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An Open Letter to Chuck Biscuits
Hey dude, what’s up? Not much over here. So, uh, like, what’s the deal? Where are you?
Seriously man, it’s been like a decade since you’ve graced humankind with your sick, sick drumming skills. What’s up? Did we piss you off or something? If we pissed you off, just tell us, man, and we can talk about it. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional (unless it was something Gary did—listen, that guy’s an asshole, no one likes him, so don’t even pay attention to anything he says).
Some people say you went into an early retirement, Chuck, because you were “fed up” or “tired” of playing music. I don’t know, man. That dog really won’t hunt with me. I’m beginning to think someone forced you into exile on account a’ you knew too much about something or were so good you were making them look bad. Was it Mike Ness? Did Mike Ness slap an injunction on your ass because he couldn’t handle your powerhouse style on “When the Angels Sing?” That’s so bogus, man. So bogus.
Everyone you used to play with is still on the scene, you know. Danzig, Circle Jerks, D.O.A. Hell, I’m pretty sure Black Flag’s reunited a couple of times in various forms since their late 1980s demise. Are you injured, Chuck? Did you fall off a roller coaster or something? Is it your rotator cuff? You know, I think Ross the Boss from Manowar messed up his rotator cuff after a few shows in Germany once, but he was back rockin’ and rollin’ after six or eight months of recovery. I know that kind of thing is a bitch when you don’t have insurance, but come on, man, we really need you to get back in the game.
Danzig, Crooked Fingers, Robyn Hitchcock and more
Danzig
November 10th at Warfield
It briefly seemed like he’d never come out. The huge logo-adorned backdrop, skull-like stage ornaments, and the elevated drum kit platform had all been set up for several minutes and a hype man had already paid a few visits to inquire of the audience, “Are you guys ready for Danzig?” The legendary frontman (first name: Glenn) of the Misfits and Samhain finally rolled out with a three-piece backing group, wearing a black mesh top and launching into “Skincarver” from 2004’s Circle of Snakes. From there, it was an album-to-album best of, focusing on 1988’s Danzig, 1990’s Danzig II: Lucifuge, and 1992’s Danzig III: How the Gods Kill—the three records generally acknowledged as the best results of his solo endeavor. Biker bar anthem “Twist of Cain” and its fantastic, brooding chord-for-chord descendant, “How the Gods Kill”, were two of the best tracks, and Danzig, despite being 53 years old, whipped and stalked around the stage with youthful exuberance. The audience didn’t get to hear any tracks from his pre-1988 bands, but the blues-metal riffs and his remarkable charisma made for an entertaining, well-structured set. Especially entertaining was a particular gimmick in which a stagehand brought a delivery pizza box to the stage. He swung by the individual band members’ corners of the stage to inquire if they wanted any, and as he creeped behind Danzig, the legend turned around and kicked the pizza box clear out of the dude’s grasp. Maybe not as cool as pyrotechnics might have been, but definitely entertaining and certainly a lot safer. Speaking of safety, Danzig’s sign-off upon exiting the stage (after rousing renditions of “Killer Wolf” and “Dirty Black Summer”) was “Be safe!” Surely a peculiar outro for a singer so passionate in his love for ghouls and gory horror flicks, but his follow-up line humorously reminded who it was we’d been watching: “… Don’t kill anyone!” – Michael Harkin
Watch: “Twist of Cain“ [at youtube.com]
The Night the Lights Went Out On Danzig
Coming of age in the mid-‘90s, I held certain truths to be self-evident. Jim Carrey was the funniest human being alive. Home computing technology peaked with Windows 95. The President would never commit perjury over a blowjob. One day I would be able to grow a lengthy, Rasputin-esque beard that would impress all the ladies. Of all these truths, the most obvious to my young, Tarantino-addled mind was the fact that hard rock superstar Glenn Danzig was a total killing machine who could take anyone in a fight, with the possible exceptions of Henry Rollins and Goro from Mortal Kombat.
I can’t tell you why it was so vital to believe some shirtless meathead from New Jersey could stomp out anyone who stepped to his massive belt buckle. I suppose after the collapse of grunge, the arrest of O.J., and the cancellation of Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, there was very little left to believe in. Investing in the idea that the guy who sang “Mother” honestly meant it, that he would trounce any child who walked his way, seemed secure. I know I’m not alone on this. In fact, I’m fairly certain the entire back row of my tenth grade drawing class shared this belief, despite never being able to agree on anything else (especially whether or not Aerosmith had any talent). If that back row was a microcosm of our country’s teenage population at the time (and I suspect it was, despite the weirdo kid from Illinois who claimed the only post-‘70s band he was familiar with was Soundgarden), then most of young America was certain Glenn Danzig really knew how the gods killed.
Saying Farewell to Chuck Biscuits, and Other News
by: Angela Zimmerman
Despite some speculations going around the internet to the contrary, we are sad to report that Chuck Biscuits—drummer for Danzig, Circle Jerks, Black Flag, and Social Distortion—has indeed passed away after a long battle with throat cancer. The 44 year old had recently found a special place in the pages of Crawdaddy!, and James Greene, Jr., our resident metalhead/Biscuits expert, will be penning what will no doubt be an eloquent and entertaining eulogy to the musician in the coming days. Stay tuned. (Metal Underground)
After collapsing on stage last Saturday during his opening number at a show at the Oasis Leisure Center, Morrissey was taken to the hospital, but was back to work performing at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday where he melodramatically reenacted the passing out incident for confused audiences. (London Times)
Bummed you didn’t get to CMJ this year? Here’s one run-down of some of the most buzzed-about bands during the industry fuck fest. (New York Times)
A record dealer has come across an extremely rare, still-sealed copy of the Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers owned by the widow of a Columbia Records exec. All of the faces of the fab four are missing on the cover, replaced by faces of Columbia executives. The album was presumably given away to about 100 lucky people at the label. (The Daily Swarm)
Learn how to play guitar from real live successful indie rockers, including Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara, Aaron Dessner of the National, and Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend. (Stereogum)
The Sublime “reunion” tour, sans Bradley Nowell of course, pissed off the deceased frontman’s family by using the name, which was actually trademarked by Nowell himself prior to his death. Randomly, Todd Rundgren, under the name “Rome Ramirez,” was signed on to take vocal duties. Um, really? (Onion AV Club)
by: Angela Zimmerman
published: October 29, 2009
in column: What Goes On
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