Danzig Live

Mr D champions the cause for a full frontal body wax.

Back in 1992 whilst I was busy puffing away on a fag in the school playground (!) I recall an old school mate advising me that he'd seen Danzig the night before (with White Zombie in support) at the Kentish Town and Country Club and what a great gig it had been. At the time with my mind still being knocked sideways by the latest Bolt Thrower, Benediction or Napalm Death release, with no speculative money to spend and having not heard the band I borrowed Danzig III off another acquaintance to see what I was missing.

I was instantly blown away and now possibly loathe the guy who saw them! The fact that Glenn Danzig subsequently refused to play in the UK for the next ten years even made the annoyance even greater especially when his reasons seems to concern promoters ripping him off or the UK's dodgy press. Glenn we all know that the various scribes for Kerrang et all are tossers but what about the fans?! What has made the situation slightly more palatable is that his output since Danzig IV has been uninspired to say the least. Small comfort then that it is following the release of Danzig VII, his best for 8 years, that the UK can finally see this legend on the stage again.

First however we have the little matter of Orange Goblin to contend with. Impossible to dislike and hugely entertaining, vocalist Ben Ward appears to be working his way thru what looks suspiciously a four pack of Skol as he leads his troops onwards. His trousers are falling down and he looks ramshackle to say the least as he bellows out the greasy biker rock tunes with little of their doom metal roots present. The only problem is that I fail to see that Orange Goblin have made any progress since I saw them support The Almighty two and a half years ago. Tunes like Hard Rock (yes honestly) and No Law have little impact after the band have exited stage left and you really have to wonder whether they will suffer the same fate as Wolfsbane; that of being hugely entertaining but just not quite having the songs and going belly up as a result of the singer getting a better offer. I for one hope not.

Danzig are all about theatre. Granted their classic line up may only exist in people's imagination these days but the suspense, drama and faint air of ludicrousness (is that a word?!) are still present. Various statues cover the stage, there is a massive backdrop and what looks like two lions peering out of the drum riser. The lights go out and a hellish, backward intro tape throws shadows of gloom across the stage. Abruptly it ends and a pale light shines on a corpse-coloured Todd Youth whose guitar erupts with the utterly satanic opening riff to Black Mass. The stage is set and you know this will not disappoint.

Glenn Danzig appears as wide as he is tall but despite suffering from Andrew Eldritch syndrome remains an ominous presence. Twist of Cain from Danzig I (surely that's an encore!) a song that has become self referential to Danzig in terms of their subsequent career is aired and the whole floor goes berserk. How the Gods Kill remains, to yours truly, Danzig's best moment being utterly chilling and is sung with the reverence it deserves. Newer material also fares well live, Kiss the Skull, Dead Inside and Liberskull sound like they have been performed for ages but the greatest cheer of the night remains for Mother. What else? It is a truly fantastic song and simply pounds as the whole crowd joins in, "not about to see your light, but if you wanna find hell with me, I will show you what its like...'TIL YOUR BLEEDING!!"

Encoring with the frostbitten Angel Blake and Long Way Back From Hell I was glad I didn't miss this. There will be cynics but I for one hope we do not have to wait another 10 years, as by then Glenn will be about 60!