Samhain

Samhain founder Glenn Danzig (vocals/guitar/keyboards/drums (periodically)) originally planned the act as a side project with Eerie Von (bass/drums) but when his earlier band, The Misfits contentiously dissolved, Samhain became his full-time band. Unfortunately, Samhain would be the least celebrated of Danzig's musical efforts and resides as a transition between the punk rock of the Misfits and the dark, [[*+g]]heavy metal[[*-g]] and blues-influenced sound of his future band Danzig. Both Samhain and the later Danzig, used the same horned skull image as a part of the logo originally drawn by artist Michael Golden for the cover of the 1984 comic book The Saga of Crystar No. 8, published by 'Marvel Comics', with the font for both bands taken from the film The Giant Gila Monster. The name of the band would be taken from the name of the ancient Celtic New Year: "Samhain"; the origin of the modern Halloween. The name is typically pronounced as "sam-hane" but within song lyrics, Danzig himself pronounces it "sah-win", in conformity with the generally accepted pronunciation of the ancient holiday.

Featuring the membership of:Glenn Danzig (Real Name: Glenn Allen Anzalone; vocals/guitar/keyboards/drums (1983-1987, 1999, 2011-2012, 2014))Eerie Von (Real Name: Eric Stellmann; bass/drums (1983-1987)) London May (drums/bass (1985-1987, 1999, 2011-2012, 2014)) Pete "Damien" Marshall (guitar (1984-1986))Steve Zing (Real Name: Steven Paul Grecco; drums/bass (1983-1985, 1999, 2011-2012, 2014)) and John Christ (Real Name: John Wolfgang Knoll; guitar (1987))Samhain would release Initium (1984), Unholy Passion EP (1985), Samhain III: November-Coming-Fire (1986), Final Descent (1990), Box Set (2000) and Samhain Live '85-'86 (2001).

Samhain split in 1987 whereby several members would move on to form Danzig (the band), followed by reunions in 1999, 2011, 2012 and 2014.