Samhain reuniting (?) for Riot Fest, Danzig & Jerry Only in court over Hot Topic, Misfits announce Halloween show

Danzig at Riot Fest in 2013 (more by Kirstie Shanley)

Nestled within the Riot Fest Chicago 2014 lineup sat this intriguing name: Samhain. The Samhain? The band Glenn Danzig fronted between two legacy-ensuring runs in the Misfits and his “Mother”-effin’ ‘solo’ stardom? That Samhain?

Danzig’s official website has since confirmed: “We can confirm that DANZIG has accepted an invitation to perform as his Classic SAMHAIN at Riot Fest in Chicago this September. More as we get it…Stay Tuned!!!” Riot Fest has since announced that Samhain will play Initium in full.

We actually shouldn’t be too surprised. Danzg has been touring with Doyle-infused Misfits sets as part of his show for a while now, and in 2011 he did a “Danzig Legacy” tour, with shows that included (drama and) seven Samhain songs and members as part of the setlist. That tour hit Riot Fest in Chicago, a fest Danzig then played for a second time last year (and which he will play for a third time this year). Three members of Samhain played in the band (Glenn Danzig, London May and Steve Zing).

What we still don’t know is who will actually be playing in this version of the reunited “Samhain“. Danzig hasn’t said yet. Drummer/bassist Steve Zing is a very safe bet since he was in Samhain, played the ‘Legacy’ shows and plays in Danzig’s current lineup. Drummer/bassist London May, already back in the fold recently, also seems very possible. The bigger question is whether we’ll get original member (and Danzig original member, but current country singer) drummer/bassist Eerie Von back in the fold. In our professional opinion that is who Danzig needs most to validate this thing, and actually things are looking good, though it might require Glenn also wrangling in guitarist Pete “Damien” Marshall. In 2012, Blankman ran this interview:

BMi: Why weren’t you part of the Samhain reunion

EV: “What reunion? Glenn and 2 drummers? I said if the Guitar player Damian wasn’t involved I wasn’t interested.”

BMi: What do you think about Jerry Only’s continued version of the Misfits?

EV: “That’s Jerry’s thing. He’s keeping the name alive, and playing the songs for the kids who never saw the old band. I only saw them when they first got back together, and had Graves as a singer. I thought they were pretty good. I haven’t seen Jerry and the others guys since.

BMi: Knowing all the guys in the band personally, what do you think the chances are of a full-fledged Misfits reunion?

EV: “Slim to None, but you never can tell. It’s been discussed over the years.”

Slim to none is right, and even more right now that Danzig and Jerry Only are embroiled in yet another lawsuit concerning a legal spat with Misfits bassist Jerry Only over Hot Topic merchandising royalties, citing the devilocked dude for breach of a ’94 agreement to share trademarks.

After registering the trademarks, Danzig alleges Jerry then secretly entered into deals with various merchandisers, including Hot Topic, and cut Danzig out of any potential profits in the process. Danzig claims Jerry even threatened to withhold licensing rights from merchandisers if they did business with Danzig at all.

Danzig — who left The Misfits in 1983 — is suing for breach of contract and more. He insists he’s solely responsible for the Misfits fame as a founding member of the group, and deserves his fair share of merchandising profits. [re-tox]

Misfits say it’s “sour grapes”. Read the entire statement they gave to Alternative Press in response to the lawsuit, below, and good luck Glenn.

Meanwhile, Jerry Only’s version of the Misfits just announced that their NYC Halloween show will happen this year on October 28 at Irving Plaza. Tickets are on Live Nation/Music Geeks presale and go on regular sale Friday (5/16) at 10 AM.

All of Danzig’s & Misfits’ 2014 tour dates, along with some Samhain samples — that you should listen to with unbiased ears — below.

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Danzig – 2014 Dates
May 28 – HELSINKI, FINLAND SONISPHERE FESTIVAL
May 30 – STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN SONISPHERE FESTIVAL
June 21 – MONTREAL, CANADA AMNESIA ROCKFEST

STATEMENT FROM THE MISFITS

In 1995, Misfits founding member Jerry Only secured the exclusive legal right to tour and record as the Misfits, and, in accordance with those legal rights, launched a licensing program through Cyclopian Music. At the same time, Glenn Anzalone–professionally known as Glenn Danzig (former co-founder and Misfits vocalist circa 1977 to 1983) –made clear that he wanted no public association with the Misfits or Cyclopian Music’s business endeavors.

Despite full knowledge of Cyclopian Music’s use of the Misfits’ name and logos for decades, Glenn Danzig curiously filed a lawsuit on April 3rd, 2014 seeking a portion of the proceeds from Cyclopian Music’s activities with which he has had no involvement whatsoever. Danzig’s lawsuit can only be described as a sour grapes tantrum based on outrageous allegations, the majority of which are completely false, while others are ill conceived and grossly misguided–and will be proven false in court. Reports of Glenn Danzig’s lawsuit and the falsehoods within it, however, have resulted in the dissemination of misinformation regarding the nature of Glenn Danzig’s baseless claims and Cyclopian Music’s rights.

For example, Jerry Only and Cyclopian are under no obligation, legal, contractual or otherwise, to obtain consent, or approvals of any kind, from former member Glenn Danzig in connection with their use of the Misfits name or logos. Apparently Danzig’s own product line doesn’t sell as well as he might like, but the fact of the matter remains that Jerry Only and Cyclopian Music’s Misfits licenses, business activity and merchandising endeavors are 100% lawful and consistent with their legal rights.

To be clear, Glenn Danzig has no legal right to, and no interest in, Cyclopian’s Misfits licenses or business ventures period. Danzig’s lawsuit is nothing more than a calculated attempt to unfairly and improperly enrich himself from revenue streams to which he is not entitled.”

–Misfits / Misfits Records

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MISFITS — 2014 Tour Dates
06/20/14 MONTEBELLO, QUEBEC CANADA @ AMNESIA ROCKFEST
06/22/14 CLISSON, FRANCE @ HELLFEST 2014
06/23/14 BRIGHTON, UK @ CONCORDE 2
06/24/14 READING, UK @ SUB 89
06/25/14 LEAMINGTON SPA, UK @ THE ASSEMBLY
06/26/14 CHESTER, UK @ THE LIVE ROOMS
06/27/14 LEEDS, UK @ BRUDENELL SOCIAL CLUB
06/28/14 SWANSEA, WALES, UK @ GARAGE MUSIC VENUE
10/29/14 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
11/01/14 SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO @ PUERTO RICO COMIC-CON