What stands out as the most fulfilling creative achievement in Glenn Danzig’s illustrious career? During an engaging conversation with Full Metal Jackie on her weekend radio show, Danzig, renowned as the frontman of legendary bands Misfits and Samhain, as well as a notable figure in film and comics, highlighted the significance of the album Danzig III: How the Gods Kill.

“I have a deep appreciation for all the projects I’ve tackled. Each one was a labor of love,” the iconic singer explained, while reflecting on the impressive 1992 studio album. “A truly rewarding moment was with Danzig III: How the Gods Kill, which I had the pleasure of producing, alongside Rick Rubin as the executive producer. It marked our debut in the Billboard Top 20. I distinctly recall stepping into a mall and spotting our record on display. It was surreal; we had never been featured in a mall before.” Danzig reminisced about the exhilarating experience of witnessing the album’s success in the United States before it gained significant traction in Europe.

Looking ahead, Danzig is gearing up for an exciting year in 2025 with his self-titled band, preparing for what promises to be an unforgettable tour. He will be sharing the stage with talented acts like Down, Abbath, and Cro-Mags, and he discussed his strategic approach to curating tour lineups, his insights on the touring lifestyle in 2025, and his enthusiasm for featuring new bands that resonate with his musical taste in today’s scene.

Additionally, he candidly shared his views on the impact of social media, the possibility of new music on the horizon, and offered a heartfelt reflection on his experiences with Johnny Cash.

Check out more of this captivating interview below.

It’s Full Metal Jackie, and I?m thrilled to welcome the extraordinary singer-songwriter, actor, director, and producer, the one and only Glenn Danzig. Today, we’re diving into the much-anticipated upcoming shows featuring one of the most exciting lineups of 2025! You’ll be hitting the road with Down, Abbath, and Cro-Mags in March. This tour brings together incredible talent with a rich history. Do you have any friendships with the bands joining you on this tour, or are you a fan of their music?

Absolutely! I’ve known Phil Anselmo from Down for ages. Plus, my admiration for black metal goes way back, so having Abbath on board is fantastic. I’ve known Harley Flanagan from Cro-Mags since he was just a kid in the band, so this lineup is truly special.

That’s fantastic! The lineup is seriously impressive; it almost knocked me off my chair when I first saw it!

This tour is going to blow everyone’s minds. Make sure you don?t miss it!

It sounds like this could be the only Danzig tour of the year. Is that correct?

Yes, that’s right. I’m not particularly fond of touring, as you might have guessed. I’m only doing six shows this time, which is a far cry from the extensive tours of the past. I prefer doing a few select shows rather than a long run; being on a tour bus isn’t my favorite thing.

I?ve mentioned this before, but we had to reschedule a show in Phoenix last time due to a bus shortage. To accommodate this, we moved our initial dates to the end of the tour. Unfortunately, there wasn?t a venue available in Phoenix when we needed it, so we?re working on making that show happen. We?ve also received a lot of requests from fans in the Pacific Northwest and San Francisco, so we’re trying to address that. This will likely be it for a while.

Glenn, over the last decade, you’ve hinted at the possibility of stepping back from touring, yet you?ve opted for more manageable appearances. Whether it’s with the Misfits or occasional Danzig shows, has this more selective approach to touring become more enjoyable for you? What do you perceive as the most significant changes in the touring landscape since your early days?

Well, everything has definitely become more expensive. When I toured last in 2022 or 2023, the costs for buses and fuel had skyrocketed. On our most recent tour in ’23, prices increased threefold.

We usually have to cover these expenses, and this time it was even more outrageous. It?s increasingly challenging for many bands to hit the road and tour extensively. Young bands today often face the dilemma of touring in a van, similar to how we did back in the day with Danzig, Samhain, and Misfits.

We traveled in vans, but we could still manage financially.

Did you enjoy those van days at the time?

Not at all. No one loves being crammed in a van with a bunch of people, especially when personal space is limited. I often ended up doing most of the driving, and many times it was a stick shift, so I was one of the few who could handle it.

I can’t even imagine how that must have been!

It was a lot of work, loading equipment and handling everything on top of driving.

We should find a way to get you a comfortable mobile home for touring, so you can feel more at ease on the road with all your comforts from home.

I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Just brainstorming here!

Regardless, I’m looking forward to these shows. It?s been a while, and I hope the fans will enjoy it as much as I will. With such an incredible lineup, we can?t help but put on a fantastic show.

Glenn, the current Danzig lineup features musicians you?ve collaborated with for years. However, it?s been some time since new music has emerged. With Danzig gearing up for shows again in March, is there any consideration for new music?

No, not at this time.

So the focus is solely on touring for now, with no interest in diving into new material?

I?m not even focused on touring; I?m just doing six shows. If that?s what you call touring, then what I used to do must have been mega touring. Back in the day, we?d be out for three, four, five, or even six months at a stretch. The entire music industry and recording landscape have changed significantly, with fewer people buying physical albums and more opting for free downloads online. This shift has diminished the incentive to create new music unless I?m in the studio and feel the urge to give it away for free.

I?m not sure that?s a viable business model, but it is what it is.

Do you still find joy in writing music?

Absolutely! I still write a lot of different material, so perhaps I?m just not seeing the music industry evolve as it should. I can?t predict if I?ll ever record more Danzig music again. At least for now, I?m uncertain.

READ MORE: 25 Bands Whose Singer Is the Only Original Member Left

You?ve created music for yourself and others, utilizing music, comics, and film as your creative outlets. What inspires you as an artist in 2025, and what remains on your to-do list?

That?s an interesting question. I?m unsure. Film projects consume a lot of time, so my enthusiasm for that is somewhat lukewarm. Comics also require significant time investment, and my feelings about them fluctuate.

I absolutely love performing on stage, but being on a tour bus and away from home is challenging, especially with the ongoing fires in California. If I were on tour right now, I wouldn?t be happy.

Right. It would be tough to be away from home with everything happening right now.

Exactly. There are many factors to consider when you?re on the road. I?m not certain what the future holds, but I hope it?s brighter than the current situation.

Glenn, in today’s music industry, where social media dominates, you?ve managed to maintain a certain mystique by staying relatively private. Do you believe that this mystique is something lacking in the current music landscape?

Yeah, I suppose. It?s not something I consciously do; I just don?t care much about it.

Some people seem obsessed with their online presence, while I prefer to live in the real world rather than on a computer. That?s just how I see it.

So you don?t engage with social media at all? When staying informed, do you rely on online news, or do you prefer other sources?

No, I think the Internet is a great tool for accessing news that mainstream media often overlooks. However, it should be consumed in moderation. Some individuals become so engrossed in their computers that they forget about the world outside.

It?s important to remind people that there?s a real world out there, not just a virtual one.

Absolutely. I believe much of what people portray online is often untrue, and unfortunately, many believe it. It can be dangerous and addictive. While I?m not completely free from social media, I understand your perspective.

Exactly. That?s just my viewpoint. People can choose their paths; I don?t mind. As I mentioned, I don?t care much about it.

Glenn Danzig is with us this week. Let?s discuss the Misfits for a moment. It?s fantastic to see you performing with the Misfits again, and having Dave Lombardo on drums has certainly been a highlight. How has your experience been since rejoining the band, and what does it mean to witness a band that was once considered outsiders now embraced by a new generation of fans and musicians?

Well, I still consider it an outsider band. The music, songs, and style have influenced countless individuals across multiple generations. It remains largely unrecognized by mainstream music media, yet here we are, headlining a stage at Coachella.

Despite this, there?s still a media blackout surrounding us. It?s quite gratifying, as it feels like a significant statement against mainstream music media. A few years ago, we sold out Madison Square Garden. It?s hard to believe that we not only headlined it but managed to oversell it, leading to extra seats being opened. It?s amusing to recall the music executives from the punk era who claimed a punk band would never headline Madison Square Garden. Well, we did it, and we sold it out!

Glenn, while this might not be the typical question about albums, I?d love to know what you consider your most personally rewarding project based on your satisfaction with the outcome and your circumstances at the time?

That’s a challenging question. I genuinely appreciate all my work; I wouldn?t have done it if I didn?t. A particularly fulfilling moment for me was with Danzig III: How the Gods Kill, a project I produced with Rick Rubin as the executive producer.

This album marked our entry into the Billboard Top 20. I still vividly remember walking into a mall and spotting our record. It was unbelievable; we had never made it into a mall before. Those mall record stores that used to exist are now mostly gone.

That moment was incredibly special, and the album?s success in Europe was the cherry on top. Ultimately, it was the record that solidified the band?s legacy.

Danzig’s Impact with “How the Gods Kill”

Recently, I watched the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, which touches upon Dylan’s friendship with Johnny Cash. I know you collaborated with Johnny on music, along with Roy Orbison. What were your experiences working with Johnny, and did you perceive him as a larger-than-life figure?

Absolutely! My father was a huge fan of Johnny Cash. I even received a signed photograph from him for my dad. He was genuinely a nice guy?truly larger than life, exactly as you described. He had a down-to-earth demeanor and was incredibly cool.

One of the standout moments for me was working with him at 113. I wrote him another song called “Come to Silver,” but I never had the chance to give it to him after I left American.

Glenn, throughout your career, you’ve explored various musical styles, including horror, punk, industrial, and metal. How much do you engage with today’s music, and what is your perspective on the current music scene?

My interest in the current music scene is evident in the bands I choose to tour with. For instance, we brought out Midnight, a band I think is amazing, along with Mutoid Man and others. I know I?m leaving out some great bands, but you can see we?re bringing Cro-Mags along as well.

I appreciate many different genres of music, but there?s often an underlying thread that connects what I enjoy. Whether it?s classical, soundtracks, metal, or old-school rock, they all have a shared quality that resonates with me.

Your tours and festivals seem to maintain authenticity. It?s evident that you prioritize showcasing talented bands that you genuinely believe in, rather than succumbing to industry pressures. I?ve always admired how you curate lineups that provide opportunities for bands that deserve recognition.

Exactly! We didn?t receive those opportunities when we were starting out. I think Metallica was one of the few who genuinely supported Danzig. Other bands were often intimidated by our audience or simply wouldn?t take a chance on us. Therefore, I make it a point to include bands that deserve a shot.

It?s essential to provide a great experience for fans who work hard for their money. Attendees should leave feeling like they?ve witnessed something extraordinary, not just another show, but a memorable event. That?s what I aim to achieve.

You’ve certainly accomplished that with the incredible lineup for these March dates, featuring Danzig, Down, Abbath, and Cro-Mags. Everyone needs to attend these shows because this will be the highlight of 2025, and you definitely don?t want to miss it!

Glenn, aside from the upcoming tour, what does 2025 have in store for you? What?s next on your agenda?

I have a few Misfits one-off shows planned after Coachella, and that?s about it for now. I?m also considering some comic projects and possibly movie ventures. We?ll see!

Thanks to Glenn Danzig for the insightful interview. Stay connected with all of Danzig’s projects through his official website. You can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram and listen to his music on Spotify. Discover where you can hear Full Metal Jackie?s weekend radio show here.