GLENN DANZIG Discusses 2004 'Punchout' Video: I Was Afraid Of Getting Sued

The August 2007 issue of Spin magazine (web site) contains a lengthy interview with Glenn Danzig about his impact on the current music scene with his three ghoulish bands: punk pioneers the MISFITS, the goth-metal SAMHAIN, and the eponymous DANZIG. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and AFI taking DANZIG's aesthetic to mainstream success:

"It's cool, because both of those bands have said in print, 'We love DANZIG.' We took AFI out on tour. And they've both covered MISFITS songs. What irritates me are bands that pretend they've never heard of the MISFITS or DANZIG, but they've got the skeleton shirt."

On splitting his professional connection with Rick Rubin:

"During the 'Danzig 4' sessions, I said, 'Rick, we gotta talk about this. We're selling a lot of records, and we're not gettin' paid.' We never got royalty statements for all those years. And there was an issue about publishing [rights], too. Rick told me he had nothing to do with it, and that I had to sue him — that I shouldn't take it personally, that was the way business was. And I was like, 'What?' Because I felt we were also friends."

On Satanism:

"There's all kinds of schisms in Satanism, but the thing I like about it is the quest for knowledge. Other religions are more like, 'No, you're not allowed to learn any of this. Only the select few are allowed.' ... I don't see any holy wars being fought in the name of Satan."

On the widely circulated video clip from 2004 where NORTH SIDE KINGS singer Danny Marianinho confronts Glenn backstage because Danny's band didn't get to play at one of DANZIG's gigs before Glenn shoves him and ends up getting punched out by Marianinho:

"No one asks, 'Why did you push him instead of nailing him right in the face?' 'Cause there's a camera rolling! I have so many friends who've lost tons of money from that setup, punching people and getting sued. One of my guys a long time ago worked for GUNS N' ROSES and he told me, 'You're lucky you've never been sued.' He said Duff McKagan would go into these clubs, and a guy would have a friend there with a camera: 'Hey, GUNS N' ROSES pussy!' [Strikes fist against palm, mimicking a punch] And they'd walk out. Next day, million-dollar lawsuit."

For more information on Spin's August 2007 issue, visit www.spin.com.

Watch the now-legendary Glenn Danzig-vs.-Danny Marianinho clip below: