Glenn Danzig tribute Part II November Coming Fire
Danzig tribute part II. All things Danzig but focusing on Samhain. Secondly the Misfits. Then brief mentions of some other Danzig stuff.
As previously stated in the Danzig tribute Part I, I felt it was best to not comment on Danzig solo material as much.
Simply put, just not as familiar enough to have a solid proper tribute. Danzig solo albums have many merits for me and the many, but honestly I have not listened to the most recent four or so. Read the first Misfits / Samhain / Danzig here.
https://meatsheetfanzine.com/misfits-samhain-danzig/
After reviewing the previous tribute I made on Tumblr circa 2013 – ’15 ? I thought it would be best to include all of that in this new blog. The persons who gave me their time, no matter how brief, no matter if they are in a band, etc. These people gave great answers and I am thankful to know some of them and grateful for their time. Before we get to other people’s takes on this Danzig tribute, I will say what a few others have said.
Although the Misfits and Danzig’s first couple albums are iconic, Samhain is a band that deserves just as much credit.
They may have not had as many songs. Samhain was not as catchy as much of the Misfits material. Above all, they were more moody, unadulterated, and raw. For instance, To Walk The Night captures an autumn night’s energy perfectly. It’s my opinion Danzig made their sound moody and raw intentionally. He wanted to go into the shadow side of the psyche a little deeper. Some of the horror themed Misfits songs are so catchy and delivered in a way that you forget they may be talking about killing. (Exception – Earth A.D. , those songs feel like a departure from songs like Horror Hotel , I Turned Into A Martian, American Nightmare , etc.) They are blatantly direct.
To clarify, Samhain’s production, whether you find it good, bad, or indifferent, it gives the music that extra boost of mystery and pathos.
That is to say, the chimes on the original Unholy Passion mix are perfection . (The box set omits or turned them way down). If you want to go deep into things like this search out New York Hardcore Chronicles on YouTube with Steve Zing of Samhain. They touch upon the keyboard / triggers used to make the chimes. Fans will love it. The backwards warped sounds and Danzig’s spoken word on Initium ? When I first heard that I knew it was something that was going to want to hear over and over.
Demonic shapeshifting,wind like howls? Infinitus sleep?
No idea what he (Danzig) was talking about but it was all horror filled fun. The rawness was never an issue for me. It’s the same kind of deal when an artist has a great song but the recording is not 100% mixed and mastered the best. Does that take away from the songwriting or overall mood/ feeling? Usually not. Although I tend to favor Samhain because I think they did not get their proper due, I don’t want to have to choose between them and The Misfits. On the other hand many favor the Misfits over Samhain. As a result for me it’s better to celebrate both catalogs. During Autumn there is no better soundtrack for me.
Certainly, I can nerd out and write lots more but as I said in Part I Danzig tribute, I can only say so much. I’d like to interrogate those that were in the bands or people who had inside insight to the music and content. If you love Danzig’s work than be sure to read the companion Danzig tribute to this one here.
https://meatsheetfanzine.com/misfits-samhain-danzig/
Additionally, be sure to support those mentioned in this feature. They’re hard working and are connected to their crafts. Support!
First bit of commentary (besides mine right above) is Tru Pray. I remember Tru booking hardcore shows out of the DC area and I was actually lucky enough to attend one. A Mouthpiece reunion with Shark Attack and lots of others (help me out here). It was so fun. These days Tru is on the West Coast. Knowing he is a big fan of Glenn Danzig’s work I reached out. Here’s what he had to say and I enjoyed reading it, thoroughly. Hope you do the same.
Fave Misfits song ? :
Favorite Misfits song would have to be off anything off of Earth A.D. So much harder and darker then their previous stuff. I even like the crappy recording more as well. I personally think Spot did a great job on the album.
Fave Samhain song :
My favorite Samhain song is He Who Cannot Be Named and Birthing. Personally I think Samhain is better than the Misfits and Danzig.
One of the coolest people I have met was London May from Samhain. When he sent me a message wishing me a happy birthday the music geek in me exploded. Seriously one of the coolest dudes ever and super generous.
John Meat: Anything you want to promote or say in closing?
Only thing I can think of promoting is to support your local ASPCA … A lot of animals are in desperate need of homes
Appropriately many of the people I asked this question. “What is your favorite Misfits and or Samhain track and why” turned out to be originally from NJ.
As is this response from Dave (on left). Lead vocals for Dead Nation, Tear It Up, Obedience and Pagan Rituals with former Dead Nation band mate Matt Molnar (featured in Part I) who chatted about Danzig related favorites as well.
Pagan Rituals sound summons the ghosts of Waxtrax’s bands and the goth/ punk titans of music. (I hear Misfits Legacy era ) The punk and hardcore is in the vocals and delivery of the guitars’ tone, strums, and picking.
Self proclaimed ‘Space Punk ‘ How can I not back that ?
Favourite Misfits song : Blood Feast
Why : Super creepy track
Favourite Samhain song : In my grip
Why : Super angry track
PHOTO : CARLY SIOUX
Next, my fiend, Bill is by far the biggest FAN of anything Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig related that I know. We attended the Electric Factory Philly Danzig show where Samhain reunited and Hatebreed promoted their latest LP at that time. I believe this was ’99. Get your reading glasses ready. Bill ‘Fan Boy’ Goertz tells you to look upon this… it is the beast.
So, I was asked to pick out my favorite Misfits and Samhain song. That is like pointing up at the night sky and asking which star is your favorite.
This had me thinking, should it be some special ones that I will always remember in the early days ? Should it be when I was a little kid and heard my friends talking about some track about dead cats hanging from poles on Halloween night?
Or years later when I finally heard it and it became a staple to play every season on my stereo?
Or again as a kid, when I hear about this crazy song about Mommy…and killing?
Before I heard Metallica’s famous covers in ’87 I have always heard about this band called the Misfits. “Don’t listen to them” would be the undertone of conversation from of my straight laced friends back in the early ’80s. This “dangerous” punk band with lyrics laced with profanity and mostly about killing. The “danger” aspect somehow thrilled me.
I had a Brady Bunch type of family and upbringing, with all of my siblings listening to some form of Rock n Roll…except punk.
Years of hearing about this mythical band and their exploits made me want to go out and buy something of theirs. What if I didn’t like it ? I don’t want to waste my allowance money.
The urge to find out more and more about this band that was passing me by was boiling over almost to a fever pitch !
So when I took the plunge and asked a friend to make me a copy of Misfits songs on cassette, I rushed home from school closed my door, put it in my little black boom box, put the volume at a respectable level, and waited the seconds to hear my first personal song from The Misfits
Was it going to be brutal ? Was it going to be badly written ? Were the first few lines going to be four letter words ? My first track was SHE. And I was blown away ! “Wow this isn’t half bad”
But did it turn into my favorite Misfit song? Not by a long shot!
But in a sense they all are my faves. I want to go out and cause mischief when I hear Halloween, I want to tear open someones throat with my teeth when I hear Mommy… and I always have a nostalgic feeling of discovery when I hear She.
I would have to say my current favorite song would be HORROR HOTEL
I love this song for many reasons. Now mind you I am not a musician, so I cant talk scales, chords and stuff. Who wouldn’t want to take their vampire girlfriend up to room 21 ?
Screaming out the challenge “You wanna start somethin’ with me !?”
I love singing the repeated chorus – then the slight break and the 4 drum taps.
Maybe I also like it because it is not the most widely known song so it feels more personal.
My favorite Samhain song. That is pretty tough. Initium, NCF, then Final Descent. I never got Unholy Passion because I was not into vinyl at that age. As a result, I had to find that one many years later at a record convention. Consequently, I first bought Initium at Camelot Music in Ocean County Mall.
I was Amazed, shocked, horrified, and loved the cover! I had to own this!!
Mind you, I never heard a single track from this band at all, but only knew the images from the mail order T-Shirts from the back of rock/metal magazines.
As a continuation from the Misfits, I had NO CLUE what to expect !
At first I wasn’t impressed with the production of Initium, but realized later that was the charm of it. I noticed that the music and lyrics were much more serious, arcane, and very occult.
It is like if you peel away the flesh of humanity, and see what horrors people are capable of. The ugly stuff. The scary stuff. This was Samhain. There are solid stand-out songs that I almost still get chills to when I hear them. The Shift, The Howl, All Murder, Archangel.
Tribal drumbeats pounding into your ears, shredding guitars, deep bass pounding into your skull ! What a departure from The Misfits ! This was “brave new territory”. Something I have not even dreamed of listening to, and the lyrics were so well crafted, it was like an 18th century poet was writing them. Fashioning the words like an alchemist of old would try.
Grisly and beautiful like humanity itself, demons and angels, William Blake paintings come to life, Albrecht Durer’s demons given voice!
So one of my many favorite songs from Samhain would have to be HE-WHO-CANNOT-BE-NAMED .
I want to punch a side of beef with every drum beat!! “This power cannot be! Formless, faceless and free!” How can you sing along and not shout out “HE!” at the start of chorus? Yeah, this one pumps my blood when ever it comes on the speakers
So I dialed up my rotary cellphone and connected with another east coast amigo , ( not Chevy , Steve , or Martin ) to get still another opinion on peoples favorite Misfits/ Samhain song of 2013.
I wasn’t sure if this person would give a toss in this day and age about a Tumblr/digital Danzig tribute by a lowly stepchild such as me. But, to my surprise he granted me answers.
Tony Rettman writes for various music websites and has published a comprehensive book entitled “Why Be Something That You Are Not – Detroit Hardcore 1979 – 1985 “ plus two more that have been released since I printed this commentary.
Without Tony Rettman , Meatsheet #6 would have not gone to press as quickly (or at all) If you have read some of his reviews, books, and articles; good reads are an understatement.
“Fave Misfits song is ‘Bullet‘. A total blast of sound. I could be at a relatives’ funeral and if that song came on, I’d crack a brew and start a pit.
The lyrics are dirty poetry about the downfall of America.
Masturbate me? Masturbate you, Glenn! Frittbo out… “
So then I had to ask . Favorite Dabney Coleman movie ?
“Cross between ‘Modern Problems‘ and ‘Hot to Trot‘…’Short Time‘ and ‘Wargames‘
Tough to choose!
‘Short Time‘ is slept on by everyone…except maybe (Jason) Jammer.”
Support him at this link https://rettman.substack.com/
Also where finer music is sold, the web , (and also in the finer retail establishments all over).
Long time shredder from back east, Benj Gleeksman. Multi talented and faceted, designer, frontman for the Diagnostic Front, he had this to say after he busted this sweeper.
Favorite Misfits song : ” I’m gonna have to say 20 eyes but Skulls and Where Eagles Dare Come in close too.”
Meat : Why 20 eyes ? they are all the same
Benj : ” I guess I just can’t slow things down, especially when I’m seeing 20 things at a time.”
Finally we have another punk icon who is involved in lots so we’ll name a few. As of September 2020 he has a short film on Amazon Prime called Brutal Realty Inc.
This is an amusing short film about an entity who is searching for their calling. I don’t want to spoil it.
Check it out on Prime. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B089XVM2Q3/ref=atv_wl_hom_c_unkc_1_3
London May has also been in quite a few bands. Tiger Army, Son Of Sam, Samhain and more. Also I learned he did play with Dag Nasty for a short time. He played on Samhain’s November Coming Fire and rejoined for the reunion shows that started in ’99. For this piece we’ll obviously focus on Samhain.
JM: What was going through your head when you were first learning those Samhain beats?
LM: I was so bummed out because they weren’t anything like I’d ever played. Glenn wrote all the drumbeats let me make that clear. I didn’t write anything. Those beats, I did learn those beats because Glenn showed me how to play those beats. Because in his mind every track was already well thought-out and, so like the Mother of Mercy beat is so backwards, and so non drummer, but it goes exactly with that. Da da da dun da da dunt ( imitates Mother of Mercy beat). So the actual drums go ( imitates beat) so it’s this chopping thing.
But now it’s fucking brilliant because there’s not really many songs like that. I can think of, like what you could play instead of that but it wouldn’t be as cool. It was a big adjustment. I had never… the only drums that I ever played to any song was stuff that I had written so when somebody showed me how to play that wasn’t a drummer (Glenn) you can imagine how backwards that was so I struggled a lot. I struggled a lot.
JM: What is your favorite Samhain beat to play and why?
Yikes. I mean each song had like like In My Grip you know it’s so simple but it’s just (Plays beat w hands). Every song is cool. Each one had its challenge. Nothing was as simple as it sounds. Everybody is like “I can play those songs” You know like a Ramones song or Misfits or Samhain song they all sound. super simple.. but they’re fucking not.
There’s something, there’s a little twist in there, or something’s backwards. I never thought (pause) technically I was .. I always thought I could play it better and every time that the band got back together over the years I would play those beats, you know? Now that I was a real drummer, that I was legit I wasn’t a kid anymore. I would try to kind of tweak em a little bit so that they would be a little more like Modern Drummer -y (drummer magazine) or I would get some props from that one drummer in the back row and he (Glenn) always busted me on that. “Don’t try to make it fancy”. Jazzy. He always said I was jazzy. “Don’t play it jazzy”
Jazzy was anything that had more kick drum than boom -crack – boom – crack. You know? Anything more than that was jazzy.
Same thing with the guitar playing. Anything that was up and down (strokes) he would say “That’s too Chet Atkins” All down all down strums.
All the drums had to be simple and primitive.
Anytime you varied from (that imitates Danzig stopping and looking back) he’d turn around just give you that fucking look. And you’d be like ‘Whoops’. I’ll just kind of keep it simple.
Wow there you have it. This concludes Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig tribute. I hope the fiends revel in these two homages to punk legends. Samhain Grim!
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