Glenn Danzig

Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig
	Glenn Danzig, circa 1994
Background information
Years active	1977–present

Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone on June 23, 1955 in Lodi, New Jersey, USA) is an accomplished singer and musician, and the creative force behind The Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig. He is one of the most influential individuals in dark rock music.

He is perhaps best known for his crooning vocal style, which borrows from a mix of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Jim Morrison. His career spans nearly thirty years and encompasses a multitude of musical genres - from punk rock, to heavy metal, to blues, to industrial, and classical. He is a much maligned figure due to his flirtations with the Satanic and his abrasive persona. Glenn is also a determined weightlifter, and a certified teacher of Jeet Kune Do, which he began studying in 1992 after training in the style of Muay Thai.

Early years

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Glenn Danzig circa 1973

Glenn Danzig was born into a Protestant family of Italian, German, and Scottish-American heritage. Although Glenn's birth name is Anzalone, he has stated in various interviews that "Danzig" is a family name that he adopted for personal reasons, and is not a stage name.

Glenn was introduced to hard rock music at an early age when one of his older brothers (he had two older brothers and one younger) played him an album by Blue Cheer. Not long afterwards, he saw Black Sabbath in concert, an experience that solidified his love for hard rock music. Alice Cooper, The Doors, and Elvis Presley were also among his favorite musicians/bands during his early years. His views often clashed with those of his father, who was a strict Marine Corps veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

During his teen years, though fond of drinking and causing mischief around the small town of Lodi, New Jersey, Glenn also spent a lot of his time dwelling in his bedroom - where he indulged in gory horror films, comic books, professional wrestling, pornography, and Japanese Animation (especially Captain Harlock and Devilman). He became an avid collector. His collections ranging from rare Japanese toys, to comic and occult books, and the skulls of deceased animals.

He graduated from Lodi High School in 1973. He aspired to become a professional comic book artist, and also had an interest in photography. He had trouble maintaining a steady job due to his stubborn attitude and tendency to clash with authority.

Musical career

Glenn 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. Glenn 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, twenty-one year old Glenn Danzig got serious about music, wanting to do an all original band. So he started The Misfits, taking the band's name from Marilyn Monroe's last film. The Misfits combined campy horror and sci-fi lyrics/imagery with Danzig's melodic vocals, backed by chaotic punk thrashing.

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

He devoted his full attention to another band project, which he had already begun working on, called Samhain. Samhain was a darker, more occult and "real life horror" themed band that strayed from the tongue-in-cheek imagery of The Misfits. Samhain released two full length albums and an EP of gritty deathrock music.

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Glenn Danzig, circa 1990

During this time, Glenn took an interest in Eastern philosophy, and aspired to reach his peak physical and mental condition. He stopped his reckless drinking, undertook serious body building, and began to study martial arts - namely Jeet Kune Do, founded by Bruce Lee.

In 1987, Samhain was signed to a major label and the name of the band was changed to Danzig. The band consisted of lead guitarist John Christ, bassist Eerie Von, and former Black Flag drummer Chuck Biscuits. Glenn continued to evolve his music into a combination of dark, brooding heavy metal, and classic blues.

In 1993, Glenn Danzig reached the height of his popularity and broke into the mainstream when the live video for his song "Mother" became a hit on MTV five years after the original song was recorded.

In 1995, after four dark and bluesy hard rock albums, the band underwent a complete overhaul. The original lineup had fallen apart, as had Danzig's relationship with their record label, American Recordings. Glenn enlisted new band mates, signed to a new label, and began recording Blackacidevil, the fifth Danzig album. With Blackacidevil, Glenn once again altered the direction of his music, this time infusing heavy metal with industrial rock.

Danzig's subsequent musical offerings have strayed from the industrial influence of Blackacidevil, focusing instead on dark and heavy doom metal. The Danzig band lineup continued to change with the albums. Although Danzig's later releases never got the mainstream attention of the "Mother" single, the band has maintained a worldwide cult following.

In 2005, Danzig's tours to support the Circle of Snakes album and the Blackest of the Black festival, have been notable for the special guest appearance of Doyle, The Misfits most prominent guitarist who has become an iconic figure to fans of the band. Doyle joined Danzig on stage for a set of classic Misfits songs, to the ecstatic approval of fans. Glenn, who had been shooting down rumors of a Misfits reunion for many years, has stated that seeing him perform with Doyle is as close as anyone will ever get to seeing a true Misfits reunion.

Legacy

Danzig's hit song, "Mother", continues to be a staple in Hard Rock radio station playlists. Over the years, his music has influenced many (from Rob Zombie to Melissa Auf der Maur, to Metallica to AFI to Cradle of Filth). He has also composed songs for music legends Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.

He currently owns a comic book publishing company called Verotik, which publishes dark comics intended for an adult audience.

He continues to record music and perform with the band that shares his namesake, although he plans to take time off from touring so he can produce other bands and direct horror films.

Trivia

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

He was approached by 20th Century Fox three times between 1995-1999 to play the part of Wolverine in the film adaptation of X-Men, in the end he reluctantly turned down the role due to scheduling conflicts.

In the early 2000s, Glenn provided a voiceover to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim TV show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, portraying himself attempting to purchase a house with blood flowing from its walls and taps.

References

Coast to Coast - October, 1981
Concrete Foundations - December 10, 1988
MTV News, June 3, 1997
Interview with Glenn Danzig by Adrian Breeman WHSR Loud Rock music October 28, 1999
Heavy Metal's Dark Angel EntertainmentPress - December 21, 1999