danzig

His musical career spans nearly thirty years, encompassing a range of genres from punk rock, heavy metal and industrial to blues and classical, and has influenced most notably Rob Zombie, Melissa Auf der Maur, Metallica, AFI and countless others. His songs have been covered by Metallica, Behemoth, Guns N' Roses, and AFI, among others. He has also written songs for long-time idols Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.

As a singer, he is noted for his powerful and broad vocal range. ^[1][2][3] As an author, he is known for his fascination with horror, gore, occult, adult and religious themes.

His distinctive vocal style, which is reminiscent of Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison and Howlin' Wolf, coupled with his image and lyrical subject matter, have made him a controversial figure throughout his career; earning him the nickname of "Evil Elvis" along the way.

Early years

Glenn Danzig was born into a Protestant family of Italian, German, and Scottish-American heritage alongside two older brothers and one younger brother. Their father was a strict Marine Corps veteran of World War II and the Korean War who worked as a television repairman. Within this setting, Glenn was introduced to hard rock music at an early age when one of his older brothers played him an album by Blue Cheer.

He became an avid collector of comic books (especially Golden Age comics), rare Japanese toys, occult books, horror related articles, b-movie posters, Japanese Animation videos, (especially Astro Boy, Black Jack, Captain Harlock and Devilman) and the skulls of deceased animals. He was an outsider and often teased in school.

He graduated from Lodi High School in 1973 aspiring to become a comic book writer and/or photographer.

Musical career

Danzig started in the music business at the age of 11 - first as a drum roadie, and then as a bass player in a few local garage bands. He had never taken vocal lessons, but the first time he auditioned for the role of a vocalist, he was surprised at the powerful voice he could achieve. His vocal prowess soon got him noticed in the local scene. Throughout his teenage years he sang for several local bands, such as Talus and Whodat And Boojang - most of which played half original songs and half Black Sabbath songs.

In 1977, at twenty-one years of age, Danzig started The Misfits, taking the band's name from Marilyn Monroe's last film. The Misfits combined Danzig's harmonic vocals with camp-horror imagery and lyrics, all backed by chaotic punk thrashing.

In 1983, after releasing several singles, two albums, and gaining a small, but devoted underground following, Danzig disbanded The Misfits due to increasing animosity among the band members and his dissatisfaction with their musical abilities.

After The Misfits, he began work on a new band project - Samhain. In 1987, Samhain was signed to a major label by producer Rick Rubin and the name of the band was changed to Danzig. The band consisted of lead guitarist John Christ, bassist Eerie Von, and former D.O.A. drummer Chuck Biscuits.

In 1986 Danzig was approached by Roy Orbison, for whom he wrote the song "Life Fades Away", which was featured in the 1986 movie "Less Than Zero". Danzig also contributed to the film's soundtrack with "You and Me (Less Than Zero)". Eerie Von has said that Danzig commented that the song was a salute to the 1950s song "To Sir with Love" by LuLu, and the tracks have similar instrument changes. The track is credited to "Glen Danzig and the Power and Fury Orchestra" The Power and Fury Orchestra featured the same membership as Danzig, with the exception of Eerie Von, who didn't like the way producer Rick Rubin wanted the bass to be played on this song (George Drakoulias is credited with bass duties).

In 1988, their debut self-entitled album Danzig (album) followed on from the essentially heavy-metal Samhain sound. Stand-out tracks included "Twist Of Cain", "Not Of This World", "Am I Demon", "Mother", and the heart-thumping "Evil Thing". While other tracks like "She Rides", "End Of Time" and "Soul On Fire" signalled Danzig's prowess with softer melodic vocalizations.

In 1990, their follow-up album Danzig II: Lucifuge marked an immediate change of musical direction. Featuring a strong Blues influence, it has often been cited as the most popular Danzig album among fans. Stand-out tracks included the bluegrass dobro of "777", the hard-rocking "Girl" and "Her Black Wings", as well as the lilting, Elvis-inspired "I'm The One" and "Blood and Tears".

In 1992, Danzig once again musically about-faced, releasing the fast, power-chord driven Danzig III: How the Gods Kill. Of the 10 songs, only the sad and soft "Sistinas" diverges from the unrelenting, dominant guitar riffs and angry lyrical content of songs like "Left Hand Black", "Godless" and "Bodies".

In 1993-1994, Danzig reached the height of their popularity and broke into the mainstream when the live video of "Mother '93" became a hit on MTV, seven years after the original song was recorded.

In 1994, the release of Danzig 4 saw a revisiting of the hard-Blues sound and further development of his vocal range; most notable in songs like "Let It Be Captured" and the haunting "Cantspeak".

In 1996, the band underwent a complete overhaul. The original lineup had fallen apart, as had Glenn Danzig's relationship with their record label, American Recordings. He enlisted new band mates, signed to a new label and recorded Blackacidevil. Once again, he explored a new musical direction; this time infusing heavy metal with industrial rock.

Danzig's subsequent three albums; the 1999 6:66 Satan's Child, the 2002 I Luciferi, and the 2004 Circle of Snakes; all musically and lyrically evolved to a more stripped down, heavier Goth metal. The Danzig lineup continued to change with each album, while Danzig's voice started to show the strain of nearly 30 years of touring.

Although Danzig's later releases never got the mainstream attention that the single "Mother" achieved, the band has maintained a growing worldwide cult following.

In 2005, Glenn Danzig's tours to support the Circle of Snakes album and the Blackest of the Black festival, were highlighted by the special guest appearance of Doyle, The Misfits guitarist. Doyle joined Danzig on stage for a 20 minute set of classic 'Misfits' songs. Afterwards, Danzig stated that this would be the closest anyone would see him to a 'Misfits' reunion. ^{citation needed]}

Immediately afterwards, he took a break from touring to work on other projects and produce other bands. He is currently producing and directing his first feature film, "Ge Rouge", as well as putting the finishing touches on his second solo album Black Aria II (the follow-up to the Classical album Black Aria), which is slated for release October 17, 2006.

Trivia

• He made a brief appearance in the film The Prophecy II as the fallen angel Samyael.

• He provided a voiceover to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim TV show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force. He portrayed himself attempting to purchase a house in New Jersey, with blood flowing from its walls and taps, in the episode "Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future" (first aired 29 December 2002).

• He has a fascination with art, and did some of the illustrations on The Misfits' "Horror Business" EP, Samhain's "November-Coming-Fire" LP, and Danzig's self-titled LP, as well as the Danzig 4 LP.

• He was approached a few times by 20th Century Fox in the late 1990's for the part of Wolverine in the film adaptation of X-Men. When Fox finally decided on a director/producer team, he had to turn down their offer due to the condition that he was expected to be on the set for nine consecutive months, putting his band and touring on hold.^[4][5][6]

• He is a determined weight-lifter and certified teacher of Jeet Kune Do. ^{citation needed]} After training in the style of Muay Thai, he began studying Jeet Kune Do in 1992 under Jerry Poteet, one of Bruce Lee's five original students.

• He has a large tattoo on his left arm that depicts skeletons in a bonfire feast, a bat, and a wolf with the words "Wolf's Blood" emblazoned around it. [1] Most of these tattoos are pictures from his various Misfits and Samhain album covers. His lower back features a tattoo that says "Devilman" in Japanese characters. ^{citation needed]} Danzig's tattoos, along with those of former bandmates Eerie Von, Jerry Only, Doyle, and friend Henry Rollins, were completed by tattoo artist Rick Spellman. ^[7]

• Danzig has been the subject of speculation regarding two backstage confrontations in his musical career. The first is an incident where he is alleged to have yelled at the wife of Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell to "Get the fuck out of the way!" while carrying a bowl of soup, wherein was then allegedly kicked in the rear end and knocked down, dropping his soup. Joe Elliot and Vivian Campbell claimed this in an interview with MuchMusic, though did not disclose who did the alleged kicking. [2] After the incident was brought to public attention, Def American issued a press release in which Danzig states "This story is a total fabrication. Anyone who knows me or my past knows that I never walk away from a fight. It's true that an altercation occurred, but we never came to blows, as reported."

• Additionally, a physical confrontation that took place at the end of a July 3, 2004 concert in Tuba City, Arizona between Danzig and Danny Marianinho of North Side Kings was captured on video. The argument started when technicians at the venue raised the lights and began taking the stage apart after Danzig's set, obstensibly ending the concert before North Side Kings and Rapid Fire (band), who claim they had agreed to later set times, could begin their scheduled sets. Danzig can be heard saying "Fuck you, motherfucker!" before shoving Marianinho, who then retaliates with a punch that knocks Danzig out.

References

Discography

The Misfits

Studio albums

• Walk Among Us (1982) - LP
• Earth A.D. (1983) - LP
• Legacy of Brutality (1985) - Compilation
• Collection I (1986) - Compilation
• Collection II (1995) - Compilation
• Static Age (1997) - LP
• 12 Hits From Hell (2000) – LP

Singles

• Cough/Cool (1977) - 7" single
• Bullet (1978) - 7" EP
• Horror Business (1979) - 7" EP
• Night of the Living Dead (1979) - 7" single
• Beware (1980) - 12" EP
• 3 Hits from Hell (1981) - 7" EP
• Halloween (1981) - 7" single
• Die, Die My Darling (1984) - 12" single

Live albums

• Evilive (1982) - 7" EP

Samhain

Studio albums

• Initium (1984) - LP
• November-Coming-Fire (1986) - LP
• Final Descent (1990) - LP; reissued with new / different tracks (2000)

E.P.

• Unholy Passion (1985) - 12" EP

Compilations

• Samhain Box Set (2000) - box set

Danzig

Studio albums

• Danzig (1988) - LP
• Danzig II: Lucifuge (1990) - LP
• Danzig III: How the Gods Kill (1992) - LP
• Danzig 4 (1994) - LP
• Danzig 5: Blackacidevil (1996) - LP
• Danzig 6:66: Satan's Child (1999) - LP
• Danzig 777: I Luciferi (2002) - LP
• Circle of Snakes (2004) - LP

E.P.

• Thrall/Demonsweatlive (1993) - EP
• Sacrifice (1997), (reissued 2000 with extra tracks) - EP

Singles

• "Mother" (1988) - promotional CD single
• "Her Black Wings" (1990) - promotional CD single
• "Killer Wolf" (1990) - promotional CD single
• "A Taste Of Danzig III" (1992) - promotional CD single
• "Dirty Black Summer" (1992) - CD single
• "How The Gods Kill" (1992) - promotional CD single
• "It's Coming Down" (1993) - promotional CD single
• "Mother '93" (1993) - promotional and wide-release CD singles
• "Until You Call On The Dark" - (1994) - promotional CD single
• "Brand New God" (1994) - promotional CD single
• "Cantspeak" (1994) - CD single
• "I Don't Mind The Pain" (1995) - CD single
• "7th House" (1996) - promotional CD single
• "Sacrifice" (1996) - CD single
• "Unspeakable" (1999) - promotional CD single

Soundtracks

• "Life Fades Away" Written by Glenn Danzig performed by Roy OrbisonLess Than Zero Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1987)
• "Deep" Songs in the Key of X: Music from and Inspired by the X-Files(1996)
• "underBelly of the Beast" The Crow: Salvation Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2000)

Live albums

• Live on the Black Hand Side (2001) - double-LP

Official Videography

• Danzig III: How the Gods Kill: Special Limited Edition CD/VHS Box Set (1992)
• Archive de la Morte (2004) - DVD
• Il Demonio Nera (2005) - DVD

Solo

• "Who Killed Marilyn?" (1981) - 7" single
• Black Aria (1992) - LP
• Black Aria II (2006) - LP

Other

• Kinghorse (1990) (eponymous debut album produced by Danzig)
• Songs From The Earth by Son of Sam (2001) (Danzig plays guitar on track 2, and guitar + keyboards on track 5)

Glenn Danzig & the Power and Fury Orchestra

• You and Me (Less Than Zero) (1987) - Less Than Zero soundtrack

External links

• Official Danzig/Verotik Site
• 7th House - Official Danzig Fansite
• Misfits Central
• One Thirty Eight
• Fiendclub.org Misfits/Samhain Collectors and Fan Forum
• Danzig's Hell
• Glenn Danzig at the Internet Movie Database