Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein - Life and Career

Life and Career

Doyle, the younger brother of the Misfits bassist, Jerry Only, was originally a roadie for the band and was taught how to play guitar by Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only. He joined The Misfits in October 1980 at the age of 16. Doyle was the band's third guitarist, replacing Bobby Steele among claims that Glenn and Jerry disapproved of Steele's guitar playing. Like Glenn and Jerry, Doyle incorporated the Devilock into his image. Jerry and Doyle would finance the band by working at their father's shop.

In 1987, four years after the dissolution of the Misfits, Doyle and Jerry formed the metal band Kryst The Conqueror with drummer The Murp. Select songs from the album were released by Jerry Only's record label "Cyclopian Music" as an EP, and featured guest guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo of the metal band Skid Row.

In 1995 Jerry settled a legal battle out of court with co-founder Glenn Danzig, effectively allowing him rights to the bands name on a performing level. Doyle and Jerry reformed The Misfits in 1995, this time with Jerry acting as the band's figurehead and with Michale Graves as vocalist and Dr. Chud as drummer. The group released two full length albums of new material. In 2001 at a live show, Doyle unplugged his guitar and left the band.

In 2005, Doyle left New Jersey for Las Vegas, and began auditioning members for his own band, Gorgeous Frankenstein. In 2006, he appeared on stage with Danzig numerous times throughout their tour. They would meet again in 2007, when Gorgeous Frankenstein played their first tour, opening for Danzig. Doyle has since joined them on several occasions to play 30-minute-long sets of classic Misfits songs.

Doyle claimed that a reunion effort with Glenn Danzig ceased further progression when "Jerry put a fuckin' monkey wrench in it. 2002, we had meetings ... And kind of fucked it up, him and his manager. We were going to do a record, do a tour and everything." In September 2010, Gorgeous Frankenstein released a DVD, titled You Must See It To Believe It!

During the latter quarter of 2011, former vocalist Danzig and guitarist Doyle performed Misfits songs on four different occasions as part of the Danzig Legacy tour. The first of the four shows, which took place on October 7th in Chicago as one of the headlining acts at Riot Fest, saw a sold-out crowd of 5,000+. The last true Legacy show took place on Halloween at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles with an over sold crowd of 7,000+.

In 2012, Doyle once again played guitar on the Misfits songs during the Danzig Legacy tour.