Glenn Danzig has never been interested in following trends. From his days fronting the Misfits and Samhain to building his own cult empire with Danzig, he’s kept things on his own terms.
Now, as he gears up for a short run of shows this March, he’s looking back at what’s mattered most in his career. In doing so, he has certainly made it clear that he’s not interested in chasing anything new.
When asked about the most satisfying album of his career, Danzig pointed straight to Danzig III: How the Gods Kill. It was a turning point for him, cracking the Billboard Top 20 and pushing the band into mainstream consciousness. “I remember walking into a mall, and there was our record. I couldn’t believe it. We were never in a mall before,” he told Full Metal Jackie. The album didn’t just make an impact in the States, it took off in Europe too. It truly cemented How the Gods Kill as the record that truly put Danzig on the map.
Despite his stacked catalogue, Danzig has no plans to write or record new music in the future. “No,” he said bluntly when asked if he’d head back into the studio. “The whole music thing and recording has changed dramatically. People don’t buy physical albums anymore, they just want to download it for free.” For him, the incentive to make new records is gone. If anything, he says, he’d only record something if he felt like giving it away.
While there’s no new music on the horizon, fans will get to see him live—at least briefly. His upcoming tour spans just six dates, with a lineup featuring Down, Abbath, and Cro-Mags. “I’ve known [Down’s] Phil Anselmo forever. And everyone knows I’m a big black metal fan, so having Abbath on is fantastic. And I’ve known Harley Flanagan since he was a kid in Cro-Mags, so… It’s gonna blow everybody’s doors off.”
Danzig has made it clear that long tours aren’t for him. “I don’t really like going on tour, as you can see. I’m only doing six shows. I don’t mind a one-off here or there, but I don’t like riding around on a bus.” Rising touring costs have only added to the frustration. “The last time I went out, bus and gas prices had gone through the roof. It’s even crazier now.” He acknowledges that for younger bands, touring is even harder. “They have to do it in a van, like we did back in the day.”
For now, these six shows are all that’s locked in, and beyond that, Danzig’s future remains to be seen. “I love performing, I just hate being on a bus,” he added. But with a lineup this solid, there’s no doubt these shows will be as raw and intense as ever.
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