GLENN DANZIG
2005 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

How could I not?  I mean this guy has written some of the greatest songs ever, stuff that people will still be listening to years from now.  His songs, regardless of whether it was The Misfits, Samhain, or Danzig, will be listened to for a loooooong time and have influenced countless musicians.  When I went to see Danzig last February, it was amazing to see this guy still jamming beyond belief after all these years.  And you know what really makes it cool?  It wasn't some lame reunion tour...Danzig was still going strong.  Heck, last year when Danzig released "Circle of Snakes", it was easily his best CD since "How The Gods Kill".  To think a dude could write songs like "Nike A Go-Go", "Hatebreeders", and "Vampira" a couple of decades ago and then recently come out with a tune as awesome as "Skincarver"...man...unreal.  Let's face facts people, Glenn Danzig has more talent then The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd COMBINED!  Now what I think is REALLY cool is the fact that he could easily write radio-friendly rock tunes and could have achieved a lot of commercial success, but he always kept that element of dark to the songs which kept him off of the radio, and I really respect that...the dude always wrote what he wanted to.  Plus, my single greatest live show experience happened at a Danzig show.  Now I've met many cool musicians I dig in my life like Metallica and Henry Rollins, but the Danzig show back in the summer of 1993 will always stand out.  Already heard the story?  Tough...you get to hear it again because it is too cool NOT to listen to one more time.  Anyway, one bright and sunny day me and my bud Don, yep the same one in our band NoiseCult, went to go check out the Danzig show at 328 in Nashville.  We got there before the show and walked around the back seeing if we could meet the guy.  They were in the middle of soundcheck so we hung out by the back door where a few other people were at.  *Sigh*...ok...time for some honesty here as embarrassing as this is.  What really happened was me and Don got there WAY early and while the band was still hanging out on the tour bus, we were standing off to the side trying to look all nonchalant and cool...like were weren't a couple of fanboys.  Then it hit us...we were pathetic.  Why?  Because we were somewhat standing on the other side of a dumpster occasionally peeking around to see if the band was off the bus yet.  We both realized how lame we were and went to go eat somewhere to kill some time.  And now that I've shared that painful memory....we get back to 328 and now soundcheck is going on and we're out back with a few other people....and we seem more normal now that we aren't hiding behind a friggin dumpster anymore.  Soundcheck finishes up and Chuck Biscuits, the drummer, comes out first.  We do the usual autograph and "hey what's up man" thing...and then John Christ comes out, the guitarist.  We get some pictures taken and do the same ol' "hey what's up man" lame stuff...thinking you're being cool when you KNOW you must seem like a real dork.  And then the man came out...Glenn Danzig himself.  He was really cool...signed stuff...took pictures with us...all that.  He turns to go back inside and Don asks him "Hey Glenn, could you play 'When Death Had No Name' tonight?"  Danzig goes "what???" and so I repeat the question.  Danzig said, "we might if we do an encore".  Now at the time, that tune was only available on the CD single of "Dirty Black Summer" as an import...it's a KILLER tune.  We go inside and get right up front against the security barrier.  We sit through two crap bands and then Danzig takes the stage and proceeds to launch a musical fury for the next hour.  They get to the song "Long Way Back From Hell" and it's rockin...the place is still going nuts.  all of the sudden Glenn jumps down off the stage onto one of the supports that was behind the security barrier.  At the time I had a mohawk...oh you should have seen me...and he's right in front of me and grabs me back the back of my hair and has the mic right between me and him.  The chorus kicks in and me and Glenn Danzig are singing it together...."Do you want to take a life.....do you want to cross that line....'cause it's a long way back from hell...and you don't wanna go with.....WHOAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!"  I would love to know how that came out...I'm sure I was doing my best 13-year-old-girl-at-a-Beatle's-concert scream.  Now if that wasn't cool enough, after that tune the band leaves the stage and everyone is chanting "DAN-ZIG!!!  DAN-ZIG!!!" to bring them out for another tune.  They take the stage and Glenn goes "ok...this next tune goes out to a couple of fans right here...it's called 'When Death Had No Name'" and points right over at me and Don.  The two of us just looked at each other with our jaws on the floor and then both us launched into our 13-year-old-girl-at-a-Beatle's-concert screams.  So not only did I get to sing a chorus with Glenn Danzig, but he dedicated a song to us...pretty friggin cool huh?  I wonder how many other people can say that!!  FACE!!!  Anyway, to wrap this up, Glenn Danzig has written some of the most legendary songs and has influenced a ton of bands and has done it for many years and that's why he gets the award.
 
 

Why not?  I mean seriously, when I hear the crap that has been released this year, I can't think of a more worthy recipient of this award, plus it's my award show after all.  Sure, the production may not be as hot as some major release, but the songs rock and that's all that matters, so there.  Plus, name me one other kickass metal CD that came out this year beside the new one from Judas Priest....can't think of one?  I didn't think you could so we win!  And let's face it people, if it's not a metal release it really isn't worth talking about...'nuff said.  And remember, you can buy one at www.noisecult.com or pick one up at Tower Records in Nashville...hint hint.
 
 

Yeah...Danzig gets two awards this year so deal with it.  Maybe one day when you achieve the status level that I have, you can have your own awards show and give the trophies out to who YOU want.  That fateful Saturday last March that me, Don, and my bud Jason went down to Atlanta for this show was just unreal.  The first two bands sucked...but then the stage was adorned with nothing but skulls and cool lights and Danzig kicked into "Skincarver".  For the next hour and a half I was treated to a pure onslaught of all that is rock.  And let's face it, a rock show should be nothing but skulls and lights.  Ooooh...so someone has a laser show and jumbotrons...whatever.  I don't give a crap what reunion tour might be going on...they are mere child's play when it comes to watching Danzig.  AND factor into the gig that he played the old Misfits classic "Skulls"...well...what else could possibly compare?  Right...there aren't any that race to the front of one's mind.  About the only thing that could compare is a full-blown Misfits tour with the the original band.  It was worth every cent...and including the 7 hour round-trip drive.    Granted he didn't pull me out of the crowd to sing "Long Way Back From Hell" with him like we did before, but it's cool...the show still rocked.  I swear, 99% of all frontmen that are in bands could take some lessons from a live Danzig show.  Most of them are beyond lame...especially the local crap I've seen in the gigs we've played...because to be a great frontman means you have to have just a tinge of charisma...and so many bands lack that except mine because I ooze charisma.  I do...I really do.  Jeez...maybe I should have put one of our gigs as the live gig of the year...but someone might think I was being arrogant and we all know I'm not arrogant at all.  Ummm....yeah.....

Ok, next up is "Movie of the Year".  You ready?  This was actually one of the most difficult choices believe it or not.  I take my movies very seriously because I'm a dork sometimes, so I had a hard time with this one.  Let's see...here's what came out this year..."The Devil's Rejects", "Saw 2", the new Star Wars, "Batman Begins", "The Fantastic Four"....so many great movies, yet the winner isn't one of the ones mentioned here.  Surprised?  Oh you will be....