Focus on talent, Newness, Data, making money through the back door and focus on the user and all else will follow. These lessons stood out to me because they are really trying to do more than just make a product for people they want the consumer to feel as if they are a part of something not a mark. 

Topic 2 Campaign advertising. 

  The latest issue adds I have noticed are the ones for Yes on 91. This is the legalization of marijuana proposal. I have been a proponent for the legalization of marijuana for a long time. The reason I noticed them is that they are really trying to reach the average citizens. There are three that I have seen. One with a police officer, one with a mom and one with an attorney. I think they use hidden fear and the association principal. I like these adds because they are finally reaching out to the people that can actually end the prohibition of marijuana. The people who actually vote on a regular basis they are reaching out to the plain folks. It did not influence the way I will vote because I am anything but plain folk. I am glad to see a real campaign for this issue, finally.   

  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eBCRu_BYnw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV3nSlcXr7U