For the past seven years, Derek Rickard has had only one Halloween costume—Glenn Danzig. As vocalist for Bellingham-based Misfits tribute band Horror Business, Rickard howls the lyrics to 30-or-so of the bands classic anthems, like "Hybrid Moments," "Teenagers from Mars," and "She," alongside unusually deep album cuts from Earth A.D. If it's Danzig-era Misfits, chances are Rickard knows it.

Due to schedule conflicts with original members (bassist playing in Shook Ones, guitarist moving to New York), the band has a semi-rotating lineup. This years line up includes long time friends Joe Olmstead (bass), Bobby Yost (guitar) and Lance Graham (drums).

Rickard spoke to the Stranger via phone this past Thursday.

You actually sound a lot like Glenn Danzig. How long did it take to teach yourself to croon like him?

I'm kind of stuck with it. When I started playing guitar about 13 years ago, I played some punk stuff because it was the easiest stuff to learn. The ones that I really latched onto were Misfits songs. They're really basic chords and structure. Those were the first songs I could play. The band I had would play shows and it would be 70 percent Misfits songs and a few songs of our own stuff.

I never dreamed I would sing for this band, but covering all those Misfits songs is just how I started. As I've grown up I've kind of figured out how to sing without destroying my voice. I haven't had to try to sound like Danzig, it just kind of happens. It comes through in Brownes Condition (Rickard's full-time band) too. I don't have a problem with it. My biggest influence from adolescence on has been Glenn Danzig-era Misfits so it makes sense.

Have you guys ever considered furthering your set list to include Michale Graves-era Misfits?

Absolutely not. Well, on my first practice we talked about doing new Misfits stuff. We may have even tried to play "Dig Up Her Bones," but it was like," Uh..…that feels weird. We're not doing this." That's not the Misfits anyways. I really wish they wouldn't have done that.

Is it weird that I would rather see a Misfits tribute band than the Misfits in 2009?

I don't think so. I don't want to see Misfits in 2009. There are some good things that came along with Jerry Only's extreme marketing of Misfits. I wouldn't have such a collection of Misfits songs if it wasn't for Jerry Only doing all the things he does, but he has just gone way too far with it. I didn't mind Michale Graves-era stuff when it came out. American Psycho wasn't even close to original Misfits but I still liked it. Then each album after that got me more bummed. The more I saw with what was going on inside, I started thinking,"This is terrible." I don't really care to see them, I never have. Jerry Only singing is terrible. Project 1950 is one of the worst things I've ever heard. But the thing is, I keep buying this shit. I can't get away from it.

Horror Business plays tonight at the Old Foundry in Bellingham with Black Eyes and Neckties and tomorrow at the Rogue Hero (Bellingham).