Here are the Black Crowes, those wacky guys who are touring under a pseudonym. Hah! They can't fool the Daily.
Don't crucify John Christ; Danzig's una

V By TED WATTS
Ready to go out after school and
become a rich rock star? Just listen.
"I was in college, I was working
hard, learning all the time, working
towards my degree, living at school,
going home on weekends, no respon-
sibilities," related Danzig guitarist
John Christ. "When I got the Danzig
gig - it was still called Samhain at
*he time -- it was cool. We did some
songwriting and rehearsing.
"Then I relocated to Jersey, making
barely enough to survive, and that went
on for a couple of years. It wasn't until
the success of the 'Mother '93' single
for anyone to really know who we are.
We have had a core following from the
beginning, but that was a very small
circle." Thus is the abbreviated history
pf the band known as Danzig.
W "We've moved from low-level to
mid-level," said Christ.
With the release of the sonically
beautiful new album "4p" following
the surprisingly popular "Thralldemon-
sweat Live" EP, you might expect
Danzig to be played to death on the
radio and MTV. But no. ""MTV isn't
playing 'When You Call on the Dark,"
said Christ. "They didn't like the lyr-
Ocs."
What? They've got problems with
"I wanna be the Christ who dies /
upon the fires of infamy" yet they
play that Green Day crap? Well,
there's a video in the works for the
song "Cantspeak" that is more likely
to pass the MTV censors and provide
a fix for the visually starved Danzig
fan. But the question is raised as to

why such socially unaccepted themes
creep into the songs.
"It just a state of mind," explained
Christ. "We've been living in Los An-
geles and a lot of things have been
happening the last couple of years out
there. You can't help but be affected by
your environment a bit. Glenn may see
a story in the news that fires him up;
other times it's something that's been
going on for a long time. 'Bringer of
Death' has to deal with what's happen-
ing now, and how the Bible alludes to
the end of the world starting with war in
the middle east. Then 'Going Down to
Die' is one man's realization about his
own mortality. The realization that he's
going to die and trying to accept that.
It's not so 'evil' as it is life."
Still, the band's influences seem a
bit odd considering the final product.
"We all like the blues. Old rock'n' roll.
Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Howlin'
Wolf; we all getoff on stuff like that....
But if you put our individual influences
together, they clash really hard, and
that's Danzig," chuckled Christ.
Of course, the biggest influence on
the music is frontman/singer Glenn
Danzig. Said Christ: "Some songs just
start as jams, and sometimes Glenn
will come down with ideas and have
almost complete songs. We'll go over
arrangements and parts and get the
vibe on how we want it to go. Then I'll
bring the drummer and Eerie (Von,
bass) in on how we want to arrange it.
Other times we'll just start jamming
and (Glenn) will start wailing away on
some vocals he makes up and a song'll
pop out."

"4p" was completed in March of
this year, but the CD wasn't released
until October. "We had to get some
artwork together, that's why it took so
long. Go figure. It seems to happen on
every album," sighed Christ.
But forgive them, because the al-
bum is out and now they're on tour for
you to enjoy them.
"We're touring with Godflesh and
Type O Negative," Christ said. "Type
O has a good sense of humor. They do
covers of old Seals and Crofts and
Black Sabbath tunes, so we like tour-
ing with them. Plus, they're heavily
into the black thing."
As for their own show, what
Danzig likes is this: "The crazier, the
more enthusiastic, the more intense
the audience, the more we like it. ... I
don't like people on the stage, knock-
ing into us, having the crew con-
stantly dragging people off stage, but
I do like to see a lot of action down
front." With the rabidity of many
Danzig fans, alittle mayhem shouldn't
really be a problem.
Not that touring is all mosh pits
and peppermints for Christ. "There
was one tour when I was trying to stay
on a strict diet and stay in really good
shape. One of the roadies kept buying
poundcakes and putting them on my
bunk in the bus or under my door....
And when someone gives me
poundcake, I'm most likely going to
have to eat it. ... Now I'm trying to get
into health bars, amino fuels and
stuff." Life can be hard.
Christ plans on playing in his own
outside project at some point, but

The Michigan Daily - Monday, December 5, 1994 -
Crowes rip through Detroit
By BRIAN A. GNATT trying out any new songs from their latest album,
Something very strange was going on at St. Andrew's "Amorica," The Crowes ripped through all of their old
Hall in Detroit Saturday. Masses of people began lining up material with such soul and emotion.
early in the morning to buy tickets for the O.D. Jubilee Band. Then Chris asked the crowd "You comfortable and ready..
Never heard of them? Then why were people lining up to stay for a bit? We're gonna try out some new stuff." They.,
at 6 o'clock in the morning for this unknown band, when went in to some new songs from the new album that sounded
tickets weren't just as luscious and tight as the older material.
C supposedto goon Throughout their set, the band pulled heavily from al
sale for another three albums, with the most emphasis on "The Southe'
The Black 12 hours? Harmony and Musical Companion." They also did ai
CI'OWE3SAs it turned amazing version of "Jealous Again" and a slower bluesy
out, these lucky version of "Hard to Handle."
St. Andrew's Hall people had dis- From "Amorica," the Crowes played their first single, "A
December 3, 1994 covered that the Conspiracy," "She Gave Good Sunflower," and the ballad
O.D.JubileeBand "Wiser Time," among a few others. They didn't rely heavily
was in fact the Black Crowes. Stopping in Detroit on their on their other ballads though, keeping the show at a high
unannounced 10-show, small club tour, the Crowes rocked energy level throughout the entire two-hour set.
St. Andrew's like no other band has in a very long time. Although the new material sounded excellent, the
Besides having to wait in line for tickets for the entire band seemed more comfortable with the older materials
day, the concert was phenomenal, and an excellent oppor- and expanded on it from the albums as much as possibleg
tunity to see such a amazing band in such a small club. In a 10- to 15-minute version of "My Morning Song,','
But waiting in line was part of the fun. From the drunk Rich Robinson and Ford took turns going back and forti,
hillbillies yelling comments to any female who walked by with incredible guitar solos, never allowing the song to get
(there were a number of groupies, though), to the hun- boring.
dreds of people smoking pot on the streets of Detroit, the Besides Chris Robinson, the rest of the band didn'[
wait was quite interesting at times. have any interaction with the screaming and ecstatic
The people were pretty entertaining too. One patron crowd. Between swigs from a Jack Daniels bottle, Fordc
kept yelling to a woman in the window of the venue who and Colt were able to put on a smile to the crowd, but were
was selling tickets, "Hey Bitch, show us your tits!" off in their own world, probably with dazed Rich Robinson
After an extra two-hour delay to start selling the for most of the show.
limited number of tickets, fans were restless, and began to Chris Robinson finished the show by saying "This is a
rush the doors and push to try and get into the club. rendition of our favorite film, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,.
Although no one was hurt seriously, it wasn't the best and then flowed right into a spunked-up version of "Ren
organized mob scene, and security had a difficult time edy," ending the show with a real bang.
handling the crowd. For another surprise, green-haired basketball player,
Finally at 10 p.m., The Crowes took the stage, opening and Black Crowes fan Dennis Rodman was also at St
with an awesome version of "Sting Me." Looking as pale, Andrew's, to soak in a little bit of good 'ol rock 'n' rol
thin and drugged out as usual, Chris Robinson belted out with a few friends (but no Madonna, though).
his bluesy vocals, with brother Rich and Marc Ford on The Black Crowes put on an exceptional show, and the
guitar, Johnny Colt on bass and Eddie Harsch tickling the many wasted hours it took to get into the club were
ivories. They were all equally as dazed, but very into the forgotten about once the show began. After a few more
music. Drummer Steve Gorman and their new percussion- surprise U.S. dates, they are off to Europe for a few
ist were the only ones who might have been almost sober, months. Don't worry if you missed them - they'll be back,
but nevertheless, the band was tight and sounded great. sometime in the spring, but don't count on any small clubs.'
Going into "Hotel Illness" and "Twice as Hard" before or $12 tickets!
iccepted themes aren't evil - they're life
only once Danzig takes some time Christ doesn't "want it to be incred- is touring with Danzig. And that's
off. "There are some guys like Zack ibly serious, because I've got a sense more than good enough.
Wilde, Jerry Cantrell and Ted Nugent of humor and there's gonna be a lot of DANZIG plays tonight at the State
that I've been trying to rope into do- humor in the music. It's gonna be alot Theatre in Detroit with Type O
ing something," said Christ. of loud, heavy rock 'n' roll, with Negative and Godflesh. Showtime is
And while wary of the infamy of touches of jazz and classical." 7:30 and it is an all ages bash. Call-
things like Bon Jovi solo records, But in the meantime, John Christ (313) 961-5450.
MICHIGAN
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You won't see Danzig on MN quite yet. MT didn't like the lyrics for their "When You Call on the Dark" song.


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