Dez Paul Cadena (born June 2, 1961) is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag from 1980 to 1983. Cadena played guitar with Misfits from 2001 to 2015, initially joining the band alongside Doyle, Jerry Only, and Robo for their 25th Anniversary Tour.
Early life
Born in Newark, New Jersey,
At age thirteen, Cadena moved to Hermosa Beach, California. Henry Rollins joined as vocalist, and for a period, Cadena played rhythm guitar alongside founder Greg Ginn,
The band then hired Murphy's Law drummer Eric Arce who had filled in for the band on various shows over the past ten years. The band was then in the studio to finally record their new album The Devil's Rain in 2011, with Cadena writing and singing a number of songs. The album was met with mixed reviews despite debuting at number 70 on the Billboard 200. The band toured worldwide in support of the album following its release.
Between Misfits tours, Cadena plays in the NY/NJ area as "Dez Cadena + The Broken Down Bitches". He is currently working on a solo record featuring guest musicians and friends.
Cadena also contributed vocals to the song "From The Shadows" from Recognise, the debut album from UK band JD & the FDCs, which was released in July 2012. Former WWE Women's Champion Amy Dumas also appears on the track. A video, featuring Cadena, was released on March 4, 2013.
Post-Misfits
On Monday June 22, 2015, Cadena announced he was no longer in Misfits. In August 2015, it was revealed he was battling cancer.
On October 25, 2015, Cadena began performing with Jon Caspi & The First Gun on guitar and singing lead on a few songs during live performances. Together, Cadena and Jon Caspi & The First Gun recorded a song called "SUN" which was digitally released on Brighton Bar Records in February 2016. The video for the song was released on April 19, 2016.
Cadena has also been performing with his band The Buzz Aldrin Trio, playing a variety of material which has included covers of Black Flag, Television, Wire, and The Sex Pistols.
As of 2017, he has been performing and recording with Jon Caspi and the First Gun, as well as his outfit Mister Stratosphere.
Cadena continues to play and record with Jon Caspi and the First Gun, releasing three singles in 2019 (two Jon Caspi originals, "Never Change" and "Stuck On You", plus a cover of The Who classic "The Kids Are Alright"). In May 2020, the band released another single ("Drill a Whole") from their forthcoming album, "Live at 650".
In 2021, Cadena contributed lead guitar to a track called "Proof" by the horror punk band Lords of October, written by Uncle Salem, Lucifer Fulci, Aleister Kane, and October Phoenix for their concept album, "Cryptozoology". The lyric video also featuring Cadena was released on December 25, 2021, on LordsofOctober.com and YouTube.
In September and October 2022, Jon Caspi and the First Gun had several releases on Fake Chapter Records featuring Cadena, including a re-recording of "Raise 'Em High" with special guest Jesse Malin, a "live in the studio" album (The Studio 650 Sessions), and a more roots-rock oriented ep (Raise 'Em High and Other Delights).
FLAG
In 2013, Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Dez Cadena, Bill Stevenson and Descendents member Stephen Egerton, created FLAG as an offshoot of Black Flag. As of now, they are only touring. No plans for an album have been announced.
DONDO
In sept of 2025 Dez Cadena played with his band Dondo at BlueBeach Studios in Redondo Beach California
Discography
Black Flag
- "Louie Louie" (1981) *vocals
- Six Pack EP (1981) *vocals
- Damaged *rhythm guitar
- TV Party EP (1982) *rhythm guitar
- Everything Went Black (1982) *vocals
Redd Kross
- Desperate Teenage Lovedolls soundtrack (1984)
DC3
- This Is the Dream (1985)
- The Good Hex (1985)
- You're Only as Blind... (1986)
- Vida (live recordings from SST) (1989)
Vida
- Vida (1995)
Loaded
- Episode 1999: Live (1999)
Carnage Asada
- Familia Carnage Asada EP (1997)
- Permanent Trails (1999)
Misfits
- Cuts from the Crypt (2001)
- Project 1950 (2003)
- "Day the Earth Caught Fire" (2003)
- "Land of the Dead" (2009)
- "Twilight of the Dead" (2009)
- The Devil's Rain (2011)
- Dead Alive! (2013)
- "Descending Angel" (2013)
- "Science Fiction/Double Feature" (2013)
- Horror X-Mas (2013)
Osaka Popstar
- Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk (2006)
Jon Caspi and the First Gun
- "SUN" single (2016)
- "Never Change" single (2019)
- "The Kids Are Alright" single (2019)
- "Stuck on You" single (2019)
- "Drill a Whole" single (2020)
- "Hold On" single (2021)
- "She Is Fine" single (2021)
- "Raise 'Em High" single – Fake Chapter Records (2022)
- "The Studio 650 Sessions" full length – Fake Chapter Records (2022)
- "Raise 'Em High & Other Delights" ep – Fake Chapter Records (2022)
- "Raise 'Em High/Nervous Breakdown 7" vinyl – Fake Chapter Records (2023)
Lords of October
- "Proof" single (2022)
3rd Rate
- "By Reason or By Force" EP (2024)
Instruments
- Gibson Sonex (used on Damaged)
- Gibson Flying V
- Clear red B.C. Rich Warlock called "Lollipop"
- Schecter C-1 XXX
- Schecter C-1 Elite
- A black Ibanez AR Artist called "Black Betty" (used after Damaged and on many recordings afterwards)
- Black Gibson Les Paul Standard (with the Misfits)
- Schecter Damien Solo Elite (back up/touring guitar with the Misfits)