Music Metrics Vault

Danzig

Data updated on 2024-10-09 18:52:16 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

519.4 million
Updated on 2024-10-09

Monthly listeners

2,145,645

Followers

954,909

Top Cities

  1. Chile
    39,647 listeners
  2. United States
    25,154 listeners
  3. Brazil
    30,554 listeners
  4. Australia
    22,670 listeners
  5. Australia
    21,528 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Mother
Mother
299,076,887 3:25 1988-01-01
Am I Demon
Am I Demon
30,082,347 4:57 1988-01-01
Twist Of Cain
Twist Of Cain
22,513,758 4:18 1988-01-01
Devil's Plaything
Devil's Plaything
15,009,071 4:14 1990-01-01
Blood And Tears
Blood And Tears
14,162,599 4:20 1990-01-01
Long Way Back From Hell
Long Way Back From Hell
13,372,706 4:23 1990-01-01
How The Gods Kill
How The Gods Kill
12,260,378 5:56 1992-01-01
She Rides
She Rides
11,781,667 5:11 1988-01-01
Her Black Wings
Her Black Wings
8,687,075 4:47 1990-01-01
Soul On Fire
Soul On Fire
5,785,747 4:37 1988-01-01
Not Of This World
Not Of This World
5,428,128 3:42 1988-01-01
Dirty Black Summer
Dirty Black Summer
4,752,099 5:13 1992-01-01
Tired Of Being Alive
Tired Of Being Alive
4,504,130 4:04 1990-01-01
Killer Wolf
Killer Wolf
3,883,999 3:59 1990-01-01
I'm The One
I'm The One
3,763,755 3:22 1990-01-01
Snakes Of Christ
Snakes Of Christ
3,329,323 4:34 1990-01-01
777
777
3,199,210 5:40 1990-01-01
Possession
Possession
3,072,178 3:56 1988-01-01
Sistinas
Sistinas
3,027,202 4:20 1992-01-01
The Hunter
The Hunter
2,768,719 3:32 1988-01-01
Anything
Anything
2,739,273 4:50 1992-01-01
End Of Time
End Of Time
2,673,852 4:03 1988-01-01
Evil Thing
Evil Thing
2,523,307 3:16 1988-01-01
Thirteen
Thirteen
2,293,705 4:17 1999-07-01
Mother - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
Mother - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
2,184,800 3:31 1993-01-01
Left Hand Black
Left Hand Black
1,990,678 4:29 1992-01-01
Bodies
Bodies
1,925,359 4:24 1992-01-01
Cantspeak
Cantspeak
1,889,998 4:06 1994-01-01
Girl
Girl
1,721,381 4:12 1990-01-01
Going Down To Die
Going Down To Die
1,346,516 4:60 1994-01-01
Godless
Godless
1,259,567 6:51 1992-01-01
Pain In The World
Pain In The World
1,227,057 5:52 1990-01-01
Until You Call On The Dark
Until You Call On The Dark
1,053,614 4:25 1994-01-01
Heart Of The Devil
Heart Of The Devil
1,043,547 4:37 1992-01-01
Do You Wear The Mark
Do You Wear The Mark
1,018,409 4:47 1992-01-01
I Don't Mind The Pain
I Don't Mind The Pain
986,969 4:46 1994-01-01
Brand New God
Brand New God
942,861 4:30 1994-01-01
It's Coming Down
It's Coming Down
892,548 3:36 1993-01-01
One Night
One Night
874,298 2:41 2020-04-10
When The Dying Calls
When The Dying Calls
816,857 3:32 1992-01-01
Always on My Mind
Always on My Mind
782,332 3:15 2020-04-24
Black Mass
Black Mass
768,094 4:59 2002-05-21
Little Whip
Little Whip
762,037 5:10 1994-01-01
Dominion
Dominion
713,592 4:13 1994-01-01
Trouble
Trouble
673,616 3:23 1993-01-01
Is It so Strange
Is It so Strange
633,058 2:32 2020-04-24
Black Hell
Black Hell
616,731 4:15 2024-09-13
Bringer Of Death
Bringer Of Death
580,910 4:40 1994-01-01
Eyes Ripping Fire
Eyes Ripping Fire
552,093 4:19 2020-02-21
The Violet Fire
The Violet Fire
512,394 4:58 1993-01-01
Let It Be Captured
Let It Be Captured
484,148 5:17 1994-01-01
Lonely Blue Boy
Lonely Blue Boy
465,543 2:18 2020-04-24
Fever
Fever
422,459 3:45 2020-04-24
Son Of The Morning Star
Son Of The Morning Star
395,438 5:04 1994-01-01
Stalker Song
Stalker Song
395,160 5:48 1994-01-01
Five Finger Crawl
Five Finger Crawl
356,737 3:39 1999-07-01
Love Me
Love Me
329,541 3:09 2020-04-24
Sadistikal
Sadistikal
309,980 5:07 1994-01-01
Kiss The Skull
Kiss The Skull
279,086 4:11 2002-05-21
Girl of My Best Friend
Girl of My Best Friend
270,574 2:52 2020-04-24
Wicked Pussycat
Wicked Pussycat
256,957 4:04 2002-05-21
First in Line
First in Line
251,314 3:32 2020-04-24
Belly of the Beast
Belly of the Beast
248,906 4:29 1999-07-01
Pocket Full of Rainbows
Pocket Full of Rainbows
222,644 2:56 2020-04-24
Baby Let's Play House
Baby Let's Play House
212,511 2:36 2020-04-24
Loving Arms
Loving Arms
211,642 3:02 2020-04-24
Lilin
Lilin
202,105 6:32 1999-07-01
Sistinas - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
Sistinas - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
196,358 4:04 1993-01-01
Ashes
Ashes
194,411 5:29 1996-10-29
Who Killed Marilyn?
Who Killed Marilyn?
174,886 1:45 2023-09-22
Snakes Of Christ - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
Snakes Of Christ - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
167,398 4:18 1993-01-01
Dead Inside
Dead Inside
167,120 5:17 2002-05-21
I Luciferi
I Luciferi
163,391 3:15 2002-05-21
Am I Demon - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
Am I Demon - Live At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA/1992
158,969 4:21 1993-01-01
When It Rains It Really Pours
When It Rains It Really Pours
157,806 1:49 2020-04-24
God Of Light
God Of Light
154,352 3:39 2002-05-21
The Coldest Sun
The Coldest Sun
152,823 3:59 2002-05-21
Like a Baby
Like a Baby
152,383 2:36 2020-04-24
1000 Devils Reign
1000 Devils Reign
149,119 3:48 2004-07-01
Liberskull
Liberskull
137,772 5:45 2002-05-21
Young and Beautiful
Young and Beautiful
136,676 2:23 2020-04-24
Angel Blake
Angel Blake
135,314 3:36 2002-05-21
Naked Witch
Naked Witch
122,761 3:56 2002-05-21
Loving Arms - Alternate Vocal
Loving Arms - Alternate Vocal
119,463 3:02 2020-07-15
Circle of Snakes
Circle of Snakes
113,209 3:08 2004-07-01
Without Light, I Am
Without Light, I Am
111,788 5:33 2002-05-21
Halo Godess Bone
Halo Godess Bone
109,735 4:30 2002-05-21
Unspeakable
Unspeakable
96,436 4:14 1999-07-01
Spook City USA
Spook City USA
94,292 2:12 2023-09-22
Into the Mouth of Abandonment
Into the Mouth of Abandonment
92,325 4:38 1999-07-01
SkinCarver
SkinCarver
85,417 3:57 2004-07-01
Firemass
Firemass
83,926 3:54 1999-07-01
Hand of Doom: Version
Hand of Doom: Version
79,668 2:53 1996-10-29
Cold Eternal
Cold Eternal
72,291 4:42 1999-07-01
Satan's Child
Satan's Child
66,760 3:30 1999-07-01
Sacrifice
Sacrifice
66,486 4:29 1996-10-29
Intro - Live 1989
Intro - Live 1989
66,202 1:54 2022-05-18
Come to Silver
Come to Silver
62,212 4:01 1996-10-29
Cult Without a Name
Cult Without a Name
61,772 4:42 1999-07-01
7th House
7th House
59,128 3:48 1996-10-29
See All You Were
See All You Were
54,716 5:03 1996-10-29
Mother - Live 1989
Mother - Live 1989
54,497 3:07 2022-05-18
Blackacidevil
Blackacidevil
53,591 4:25 1996-10-29
Netherbound
Netherbound
52,712 3:42 2004-07-01
Overture: Winged Night Demon
Overture: Winged Night Demon
47,569 1:22 2006-07-01
East Indian Devil (Kali's Song)
East Indian Devil (Kali's Song)
44,085 4:05 1999-07-01
Her Black Wings - Live 1989
Her Black Wings - Live 1989
43,505 1:37 2022-05-18
Black Angel, White Angel
Black Angel, White Angel
43,311 4:24 2004-07-01
Hint of Her Blood
Hint of Her Blood
40,349 5:03 1996-10-29
Am I Demon? - Live 1989
Am I Demon? - Live 1989
39,880 4:31 2022-05-18
To Walk The Night - Live 1989
To Walk The Night - Live 1989
39,542 2:34 2022-05-18
Shifter
Shifter
38,914 1:33 1992-07-01
Apokalips
Apokalips
38,708 4:47 1999-07-01
Abbandonment / Recreation
Abbandonment / Recreation
36,462 4:13 2006-07-01
Who Killed Marilyn? - 2015 Remix
Who Killed Marilyn? - 2015 Remix
36,251 1:54 2023-09-22
Power of Darkness
Power of Darkness
35,955 3:20 1996-10-29
Invocation
Invocation
35,077 0:04 1994-01-01
Twist Of Cain - Live 1989
Twist Of Cain - Live 1989
34,726 3:35 2022-05-18
Serpentia
Serpentia
33,666 6:41 1996-10-29
And The Angels Weep
And The Angels Weep
32,933 1:18 1992-07-01
Zemaragad
Zemaragad
31,133 3:58 2006-07-01
Skull Forest
Skull Forest
28,238 5:07 2004-07-01
Overture Of The Rebel Angels
Overture Of The Rebel Angels
27,388 2:42 1992-07-01
Wotans Procession
Wotans Procession
26,855 2:23 2004-07-01
Soul On Fire - Live 1989
Soul On Fire - Live 1989
26,743 4:24 2022-05-18
When We Were Dead
When We Were Dead
26,634 4:47 2004-07-01
Spook City USA - 2015 Remix
Spook City USA - 2015 Remix
26,586 2:12 2023-09-22
Bridal Ceremony of The Lilitu
Bridal Ceremony of The Lilitu
26,377 2:17 2006-07-01
Lamia
Lamia
26,180 4:15 2006-07-01
She Rides - Live 1989
She Rides - Live 1989
25,664 4:53 2022-05-18
The Succubus Feeds
The Succubus Feeds
25,389 2:21 2006-07-01
Dance of the Succubi
Dance of the Succubi
25,321 2:22 2006-07-01
Unendlich
Unendlich
24,611 1:51 2002-05-21
HellMask
HellMask
22,669 3:14 2004-07-01
London Dungeon - Live 1989
London Dungeon - Live 1989
22,649 2:29 2022-05-18
Unclean Sephira
Unclean Sephira
22,636 3:47 2006-07-01
All Hell Breaks Loose - Live 1989
All Hell Breaks Loose - Live 1989
22,254 1:17 2022-05-18
LCKR
LCKR
21,964 1:43 2006-07-01
Mother Of Mercy - Live 1989
Mother Of Mercy - Live 1989
21,245 2:44 2022-05-18
John Christ Noodling - Live 1989
John Christ Noodling - Live 1989
21,181 1:28 2022-05-18
Conspiracy Dirge
Conspiracy Dirge
20,860 1:59 1992-07-01
Demons Reprise
Demons Reprise
20,850 3:13 2006-07-01
Night, BeSodom
Night, BeSodom
20,432 3:28 2004-07-01
End Of Time - Live 1989
End Of Time - Live 1989
20,200 3:39 2022-05-18
Battle For Heaven
Battle For Heaven
20,123 3:54 1992-07-01
Shiddin
Shiddin
19,844 2:38 2006-07-01
My Darkness
My Darkness
19,768 4:22 2004-07-01
Dirge Of Defeat
Dirge Of Defeat
19,347 1:48 1992-07-01
The Morrigu
The Morrigu
19,110 4:25 1992-07-01
777 - Live 1989
777 - Live 1989
17,560 4:54 2022-05-18
04 Retreat And Descent
04 Retreat And Descent
17,102 3:53 1992-07-01
Horror Biz - Live 1989
Horror Biz - Live 1989
15,740 2:27 2022-05-18
Cwn Anwnn
Cwn Anwnn
14,600 2:13 1992-07-01
The Hunter - Live 1989
The Hunter - Live 1989
14,308 3:05 2022-05-18
Not Of This World - Live 1989
Not Of This World - Live 1989
14,307 6:43 2022-05-18
When Death Had No Name - Live 1989
When Death Had No Name - Live 1989
13,210 4:60 2022-05-18
Evil Thing - Live 1989
Evil Thing - Live 1989
13,165 2:49 2022-05-18
T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Live 1989
T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Live 1989
12,430 2:56 2022-05-18
Lamenta Lilith
Lamenta Lilith
6,546 2:37 2006-07-01
Anthem of the Free City of Danzig
Anthem of the Free City of Danzig
1,099 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]
Always on My Mind
Always on My Mind
2020-07-15
[Cleopatra Records]
Sings Elvis
Sings Elvis
2020-04-24
[Cleopatra Records]
One Night
One Night
2020-04-10
[Cleopatra Records]
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]