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Danzig

Data updated on 2025-04-25 07:20:28 UTC
After becoming a cult hero as the lead singer of the Misfits and Samhain, Glenn Danzig finally stepped into the mainstream with his group Danzig, who took the horror-themed lyrical imagery of his earlier groups into darker and more devilish directions while draping his rough but melodic tunes in heavy metal garb. Featuring former Samhain members John Christ (guitar) and Eerie Von (bass) along with powerhouse hardcore drummer Chuck Biscuits (formerly of Black Flag, D.O.A., and the Circle Jerks), Danzig was an ideal vehicle for the frontman's booming, theatrical vocal style (Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Jim Morrison were often cited as his key influences) and the gothic melodrama of his songwriting. Danzig's first two albums -- 1988's Danzig and 1990's Danzig II: Lucifuge -- set the template for his new sound as he gained greater visibility, and for many, 1992's Danzig III: How the Gods Kill would remain his definitive work. The 1993 EP Thrall: Demonsweatlive combined studio and live material, earning Danzig a major MTV hit with a live version of "Mother," but 1994's Danzig 4 was the final album featuring the original lineup. 1996's Danzig 5: Blackacidevil found the frontman exploring industrial-influenced sounds and taking a larger role as an instrumentalist. Through the rest of the '90s and up to 2010, the Danzig lineup was a revolving door and their releases reflected a lack of stability, but with 2010's Deth Red Sabaoth they took a more aggressive and more focused attack suggesting the Misfits and Samhain. Glenn paid homage to a number of his key influences on 2015's Skeletons and 2020's Danzig Sings Elvis.

Glenn Danzig co-founded the Misfits in Lodi, New Jersey in 1977. They rose from obscurity to become one of the biggest bands in the hardcore underground before they broke up in 1984. Almost immediately after the Misfits called it quits, Danzig formed the metallic, brooding Samhain in order to experiment with different sounds, but that project imploded as well. The band Danzig was put together in 1987, and quickly inked a deal with Rick Rubin's Def American label. Their self-titled debut found Danzig playing the Satanic metal singer role to the hilt, even if the band's songs sounded much the same. Danzig II: Lucifuge followed in 1990, and it broadened the band's musical palette, expanding on the simple blues riffs of the debut with more extensive forays into that style. Danzig III: How the Gods Kill marked a full-fledged entry into the realm of gothic romanticism, working to create moods rather than pounding heavy metal aggression. "Dirty Black Summer" and "How the Gods Kill" became staples on MTV's Headbanger's Ball.

Danzig next released a solo project, Black Aria, a quasi-operatic attempt at classical instrumentals depicting the fall of Satan from heaven. The band broke through into the mainstream in 1993, when a live video for "Mother," a song originally released on Danzig that appeared in a live version on the EP Thrall: Demonsweatlive, became an inescapable smash on MTV and even charted as a single, nearly cracking the Billboard Top 40. Meanwhile, Danzig contributed a song entitled "Thirteen" to Johnny Cash's acclaimed 1994 effort American Recordings. The more experimental Danzig 4 was released in 1994 and entered the charts at number 29, but its quiet, moody, atmospheric subtlety didn't find as much favor with the band's new audience as the anthemic "Mother," while some longtime fans dismissed it as too mellow, and therefore commercial.

During the supporting tour, Chuck Biscuits left the band and was replaced by Joey Castillo. Following the tour, Danzig broke up the band and formed a new version featuring ex-Prong guitarist/vocalist Tommy Victor, drummer Castillo, and bassist Josh Lazie; this lineup released Danzig 5: Blackacidevil on Halloween 1996. Blackacidevil was ignored by both the press and the public, falling out of the charts after a mere three weeks. 6:66 Satan's Child followed in 1999; Live on the Black Hand Side appeared two years later.

In 2002 and 2004, respectively, Danzig released the stripped-down 777: I Luciferi and Circle of Snakes, both returns to form that found the artist emulating the simplistic brutality of his 1988 debut. Black Aria II arrived in the fall of 2006. The band did a tour in 2008 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut before releasing their ninth album, Deth Red Sabaoth, in 2010. By this time Danzig has finally found a steady lineup, with Glenn joined by Tommy Victor on guitar, Steve Zing on bass, and Johnny Kelly on drums, though Glenn continued to contribute guitar, bass, and keyboards to their studio sessions. Skeletons, a ten-track collection of newly recorded covers that included Danzig-blasted renditions of Aerosmith's "Lord of the Thighs," the Everly Brothers' "Crying in the Rain," and Davie Allan & the Arrows' theme from the 1967 biker film "Devils Angels," arrived in 2015.

2016 saw Danzig setting aside years of legal and personal squabbles with Misfits bassist Jerry Only -- who had been leading his own edition of the band since 1996 -- to play a pair of shows headlining that year's Riot Fest festivals in Denver and Chicago under the banner the Original Misfits, joined by guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, second guitarist Acey Slade, and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. The success of the Riot Fest dates led to a number of other Original Misfits shows (including a sold-out appearance at Madison Square Garden), while Glenn kept Danzig active, releasing the album Black Laden Crown in 2017. Long a serious Elvis fan, Glenn began recording covers of songs from the Presley catalog at his sessions, initially with an eye toward putting out a tribute EP. In time, the collection of Elvis tracks grew into a full-length album, and Danzig Sings Elvis was released in April 2020. Live work dominated Danzig's schedule over the next several years, with occasional Misfits shows and, in 2023, a tour commemorating the 35th anniversary of the release of Danzig -- he performed the album in full at each show. ~ Steve Huey & Mark Deming, Rovi

Total plays

565.2 million
Updated on 2025-04-25

Monthly listeners

2,729,738

Followers

1,018,367

Top Cities

  1. Chile
    45,525 listeners
  2. United States
    33,290 listeners
  3. Brazil
    39,611 listeners
  4. United States
    30,296 listeners
  5. Australia
    31,186 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Mother
Mother
329,041,423 3:25 1988-01-01
Am I Demon
Am I Demon
32,203,800 4:57 1988-01-01
Twist Of Cain
Twist Of Cain
24,920,102 4:18 1988-01-01
Devil's Plaything
Devil's Plaything
16,311,167 4:14 1990-01-01
Blood And Tears
Blood And Tears
15,981,527 4:20 1990-01-01
Long Way Back From Hell
Long Way Back From Hell
15,102,535 4:23 1990-01-01
How The Gods Kill
How The Gods Kill
13,621,091 5:56 1992-01-01
She Rides
She Rides
12,669,416 5:11 1988-01-01
Her Black Wings
Her Black Wings
9,444,209 4:47 1990-01-01
Soul On Fire
Soul On Fire
6,237,565 4:37 1988-01-01
Not Of This World
Not Of This World
5,944,672 3:42 1988-01-01
Dirty Black Summer
Dirty Black Summer
5,234,270 5:13 1992-01-01
Tired Of Being Alive
Tired Of Being Alive
5,050,105 4:04 1990-01-01
I'm The One
I'm The One
4,154,354 3:22 1990-01-01
Killer Wolf
Killer Wolf
4,131,666 3:59 1990-01-01
Snakes Of Christ
Snakes Of Christ
3,606,052 4:34 1990-01-01
777
777
3,394,033 5:40 1990-01-01
Sistinas
Sistinas
3,310,072 4:20 1992-01-01
Possession
Possession
3,275,827 3:56 1988-01-01
Anything
Anything
3,034,517 4:50 1992-01-01
The Hunter
The Hunter
2,976,699 3:32 1988-01-01
Thirteen
Thirteen
2,894,091 4:17 1999-07-01
End Of Time
End Of Time
2,865,632 4:03 1988-01-01
Evil Thing
Evil Thing
2,708,747 3:16 1988-01-01
Mother - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
Mother - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
2,234,014 3:31 1993-01-01
Left Hand Black
Left Hand Black
2,146,545 4:29 1992-01-01
Cantspeak
Cantspeak
2,105,598 4:06 1994-01-01
Bodies
Bodies
2,080,143 4:24 1992-01-01
Girl
Girl
1,851,133 4:12 1990-01-01
Going Down To Die
Going Down To Die
1,476,342 4:60 1994-01-01
Godless
Godless
1,342,565 6:51 1992-01-01
Pain In The World
Pain In The World
1,308,881 5:52 1990-01-01
Until You Call On The Dark
Until You Call On The Dark
1,141,713 4:25 1994-01-01
Heart Of The Devil
Heart Of The Devil
1,113,086 4:37 1992-01-01
Do You Wear The Mark
Do You Wear The Mark
1,091,821 4:47 1992-01-01
I Don't Mind The Pain
I Don't Mind The Pain
1,090,480 4:46 1994-01-01
Brand New God
Brand New God
1,020,113 4:30 1994-01-01
It's Coming Down
It's Coming Down
975,644 3:36 1993-01-01
Black Hell
Black Hell
924,233 4:15 2024-09-13
When The Dying Calls
When The Dying Calls
875,103 3:32 1992-01-01
Black Mass
Black Mass
834,155 4:59 2002-05-21
Little Whip
Little Whip
810,199 5:10 1994-01-01
Dominion
Dominion
805,550 4:13 1994-01-01
Trouble
Trouble
732,059 3:23 1993-01-01
Bringer Of Death
Bringer Of Death
622,964 4:40 1994-01-01
Eyes Ripping Fire
Eyes Ripping Fire
564,375 4:19 2020-02-21
The Violet Fire
The Violet Fire
551,180 4:58 1993-01-01
Let It Be Captured
Let It Be Captured
522,538 5:17 1994-01-01
Five Finger Crawl
Five Finger Crawl
456,233 3:39 1999-07-01
Stalker Song
Stalker Song
425,839 5:48 1994-01-01
Son Of The Morning Star
Son Of The Morning Star
424,690 5:04 1994-01-01
Sadistikal
Sadistikal
328,356 5:07 1994-01-01
Kiss The Skull
Kiss The Skull
325,167 4:11 2002-05-21
Belly of the Beast
Belly of the Beast
323,407 4:29 1999-07-01
Wicked Pussycat
Wicked Pussycat
277,849 4:04 2002-05-21
Lilin
Lilin
259,331 6:32 1999-07-01
Ashes
Ashes
213,519 5:29 1996-10-29
Sistinas - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
Sistinas - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
208,671 4:04 1993-01-01
1000 Devils Reign
1000 Devils Reign
208,604 3:48 2004-07-01
Who Killed Marilyn?
Who Killed Marilyn?
204,916 1:45 2023-09-22
I Luciferi
I Luciferi
187,252 3:15 2002-05-21
The Coldest Sun
The Coldest Sun
183,676 3:59 2002-05-21
Dead Inside
Dead Inside
180,310 5:17 2002-05-21
Snakes Of Christ - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
Snakes Of Christ - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
178,502 4:18 1993-01-01
Am I Demon - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
Am I Demon - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
166,985 4:21 1993-01-01
God Of Light
God Of Light
164,400 3:39 2002-05-21
Circle of Snakes
Circle of Snakes
155,811 3:08 2004-07-01
Liberskull
Liberskull
148,621 5:45 2002-05-21
Angel Blake
Angel Blake
146,181 3:36 2002-05-21
Unspeakable
Unspeakable
133,464 4:14 1999-07-01
Naked Witch
Naked Witch
130,489 3:56 2002-05-21
SkinCarver
SkinCarver
129,035 3:57 2004-07-01
Without Light, I Am
Without Light, I Am
121,838 5:33 2002-05-21
Halo Godess Bone
Halo Godess Bone
119,085 4:30 2002-05-21
Firemass
Firemass
118,674 3:54 1999-07-01
Hand of Doom: Version
Hand of Doom: Version
111,914 2:53 1996-10-29
Into the Mouth of Abandonment
Into the Mouth of Abandonment
105,551 4:38 1999-07-01
Spook City USA
Spook City USA
104,877 2:12 2023-09-22
Cold Eternal
Cold Eternal
86,354 4:42 1999-07-01
Satan's Child
Satan's Child
86,057 3:30 1999-07-01
Sacrifice
Sacrifice
82,223 4:29 1996-10-29
Netherbound
Netherbound
81,919 3:42 2004-07-01
Come to Silver
Come to Silver
80,495 4:01 1996-10-29
Cult Without a Name
Cult Without a Name
79,723 4:42 1999-07-01
Intro - Live 1989
Intro - Live 1989
75,914 1:54 2022-05-18
7th House
7th House
71,974 3:48 1996-10-29
Mother - Live 1989
Mother - Live 1989
71,400 3:07 2022-05-18
Black Angel, White Angel
Black Angel, White Angel
71,148 4:24 2004-07-01
See All You Were
See All You Were
67,238 5:03 1996-10-29
Blackacidevil
Blackacidevil
63,925 4:25 1996-10-29
Shifter
Shifter
58,450 1:33 1992-07-01
East Indian Devil (Kali's Song)
East Indian Devil (Kali's Song)
57,012 4:05 1999-07-01
Overture: Winged Night Demon
Overture: Winged Night Demon
54,886 1:22 2006-07-01
Her Black Wings - Live 1989
Her Black Wings - Live 1989
50,998 1:37 2022-05-18
Apokalips
Apokalips
50,259 4:47 1999-07-01
Hint of Her Blood
Hint of Her Blood
50,088 5:03 1996-10-29
Am I Demon? - Live 1989
Am I Demon? - Live 1989
47,162 4:31 2022-05-18
Power of Darkness
Power of Darkness
43,944 3:20 1996-10-29
Invocation
Invocation
43,647 0:04 1994-01-01
To Walk The Night - Live 1989
To Walk The Night - Live 1989
42,988 2:34 2022-05-18
Abbandonment / Recreation
Abbandonment / Recreation
42,571 4:13 2006-07-01
Who Killed Marilyn? - 2015 Remix
Who Killed Marilyn? - 2015 Remix
41,910 1:54 2023-09-22
When We Were Dead
When We Were Dead
41,324 4:47 2004-07-01
And The Angels Weep
And The Angels Weep
41,277 1:18 1992-07-01
Twist Of Cain - Live 1989
Twist Of Cain - Live 1989
41,148 3:35 2022-05-18
Serpentia
Serpentia
40,395 6:41 1996-10-29
Overture Of The Rebel Angels
Overture Of The Rebel Angels
40,216 2:42 1992-07-01
Skull Forest
Skull Forest
38,838 5:07 2004-07-01
Wotans Procession
Wotans Procession
37,032 2:23 2004-07-01
Zemaragad
Zemaragad
36,393 3:58 2006-07-01
Unendlich
Unendlich
32,241 1:51 2002-05-21
Soul On Fire - Live 1989
Soul On Fire - Live 1989
31,676 4:24 2022-05-18
HellMask
HellMask
31,509 3:14 2004-07-01
Spook City USA - 2015 Remix
Spook City USA - 2015 Remix
31,030 2:12 2023-09-22
Bridal Ceremony of The Lilitu
Bridal Ceremony of The Lilitu
31,009 2:17 2006-07-01
Conspiracy Dirge
Conspiracy Dirge
30,941 1:59 1992-07-01
Lamia
Lamia
30,597 4:15 2006-07-01
She Rides - Live 1989
She Rides - Live 1989
30,077 4:53 2022-05-18
Dance of the Succubi
Dance of the Succubi
29,399 2:22 2006-07-01
Battle For Heaven
Battle For Heaven
29,373 3:54 1992-07-01
The Succubus Feeds
The Succubus Feeds
29,149 2:21 2006-07-01
Night, BeSodom
Night, BeSodom
28,686 3:28 2004-07-01
My Darkness
My Darkness
27,763 4:22 2004-07-01
The Morrigu
The Morrigu
26,994 4:25 1992-07-01
Dirge Of Defeat
Dirge Of Defeat
26,870 1:48 1992-07-01
London Dungeon - Live 1989
London Dungeon - Live 1989
26,773 2:29 2022-05-18
Unclean Sephira
Unclean Sephira
26,438 3:47 2006-07-01
All Hell Breaks Loose - Live 1989
All Hell Breaks Loose - Live 1989
26,198 1:17 2022-05-18
Mother Of Mercy - Live 1989
Mother Of Mercy - Live 1989
25,811 2:44 2022-05-18
LCKR
LCKR
25,422 1:43 2006-07-01
04 Retreat And Descent
04 Retreat And Descent
25,302 3:53 1992-07-01
John Christ Noodling - Live 1989
John Christ Noodling - Live 1989
24,765 1:28 2022-05-18
Demons Reprise
Demons Reprise
24,178 3:13 2006-07-01
End Of Time - Live 1989
End Of Time - Live 1989
23,974 3:39 2022-05-18
Shiddin
Shiddin
23,219 2:38 2006-07-01
Cwn Anwnn
Cwn Anwnn
21,394 2:13 1992-07-01
777 - Live 1989
777 - Live 1989
20,769 4:54 2022-05-18
Horror Biz - Live 1989
Horror Biz - Live 1989
18,639 2:27 2022-05-18
The Hunter - Live 1989
The Hunter - Live 1989
16,921 3:05 2022-05-18
Not Of This World - Live 1989
Not Of This World - Live 1989
16,717 6:43 2022-05-18
When Death Had No Name - Live 1989
When Death Had No Name - Live 1989
15,614 4:60 2022-05-18
Evil Thing - Live 1989
Evil Thing - Live 1989
15,594 2:49 2022-05-18
T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Live 1989
T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Live 1989
14,418 2:56 2022-05-18
Lamenta Lilith
Lamenta Lilith
10,280 2:37 2006-07-01
Anthem of the Free City of Danzig
Anthem of the Free City of Danzig
2,142 1:37 2005-12-14

New releases

Black Hell
Black Hell
2024-09-13
[Cleopatra Records]
Who Killed Marilyn?
Who Killed Marilyn?
2023-09-22
[Cleopatra Records]
Crimson Highway (Live 1989)
Crimson Highway (Live 1989)
2022-05-18
[Maquette]
Black Aria II
Black Aria II
2006-07-01
[Cleopatra Records]
Anthem of the Free City of Danzig
Anthem of the Free City of Danzig
2005-12-14
[Japan Sixty One]
Circle of Snakes
Circle of Snakes
2004-07-01
[Cleopatra Records]
777: I Luciferi
777: I Luciferi
2002-05-21
[Cleopatra Records]
6:66: Satan's Child
6:66: Satan's Child
1999-07-01
[Cleopatra Records]
Danzig 5: Blackacidevil
Danzig 5: Blackacidevil
1996-10-29
[Cleopatra Records]
Danzig 4
Danzig 4
1994-10-04
[American Recordings Catalog P&D]
Danzig 4
Danzig 4
1994-01-01
[Universal/Island Def Jam]
Thrall-Demonsweatlive
Thrall-Demonsweatlive
1993-01-01
[American Recordings Catalog P&D]
Thrall-Demonsweatlive
Thrall-Demonsweatlive
1993-01-01
[American Recordings Catalog P&D]
Black Aria
Black Aria
1992-07-01
[Cleopatra Records]
Danzig III: How The Gods Kill
Danzig III: How The Gods Kill
1992-01-01
[American Recordings Catalog P&D]
Danzig II: Lucifuge
Danzig II: Lucifuge
1990-01-01
[American Recordings Catalog P&D]
Danzig
Danzig
1988-01-01
[American Recordings Catalog P&D]