Danzig Announces Blackest of the Black Tour

Band Photo: Behemoth (?)

Glenn Danzig, at the forefront of the hardcore/dark metal movement for more than 25 years, announces that the 2005 "Blackest of the Black" tour will kick off in San Diego at the end of September and end on the west coast on Halloween. For the sophomore year of this Fall traveling festival, Danzig has assembled a line-up of the crème de la crème of the hardcore/dark/black metal bands - Chimaira, Behemoth, Himsa, Mortiis (ex-Emperor), and The Agony Scene. Danzig will headline, of course.

Danzig's performance on all dates of the "Blackest of the Black" tour will feature former Misfits' guitarist Doyle Von Frankenstein for a special 30-minute set of Misfits classics. Doyle joined Danzig on a handful of tour dates last winter (New York, Philadelphia, Boston) for "the closest thing to a Misfits reunion you're going to see."

"'The Blackest of the Black' tour is for extreme bands that sell out venues across the country, that sell records, but don't get radio play or get on MTV," said Danzig. "It's anti the corporate crap nu-rap-metal that gets shoved down fans' throats at other concerts." The "Blackest of the Black" festival was organized by Danzig and debuted in the Summer of 2003 with Danzig, Superjoint Ritual, Opeth, Nile, Lacuna Coil and Behemoth on the
bill. "I'd like to see this being an on-going event," Danzig added.

In addition to organizing and headlining the "Blackest of the Black" tour, Glenn Danzig will see the release of the DVD "Il Demonio Nera" (evilive) on July 12. "Il Demonio Nera" is a collection of videos, video outtakes, alternative versions and previously unreleased music videos from the band's "Danzig 4" and "Danzig 5" CDs. His new CD, "Black Aria II," the follow up to 1993's "Black Aria," has been completed and will be released later this year, and Glenn is in the process of shooting his first feature film, "Gerouge," which he has written and will direct. "Gerouge" is based on one of the comic book titles distributed by his Verotik publishing company, and concerns Turn of the Century New Orleans Voodoo.

Confirmed dates for the "Blackest of the Black" will be announced shortly.