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M.E.A.T. #15 August 1990 -------------------------- DANZIG - M.E.A.T. CHOICE CUT OF THE MONTH M.E.A.T. exclusive by: Harris Rosen How can you tell Glen Danzig from the rest of the vocalists on today's scene? Well, he's the bandleader who sounds like he's carrying the intensity of the whole band on his back, that is until you see them live. He's the composer who has fronted the legendary punk group The Misfits, and went on to form the 'dirgelike' and evil Samhain, with friend, and Misfits photographer, Eerie Von. Now fronting his own band, Danzig, he has the only new album out, in a market full of hairspray poseur glam fag bands, that is saying anything. Most people who write lyrics nowadays are writing stupid throwaway lyrics, and the same holds true for their songs. "I think that the problem with music now," summizes Glen, "is a lot of people are playing music not because they like playing music, but because they want to scam on girls, do lots of drugs, and be on MTV. I think that's the wrong reason to do music. That's not what we do." On the bands second album, Danzig II-Lucifuge, the sound of their self-titled first album has been beefed up. The tracks are not as basic as the last album. The blues takes the driver seat this time around, adding an extra flavour to the songs. When they choose to strip down a song, as on the acoustic "I'm The One", it is done in a way that borders on what has been accomplished with an electric guitar. Without a doubt, this album places more emphasis on the music. It is a natural progression. Glen Danzig finally has a band that must be taken seriously. Glen bases all his lyrics on research and personal experiences. He likes to write good songs with interesting stories. "I don't want to get up there and go 'Rock n' roll, baby'. Okay, I'm offstage give me money, give me drugs. That's not my deal. There are tons of bands for kids if they want that. I think that judging from this record, and the response that we've been getting on this, and the last, tour, there's a growing number of kids out there that want a little more than a live show with their music." Finding the meaning behind all of the imagery and darkness in his words and lyrics is confusing, specifically the quote from the bio, 'Some people mistake believing in Satan for being a Satanist'. I asked Glen for an explanation. He started off by asking me if I believed in God, to which I replied, 'No'. "You don't believe in a higher form?" Glen responded. "Well then, who created you? What created you? How did your existence come into being? You must have some theory. If you really just don't know, and you don't want to make an assumption, you can't discount someone else's interpretation, because you don't have the knowledge to make that assumption. I can understand a lot of people not believing in God. There are a lot of people who don't, they just reject the theory. But there does have to be some explanation as to how this all began. I'm not saying God is an old man or whatever. He could be a total energy force, which probably makes more sense than an old man, or an old lady. In a lot of religions God is a lady. "In the end," continues Glen, "whether you believe in God or not, you ultimately control your own destiny. That's definate. If you do believe in God, you have to believe also that God created Satan because he did. What I'm saying is a lot of people will come up to you and say "Do you believe in Satan? Do you believe in God?" And you say 'Of course I do', and they try to assume you worship Satan just because you say you believe in it. It's a typical person not understanding the English language very well." So, what Glen is saying is that Satan and God are two different words for good versus evil? "Maybe, maybe not. Who says Satan is evil? There are religions that believe Satan is the good side and God is the bad side. Satan is the guy who said 'No, I'm not going to do it that way', the rebel, the whole deal. "I think that the way you're doing it is wrong. Why don't you try it my way." The guy who dared to stand up and be heard. Satan is the liberal. I think that in the beginning of the revolutionary war, I'm not positive, I'm pretty sure, the British thought that the people in the colonies were Satanists. I'm not positive, I've been researching that a little and there actually might be some basis and fact to some of that. I'm trying to find out more about that. That's something I've been interested in lately. "It's basically in the original forms of the bible, which have been abridged and fucked up by all different types of religious groups. Satan was God's right hand man. He was an angel, the top angel. What happened was he eventually led a revolt of the angels which is....I guess you don't do that." Is he using the bible as a guideline, or telling an entirely different story altogether? "Both. I know that sounds inaccurate, but it's not. A lot of it may sound like supposition, but I don't think it is. Take it as you will. Eventually, in the bible, Satan will sit again with God. Also a lot of people would understand that if there was a God, and he's as powerful as Satan says, he could have done away with Satan ages ago. There are passages in the bible that states where God is speaking, and He says that the Earth is Satan, this is His domain, and He will have free reign here to do as He pleases, pretty much. It is not a common misconception about the Earth that it is God's planet. Pretty much it's not, God has given it away to Satan as his domain. If you follow biblical teachings it is basically God's preparation for whatever, for you. "I don't think there are such things as sin," states Glen. "I mean, there is a word, and there is a meaning for it, but I don't know. In the end, when if everything does end, like if there is going to be an Armageddon, if there is actually going to be a word called 'sin', then I think everything will be forgotten, as long as you wish it so." Glen may have a significant amount of imagery in his songs, but that is not what he wants projected. The music comes first. "It's pretty much a very powerful band. It's a no nonsense band that just comes on and does a great show, and we go in the studio and do a great record. That's what we do. Anything else is just whatever people see. You can talk to ten different people at a show, and they all have a different idea about what the band is about. People see you the way they want to see you." The show is extremely intense. A few years back I saw Danzig open up for Slayer in Detroit. This was before the first album was released. The show was nothing short of a riot with Glen, Eerie, and guitarist John Christ punching and kicking anyone who got in their way. Glen says that the show is now twenty times more intense and tight. The requests for Misfits and Samhain songs have almost died. Most of the people coming to the shows now are completely oblivious to the fact there even were ealier bands. Last tour the band played two Misfits and three Samhain songs, now there will be none. "As a matter of fact," says Glen, "the guys in the band are very happy about it. Chuck (Biscuits, drums) and John especially, Eerie doesn't care. I don't want to be like an oldies band, which I'm not into at all, like all those bands that broke up in the late '70s and early '80s that are getting back together for this punk nostalgia thing that's going on right now. They're trying to regain some glimpse of fame that they never had, or that they might have had, or think that they had. It's just really embarrassing because they get up and they...I don't know, I think the excitement is gone, or something is gone out of them. They're doing it for the wrong reasons, whatever, and it's just not there. It's very enbarrassing. It just kind of dims the shining glow that I have about that period. It was exciting then, and it was really vibrant. It was changing music. A lot of people said it didn't change music, but there would be no speed metal right now, and a lot of bands wouldn't have the attitude they have right now, if the whole thing didn't happen." Danzig are set to embark on a 26-date tour with Soundgarden. They will head over to Europe, then return to America and all the places they missed the first time out. A warning to all you collectors of Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig bootleg material. When you show up and ask for an autograph, Glen will refuse to even look at it. "If you got a real record I'll sign it. I'm not signing any of that crap." DANZIG Live! With guests SOUNDGARDEN Monday August 13th, Concert Hall, TO