Osaka Popstar

Osaka Popstar is the pop-punk multimedia music and art project led by singer/producer John Cafiero, long-time Misfits & Ramones collaborator and platinum selling film and video director. The critically acclaimed debut album “Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk” as well as the live follow-up “Rock’Em O-Sock’Em Live!” features frontman Cafiero with a revolving lineup of punk-rock legends as his backing band including members of the Misfits, the Ramones, Black Flag, the Voidoids and more.

Recent Osaka Popstar releases feature frontman Cafiero on vocals, with Dean Rispler (Voluptous Horror of Karen Black, The Dictators) on Guitar and Bass, Jon Wurster (Bob Mould, Superchunk and The Mountain Goats) on Drums, as well tracks including “Fish Heads” and “Pico & Sepulveda” from the “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk” compilation, (and prior singles “Hopping Ghosts” and “O Holy Night”) featuring Sal Maida (Milk ‘n’ Cookies, Roxy Music) on Bass, and Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) on Drums.

Osaka Popstar transcends punk rock, comic books, and anime themes beyond music alone with limited edition vinyl toy releases, collaborations with Topps, (having appeared in their Garbage Pail Kids & Wacky Packages series), and more. Animated Osaka Popstar music videos have even debuted on the Nintendo 3DS gaming platform under license to Nintendo.

Cafiero’s longstanding collaborations with the Misfits remain consistent two decades deep on both a creative and business level. Among other endeavors Cafiero edited the acclaimed book “Commando: the Autobiography of Johnny Ramone”, Directed the chart topping “Ramones Raw” documentary, and the modern day cult-classic feature film “Big Money Hustlas” starring the Insane Clown Posse, Rudy Ray Moore (aka “Dolemite”), WWE’s Mick Foley, comedian Harland Williams & the Jerky Boys.

In addition to managing the legendary Misfits (currently headlining arena shows reuniting Original Misfits co-founders Glenn Danzig & Jerry Only), Cafiero also manages the Estate of Dee Dee Ramone (of the world famous Ramones). When the Ramones received a lifetime achievement Grammy Award in 2011, Cafiero had the honor of accepting and speaking on behalf of the late punk icon at the awards ceremony.

Cafiero has produced music by everyone from punk icons like the Misfits, to pop icons like Ronnie Spector—and most of the artists/tracks appearing on “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk” as well.