by Misfits guitarist Doyle recently revealed how he discovered Van Halen through a cassette tape that reignited his passion for guitar playing. He shared his story in an interview with Premier Guitar.
The musician explained how his cousin introduced him to the legendary rock band after the Misfits had broken up. He described the moment that changed his musical perspective.
“After the Misfits broke up, what made me start playing the guitar again? My cousin gave me ‘Van Halen’ tape,” Doyle said. “He had a shirt. I’m like, ‘Who the f*ck is Van Halen?’ He said, ‘You don’t know who that is?’ I’m like, ‘Haven’t never heard of them.’”
The guitarist continued to describe the impact of hearing the album for the first time.
“Here, listen to this. So, I listened to it and it made me want to pick the guitar,” he continued. “That, and ‘Number of the Beast.’ I got that and I’m like, ‘Wow, if I could write songs, they would sound like that.’”
This revelation provides insight into how musical influences can reshape an artist’s career trajectory. This is particularly true for someone with Doyle’s unique background in the punk and horror punk scenes.
Doyle’s journey with the Misfits began in an unconventional way. Wikipedia reported that he was originally a roadie for the band and learned guitar from lead vocalist Glenn Danzig and his brother Jerry Only. He eventually joined as a guitarist at just 16 years old. This early start in the horror punk scene shaped his initial musical foundation before his later discovery of Van Halen’s more technical approach.
After the original Misfits disbanded, Doyle’s musical path took several turns. Wikipedia documented that he and Jerry Only formed the metal band Kryst The Conqueror before eventually reforming the Misfits in 1995. This period of musical exploration set the stage for his openness to new influences like Van Halen.
The Van Halen album that so profoundly affected Doyle showcased Eddie Van Halen’s revolutionary guitar techniques. Post-Journal noted that Eddie Van Halen developed his distinctive style out of necessity. He couldn’t afford many guitar effects pedals early in his career. This limitation inspired him to create unique tones using his fingers. The approach resulted in techniques such as the iconic tapping method that have influenced countless guitarists.
Doyle’s story illustrates how cross-genre influences can revitalize an artist’s creativity. His transition from horror punk to incorporating elements inspired by Van Halen and Iron Maiden’s “Number of the Beast” demonstrates how exposure to different musical styles can spark new artistic directions. This holds true even for established musicians with decades of experience.
