LUCIFER RISING

GLENN DANZIG EXPLAINS WHY HE CREATED THIS TWISTED CARNIVAL OF THE BIZARRE this was a pretty wild weekend! How do you think it went?

Danzig: “Well, it was the first year we did a twoday festival, and I think we did pretty good. The attendance surprised me – it was a lot more than I expected – so I’m happy. The bands loved it.

The guys from Venom came up to me and told me how much they liked it, and how much it was like a European festival, as opposed to an American festival, which made me happy.”

what did you want to deliver that you felt other US festivals lacked?

“Look at the line-up. You’d never see those bands on a US festival. They’re not corporate, big-label bands. A lot of these bands aren’t getting the recognition that they deserve because they may not be the Top 10 or Top 20 darlings of the day. So hopefully I can change that, because there are so many bands that deserve to be on a big stage.”

what about these particular bands made them right for the festival?

“You have to have a certain amount of cred.

And for me, I have to feel like a band is saying something. Like, Deafheaven are controversial, but I think they have something to say, and it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I think it’s obviously a lot of people’s cup of tea.”

did you have any idea of the area’s haunted history, like the ghosts, massacres and pagan rituals?

“You know, someone had mentioned it to me, but it didn’t really stick in my head, because so many places in California are haunted. But that wasn’t a reason that I picked that location; we just felt it was the best. That other stuff is just an added perk. Ha ha!”

How involved were you with the freakshow attractions?

“The promoter used to be one of my co-managers a long time ago in the 90s. I wanted to have a freakshow, and he said, ‘What about a roaming freakshow?’ I said, ‘That would be great!’ Ha ha! I wanted it to be like a dark carnival. It turned out pretty cool and people dug it.”

at the confiscated items table, we saw a jar of pickles. any idea what that was about?

“I have no idea! Why not just ask someone, ‘Can I bring these pickles in?’ Why try to smuggle them in? Unless they’re filled with poison...”