Glenn Danzig has never been one to follow the rules. From his early days with Misfits to the dark, brooding energy of Samhain and his self-titled band, he has built a career on intensity, independence, and an unmistakable voice. Now, as he gears up for a short but stacked 2025 tour, he’s reflecting on what matters most to him: the music, the fans, and staying true to himself.
“I like all the stuff I’ve done. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t like it,” he told Full Metal Jackie in a recent interview (transcribed by Loudwire), when asked about the most personally rewarding creative experience of his career. But one moment stands out: Danzig III: How the Gods Kill. “A really satisfying moment was Danzig III: How the Gods Kill, which I produced and Rick Rubin executive produced. It was the first time we cracked the Billboard Top 20. I remember walking into a mall, and there was our record. I couldn’t believe it. We were never in a mall before.”
That album marked a turning point, pushing Danzig further into the mainstream. “That was really great and then it blew up in Europe also. So really, the record that made the band.”
For someone with such a legendary catalog, fans might be surprised to hear that new music isn’t on his radar. “No,” Danzig bluntly responded when asked if recording was in his plans. “The whole music thing and recording and everything, it’s just changed dramatically where people really don’t buy physical product anymore. They just want to download it for free online. So there’s really no incentive to do new music unless I’m in the studio and I do something and I want to give it away for free to everybody.”
While he has no plans to write new music, Danzig is gearing up for a run of shows this March, bringing a powerhouse lineup on the road with Down, Abbath, and Cro-Mags. He has long been a fan of the bands joining him on this short tour. “Yeah, of course. I’ve known [Down‘s] Phil Anselmo forever. And everyone knows I’m a big black metal fan from way, way back. So having Abbath on is fantastic. And I’ve known Harley Flanagan since he was a little kid in Cro-Mags, so… It’s gonna blow everybody’s doors off. So don’t miss this show.”
But don’t expect this to be the start of a long run. “Yeah I think. I don’t really like going on tour, as you can see. I’m only doing six shows, so it’s just like trying to get me to go and do a bunch of shows. I don’t mind doing a one-off here or there or whatever, but doing a bunch of shows, it’s like riding around on the bus.”
Danzig has made it clear that he’s selective about when and where he plays these days: “Everything’s more expensive, so we’re paying. The last time I went out was in 2022 or 2023. Again, just a handful of shows, and the prices on buses and gas had just gone through the roof. This last time we went out in ’23, they went up three times. We normally pay, and this time, it’s even crazier, though. I think it’s also become really hard for a lot of bands to go out there and tour or do a ton of touring. Young bands just going out there, they would have to go out in a van, kind of how we did back in the day with Danzig and Samhain and the Misfits. I mean, we would go out in a van, but we could afford it.”
For now, we can look forward to these rare performances, but beyond that, Danzig‘s future remains uncertain – just the way he likes it: “I’m looking forward to these shows. But it’s been a while, and hopefully, all the fans will be digging it, and we’ll surely have a great time. I love performing onstage. It’s just that I hate being on a bus and being away, as you know, because you live in California, we have these fires and everything. If I was on tour, I’d not be happy. The lineup, like you said, is insane. So what else can we do except come out there and knock you on your ass.”
Unlike many artists today, Danzig keeps his distance from social media: “Some people are obsessed with everything online, and I’m just like I live in the real world. I don’t live on a computer. So that’s my attitude, you know. I think that the Internet is great for getting news that you won’t get on legacy media, and mainstream media, because they’re all buttons sold by the growth, but I think should be used in moderation in the world out there. Some people just live on their computer and don’t go out, really. You might want to tell people what to do, but the world is out there. It’s a real world, not a virtual world if you know what I’m saying.”
Source: metalinjection.net
