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EERIE VON BIOGRAPHY
Eerie Von was born on August 25th, 1964 in the state of New
Jersey. He grew up in Lodi, New Jersey and graduated from Lodi High School
in 1982. Former classmates included
Steve Zing and Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein
(from the band The Misfits).
Around the age of 5/6, Eerie started drawing. He mostly copied Peanuts cartoons out of the local newspaper. Art
became a passion for Eerie that has been prominent throughout his life.
At the age of 8, Eerie discovered music by artists such as The Beatles and Elvis
Presley. Such music inspired Eerie
to begin singing in front of his 3rd grade class.
He continued to draw things such as
portraits of baseball players and Elvis Presley. Eerie discovered yet another form of art, photography.
The camera he originally learned to take photographs with was the same camera he later used to photograph the bands The Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig.
Continuing on with his musical interest, he learned to play drums by taking lessons at the local Boys Club. However, this
only lasted a short time.
In 1975/76, Eerie began using the art medium which he still uses today, paint. He began painting mostly on the walls in his parents’ house located in Lodi, New Jersey.
In 1977, Eerie met Doyle (The Misfits) while in middle school.
Doyle was not yet in The Misfits. Eerie then began to pursue photography full time in 1978/79. He was also printing t-shirts.
In 1981, Doyle suggested that he should start playing drums once again. Eerie took his advice. Doyle also asked Eerie to take photographs
of The Misfits. At this time, Eerie met Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only, and Arthur Googy. This sparked the now famous “Cave Session” in August, 1981 which took place in upstate New York.
Eerie auditioned to be the drummer for the Misfits on a Friday. He got the job, but took the weekend to mull it over. He declined the position that following Monday. Eerie then formed his own band in 1982, Rosemary’s Babies. He also graduated from Lodi High School
that year.
Rosemary’s Babies first album was released in 1983 which was
entitled “Blood Lust”. The EP included 10 songs and was pressed on red vinyl.
The band performed shows in New York, New Jersey, Boston, and Philadelphia.
In 1984, Eerie formed the band Samhain with Glenn Danzig.
Eerie was originally the drummer for Samhain until
Glenn suggested that Steve
Zing be the drummer and Eerie take the position of bassist. Eerie has inspired bassists over the years and has been successful at forming close relationships
with both Samhain and Danzig
fans.
Samhain played their debut show at The Rock Hotel in March 1984.
Lyle
Preslar, (Minor Threat) was the guitar
player at the time. The band recorded their first album entitled “Initium” in Lodi, New Jersey
at Reel Platinum Studio.
Pete Marshall (aka Damian) joined the band and replaced Lyle as the guitarist.
Samhain then toured America. Samhain recorded their album “Unholy Passion” in 1985. The band continued to tour. In the meantime,
they met the band Metallica
at the Mabuhay Gardens Club in San Francisco, California.
Steve Zing left Samhain. He was replaced by London May
from Baltimore, Maryland. In 1986, Samhain recorded the album “November Coming Fire”. Samhain
went back on tour after that. They performed
two high profile shows at The Ritz (in New York City). This is where they met music mogul Rick
Rubin. Rick wanted to sign them to his Def Jam record label.
Damian was then asked to leave the band.
Samhain held auditions for two weeks to look for a new guitarist at Top Cat Rehearsal Studio (New York).
John Christ, a cover band veteran from Baltimore, Maryland, heard about the auditions from his father – who heard about the auditions from London
May’s father. John was selected as
the new guitarist.
Samhain began recording the album “The Final Descent”
with John
Christ contributing
some
guitar tracks. London May was asked to leave the
band. In
1987, Chuck Biscuits was called and asked to take over as the drummer.
He flew out and joined the band.
In 1988, the band changed its name to Danzig and they recorded their self-titled debut album in New York City. They played shows in New York
City, Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles
with the band Slayer. They then toured Europe and America
with the band Metallica.
Danzig’s first home video was released in 1988/89.
At this time the entire band
relocated to Los Angeles, California.
In 1990, Danzig
recorded and released their album “Lucifuge” and performed a world tour. Their second home video was then released. Glenn and Eerie finished the Samhain
album “The Final Descent” and then it was released
as well.
Their album “How the Gods Kill” was released in 1992.
Danzig
then toured the world with the band
White Zombie as their opening act for 4 weeks. Danzig
recorded and released their album entitled “Thrall-Demonsweatlive”
in 1993. The band continued to tour. In October Eerie left Los Angeles
and moved back to New Jersey.
In 1994, Danzig recorded their album “Danzig 4p”. They
then toured with Metallica once again. Chuck Biscuits left the band.
He was replaced by Joey Castillo (Wasted Youth, Sugartooth). The band continued touring the world with opening acts that included the
bands Korn, Type O
Negative, and Marilyn Manson.
In 1995, Eerie Von and John Christ left the band.
Eerie then released the album “Uneasy Listening” which he recorded with Mike Morance
in 1996. Eerie also worked on The
Misfits box set (Caroline Records). He contributed
liner notes and artwork.
Eerie moved back to Los Angeles
for a year in 1997. He then recorded
the album “The Blood and the Body” on a 4 track cassette system with an acoustic
guitar, a microphone, and a Casio
keyboard (which he bought at Toys R Us). “The Blood and the Body” was released in 1998. Then Eerie moved to Florida and started painting full time. “Skull
and Baby” was his first painting he sold.
In 2001, Eerie recorded the album “Bad Dream No. 13”. Later in 2002, he began working on the album entitled “The Bastard Blues”.
He began to remix and re-master the Rosemary’s Babies catalog for a 20th
anniversary album in 2003. His hard drive on his digital recording system crashed and a year’s worth of work
on the
album “The Bastard Blues” was lost.
That project was then put on the backburner to be finished at another time.
Eerie moved to Indiana
in 2004. He then recorded and released
his album “Spidercider” in 2006. He
continued to produce his artwork (known as “Fiend Art”) and write and record music
throughout 2007. Eerie moved back home to New Jersey
in early 2008.
He is still writing,
recording, and painting today.
-Mary Graves
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