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music»artists|sounds|shows DON’T FORGET YOUR SUNSCREEN, GLENN
The Mother of All Metal Fests
PAUL BROWN
Blackest of the Black Fest is Glenn Danzig’s misfit baby By Bre TT CAllwood
I
t’s been almost exactly a year since we found out that the classic lineup of the Misfits—featuring Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only and Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein—would be reuniting to perform at the Riot Fests in Denver and Chicago. Here in Southern California, those festivals seemed far, far away, and it also feels as if the chances of further classic Misfits shows are slim. But we have the next best thing. The Danzig-organized Blackest of the Black Festival takes over Oak Canyon Park in Silverado on Friday and Saturday. Hardcore veterans Suicidal Tendencies headline on Friday, with Danzig (the band) naturally closing out the festival on Saturday. Bands as prestigious as Corrosion of Conformity, Discharge, Ministry, DevilDriver and Venom Inc. will perform, highlighting a two-day lineup that covers the darker side of metal and punk. Danzig conceived the event in 2003 after performing with his band at gargantuan European metal festivals for years and wondering why something like that couldn’t work in the States. “At the time, I think the only [metal] festival we had here was Ozzfest, and it was all corporate—buyons and whatever,” he says. “It was nothing like what we do and what they do in Europe. There are so many great festivals in Europe. You get to see so many incred-
ible bands. So I just went about putting together what I felt was an alternative, where you get to see not-so-corporate [bands] and put them all on the same bill. This year, we get to up the ante and do it as a two-day, big, big festival and a carnival.” To retain the authentically underground vibe that Danzig has nurtured since starting Blackest of the Black, he has a hand in many elements of putting the festival together. He draws up a shortlist of bands he wants to perform; any other bands that are put forward by his team have to pass under Danzig’s eyes before getting a green light. In the case of Suicidal Tendencies and Corrosion of Conformity, it was an easy decision, as Danzig is old friends with those guys. According to Corrosion of Conformity guitarist Woody Weatherman, touring with Danzig is always a good time, and this show will be no exception. “Seems like the first time we did some shows with Glenn, it was around 1990, and Soundgarden was on the bill right after us on that tour,” says Weatherman, whose band aims to squeeze as many songs as they can into their allotted hour. “Since then, we’ve had the pleasure of traveling several times together on the road.” The decision to hold the event in Orange County rested at least partly with Danzig, who felt Oak Canyon Park offered the
opportunity to do everything he and his team wanted to do. That includes Castle Danzig, the non-musical entertainment at the festival and a sort of twisted, horrorthemed fun house. Attendees can be strapped up and locked in a padded cell, get locked in stocks, and/or more. “That’s gonna be crazy,” Danzig says. “I keep getting pictures sent over to approve. This will be my version of a fun house. You have to be over 17 to go in. I can say that [Danzig creation Torture Countess Drukija] is gonna be in the castle in a blood tub. If you’re brave enough, you’ll probably be able to get a picture with her in the blood tub.” The festival pretty much coincides with the release of the new Danzig album, Black Laden Crown. He’s excited for the fans to hear it, especially after getting a positive response from the press over the past month or so. It’s certainly a solid slab of work: dark and groove-based metal that will delight the band’s longtime fans. The subject matter covers everything from horror fiction to the very real political climate that is genuinely scaring many people right now. “So much in the world frustrates me and makes me angry,” Danzig says. “The world just gets crazier, and people lose more and more of their freedoms. It’s the greatest stuff to write about because I get so angry.” It’s been 30 years since Danzig formed his namesake band after the dissolution of
his death-rock group Samhain, and while there have been some constants since that time, particularly tonally, the band haven’t sat still. “I didn’t like that sterile sound on the first couple of records,” Danzig says. “Starting with Danzig III: How the Gods Kill when I became the producer, I wanted it more representative of what the band sounded like live. That’s what I was trying for and just to not do the same record over and over again. Make it interesting, to keep people interested.” Speaking of that beloved third album, this year, the band celebrates the 25th anniversary of that record, which will be reflected in the set. “We’ll do five or six tracks from that somewhere in the set in a row,” Danzig says. “I still have all the old stage props from How the Gods Kill, so I’ll put them out onstage, which is pretty wild. We have a couple of old Griffin gargoyles. I think I still have the backdrop, too, so I’ll string that up. That’ll be cool.” It might not be a Misfits reunion, but we’ll take it. BLACKEST OF THE BLACK featuring Danzig, Ministry, Suicidal Tendencies, Corrosion of Conformity, Discharge, Atreyu and more, at Oak Canyon Park, 5305 E. Santiago Canyon Rd., Silverado, (714) 563-9778; blackestfest. com. Fri.-Sat., 1:30 p.m. $39-$399. All ages.