Eerie Von
Encyclopedia
Eerie Von, born Eric Stellman on August 25, 1964 is a musician best known as the original bassist for the metal band Danzig
. Eerie Von's preferred bass is the Fender Jazz
.
. As a child he gained an interest in drawing and art. He grew up listening mostly to Elvis Presley
and 50s rock and roll
music. Eerie Von began playing the drums and taking lessons at 8 years old. He attended Lodi High School
with future Misfits guitarist Doyle
, who introduced Eerie Von to the punk rock music of the Misfits. It was in high school that he earned the "Eerie" nickname.
and the Misfits, becoming the band's photographer in 1981. Eerie Von was the drummer for the hardcore punk
band Rosemary's Babies
from 1980 to 1983, recording drums on the Blood Lust
EP and the Talking to the Dead
compilation album. Eerie Von was once asked to join the Misfits, but declined, choosing to remain with Rosemary's Babies. Although never an official Misfits member, in 1986 Eerie Von recorded bass on several tracks appearing on the bands Collection II
compilation album. Eerie Von's close association with the Misfits led to him providing the liner notes to the Misfits box set in 1996.
, before quickly switching to bass guitar
after being shown how to play the songs by Glenn Danzig. He remained with Samhain from 1983 to 1987, recording on the albums Initium
, November-Coming-Fire
and Final Descent
, and also the Unholy Passion
EP. Samhain then changed their name to Danzig
, who he played bass with from 1987 to July 1995, appearing on the albums Danzig
, Lucifuge
, How the Gods Kill
and 4, and also the Thrall: Demonsweatlive
EP.
in 1996. He followed this with two gothic rock albums, 1999s The Blood and the Body
and 2004s Bad Dream No.13
. In 2006, he released the punk rock album That's All There Is
. The dark country-style album Kinda Country
followed in 2009. Eerie Von also formed the short lived blues rock band, Bighouse, along with former Danzig soundman Rick Dittamo. Eerie Von has had much underground success with his "Fiend Art", which showcases his disturbing themes on canvas. Misery Obscura, a book compiling photographs taken by Eerie Von throughout his career, was released in 2009. In January 2010, Eerie Von performed an acoustic set at Generation Records in New York City with Lyle Preslar
and Mike D'Antonio
in support of Misery Obscura.
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
. Eerie Von's preferred bass is the Fender Jazz
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
.
Early life
Eerie Von was raised in Lodi, New JerseyLodi, New Jersey
Lodi is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 24,136. The borough of Lodi is governed under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law.Lodi owes its name to the Italian city of Lodi...
. As a child he gained an interest in drawing and art. He grew up listening mostly to Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and 50s rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
music. Eerie Von began playing the drums and taking lessons at 8 years old. He attended Lodi High School
Lodi High School (New Jersey)
Lodi High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Lodi, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Lodi Public Schools....
with future Misfits guitarist Doyle
Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein
Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein , is an American guitarist best known for his material with the horror punk band the Misfits.-Life and career:...
, who introduced Eerie Von to the punk rock music of the Misfits. It was in high school that he earned the "Eerie" nickname.
Rosemary's Babies and Misfits
Eerie Von became interested in photography in 1978. He would later strike a friendship with Glenn DanzigGlenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
and the Misfits, becoming the band's photographer in 1981. Eerie Von was the drummer for the hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Rosemary's Babies
Rosemary's Babies
Rosemary's Babies was an American hardcore punk band formed in Lodi, New Jersey in 1980. Its members included J.R. - vocals, Post Mortem - bass, CA Richie - guitar, and Eerie Von - drums. The band was active until 1983 and produced a 7" EP titled "Blood Lust", released on the band's own Ghastly...
from 1980 to 1983, recording drums on the Blood Lust
Blood Lust EP
Blood Lust is an EP recorded from 1982 to 1983. This red 7" vinyl EP includes a 3 second intro followed by 11 songs with an average length of 58 seconds for a total play time of 10:41....
EP and the Talking to the Dead
Talking to the Dead
Talking to the dead is a compilation album released by Rosemary's Babies on October 5, 2004 on Ghastly Records.It features 9 of the 10 tracks released in 1983 on the Blood Lust EP.Track listing----* What I Hate - 0.14* Talking to the dead - 1.14...
compilation album. Eerie Von was once asked to join the Misfits, but declined, choosing to remain with Rosemary's Babies. Although never an official Misfits member, in 1986 Eerie Von recorded bass on several tracks appearing on the bands Collection II
Collection II
Collection II is the companion album to The Misfits' Collection I. Both compilations collect all the early singles and the entire Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood album, and are meant to complement Walk Among Us and Legacy of Brutality with little overlap...
compilation album. Eerie Von's close association with the Misfits led to him providing the liner notes to the Misfits box set in 1996.
Samhain and Danzig
After the Misfits broke up, Eerie Von and Glenn Danzig discussed forming a new band and began rehearsing together. This would lead to Eerie Von becoming the original drummer for Danzig's band SamhainSamhain (band)
Samhain was an American rock band formed by singer Glenn Danzig in 1983, immediately following his departure from the Misfits. Samhain played in more of a deathrock and heavy metal-infused style of horror punk than Danzig's previous band. By 1987 Samhain's membership evolved into a new band,...
, before quickly switching to bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
after being shown how to play the songs by Glenn Danzig. He remained with Samhain from 1983 to 1987, recording on the albums Initium
Initium
Initium is the 1984 debut album of Samhain, released on lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label, Plan 9. In various interviews Danzig states that the album's title, which translates from Latin to English as "beginning", represents his new start after disbanding his prior band, The...
, November-Coming-Fire
November-Coming-Fire
Samhain III: November-Coming-Fire was the band Samhain's third release. It was issued in 1986 on lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label, Plan 9. It is considered by many fans to be the band's best piece of work, as they were evolving their own style of music, which was often described...
and Final Descent
Final Descent
Final Descent is an album by Samhain, first released in 1990, more than three years after lead singer Glenn Danzig and bassist Eerie Von had recruited guitarist John Christ and drummer Chuck Biscuits to form Danzig.-Original release:...
, and also the Unholy Passion
Unholy Passion EP
-Personnel:* Glenn Danzig- Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards* Eerie Von - Bass* Steve Zing - Drums* "Damien" - Guitar...
EP. Samhain then changed their name to Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
, who he played bass with from 1987 to July 1995, appearing on the albums Danzig
Danzig (album)
Danzig is the 1988 debut album of the American heavy metal band Danzig, led by Glenn Danzig who was formerly the songwriter and vocalist of the Misfits and Samhain....
, Lucifuge
Danzig II: Lucifuge
Danzig II: Lucifuge is the second album by Danzig. It was released in 1990 on Def American Recordings and was reissued in the USA and UK in 1998 by Def American's successor, American Recordings.-Music and recording:...
, How the Gods Kill
Danzig III: How the Gods Kill
Danzig III: How the Gods Kill is the third album by Glenn Danzig's band Danzig, and the highest to chart at the time of its release in 1992 on Def American Recordings. It was reissued in 1998 by Def American's successor, American Recordings...
and 4, and also the Thrall: Demonsweatlive
Thrall: Demonsweatlive
Thrall - Demonsweatlive is an EP by Danzig. It was released in 1993 on Def American Recordings.-Music and recording:The EP is split into two sections. The first section, Thrall, consists of three new studio recordings that were tracked live and completed by the band in a single day...
EP.
Solo career
Eerie Von currently works as a solo performer. He released the instrumental album Uneasy ListeningUneasy Listening (Eerie Von album)
Uneasy Listening is an album released by Eerie Von and Mike Morance in 1996 on Caroline Records. Primarily an instrumental album, it was Eerie Von's first recording after leaving Danzig in 1995. The album features a variety of instruments, including harpsichord, piano, and sampled sounds...
in 1996. He followed this with two gothic rock albums, 1999s The Blood and the Body
The Blood and the Body
The Blood and the Body is a gothic rock album released by Eerie Von on June 15, 1999 on Cleopatra Records. It is Eerie Von's second album since he left the metal band Danzig...
and 2004s Bad Dream No.13
Bad Dream No.13
Bad Dream No. 13 is a gothic rock album released by Eerie Von on January 25, 2005 on Ghastly Records. It is Eerie Von's third album since he left the metal band Danzig...
. In 2006, he released the punk rock album That's All There Is
That's All There Is
That's All There Is a punk rock album by Eerie Von. Von wrote, performed, recorded and produced the album by himself. It was released in 2006 by the label Ghastly Records. That's All There Is was Von's fourth album since he left the metal band Danzig. The album was recorded in Eerie Von's home...
. The dark country-style album Kinda Country
Kinda Country
Kinda Country is an album released by Eerie Von in 2009 on Ghastly Records. It is Eerie Von's fifth album since he left the metal band Danzig. The album is notable for being the first by Eerie Von not to fit into the rock genre, instead featuring a dark country-style sound. The choice of album...
followed in 2009. Eerie Von also formed the short lived blues rock band, Bighouse, along with former Danzig soundman Rick Dittamo. Eerie Von has had much underground success with his "Fiend Art", which showcases his disturbing themes on canvas. Misery Obscura, a book compiling photographs taken by Eerie Von throughout his career, was released in 2009. In January 2010, Eerie Von performed an acoustic set at Generation Records in New York City with Lyle Preslar
Lyle Preslar
Lyle Preslar is an American musician best known for being a guitar player and song writer for the hardcore punk band Minor Threat. Before that, he was the vocalist for The Extorts....
and Mike D'Antonio
Mike D'Antonio
Michael "Mike" D'Antonio is best known as the bass guitarist and founder of Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage and of the band Overcast....
in support of Misery Obscura.
Misfits
- 1995 - Collection IICollection IICollection II is the companion album to The Misfits' Collection I. Both compilations collect all the early singles and the entire Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood album, and are meant to complement Walk Among Us and Legacy of Brutality with little overlap...
(Some songs either featured overdubs by Glenn Danzig and Eerie Von or were entirely recorded by Glenn Danzig and Eerie Von) - 1996 - Misfits Box Set
Samhain
- 1983 - InitiumInitiumInitium is the 1984 debut album of Samhain, released on lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label, Plan 9. In various interviews Danzig states that the album's title, which translates from Latin to English as "beginning", represents his new start after disbanding his prior band, The...
- 1985 - Unholy Passion EPUnholy Passion EP-Personnel:* Glenn Danzig- Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards* Eerie Von - Bass* Steve Zing - Drums* "Damien" - Guitar...
- 1986 - November-Coming-FireNovember-Coming-FireSamhain III: November-Coming-Fire was the band Samhain's third release. It was issued in 1986 on lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label, Plan 9. It is considered by many fans to be the band's best piece of work, as they were evolving their own style of music, which was often described...
- 1990 - Final DescentFinal DescentFinal Descent is an album by Samhain, first released in 1990, more than three years after lead singer Glenn Danzig and bassist Eerie Von had recruited guitarist John Christ and drummer Chuck Biscuits to form Danzig.-Original release:...
- 2000 - Samhain Box Set
- 2002 - Samhain Live '85–'86
Danzig
- 1988 - DanzigDanzig (album)Danzig is the 1988 debut album of the American heavy metal band Danzig, led by Glenn Danzig who was formerly the songwriter and vocalist of the Misfits and Samhain....
- 1990 - Danzig II: LucifugeDanzig II: LucifugeDanzig II: Lucifuge is the second album by Danzig. It was released in 1990 on Def American Recordings and was reissued in the USA and UK in 1998 by Def American's successor, American Recordings.-Music and recording:...
- 1992 - Danzig III: How the Gods KillDanzig III: How the Gods KillDanzig III: How the Gods Kill is the third album by Glenn Danzig's band Danzig, and the highest to chart at the time of its release in 1992 on Def American Recordings. It was reissued in 1998 by Def American's successor, American Recordings...
- 1993 - Thrall: DemonsweatliveThrall: DemonsweatliveThrall - Demonsweatlive is an EP by Danzig. It was released in 1993 on Def American Recordings.-Music and recording:The EP is split into two sections. The first section, Thrall, consists of three new studio recordings that were tracked live and completed by the band in a single day...
- 1994 - Danzig 4Danzig 4Danzig 4p is the fourth studio album by Danzig. It was released in 1994 on American Recordings following 1993's highly successful Thrall: Demonsweatlive EP and singer Glenn Danzig's 1992 instrumental solo effort, Black Aria.-Background:...
- 2001 - Live on the Black Hand SideLive on the Black Hand SideLive on the Black Hand Side is a double-disc live album from Danzig. It was recorded at various shows between 1992 and 2000, and released in 2001 on Glenn Danzig's Evilive Records label, distributed by Restless Records...
- 2007 - The Lost Tracks of DanzigThe Lost Tracks of DanzigThe Lost Tracks of Danzig is a compilation album by American heavy metal band Danzig. The set showcases a number of previously-unreleased Danzig songs, ranging from the band's first recording sessions in 1987-88 until the sessions for Danzig's 2004 studio album, Circle of Snakes.-Background:Glenn...
Solo
- 1996 - Uneasy ListeningUneasy Listening (Eerie Von album)Uneasy Listening is an album released by Eerie Von and Mike Morance in 1996 on Caroline Records. Primarily an instrumental album, it was Eerie Von's first recording after leaving Danzig in 1995. The album features a variety of instruments, including harpsichord, piano, and sampled sounds...
(with Mike Morance) - 1999 - The Blood and the BodyThe Blood and the BodyThe Blood and the Body is a gothic rock album released by Eerie Von on June 15, 1999 on Cleopatra Records. It is Eerie Von's second album since he left the metal band Danzig...
- 2004 - Bad Dream No.13Bad Dream No.13Bad Dream No. 13 is a gothic rock album released by Eerie Von on January 25, 2005 on Ghastly Records. It is Eerie Von's third album since he left the metal band Danzig...
- 2006 - That's All There IsThat's All There IsThat's All There Is a punk rock album by Eerie Von. Von wrote, performed, recorded and produced the album by himself. It was released in 2006 by the label Ghastly Records. That's All There Is was Von's fourth album since he left the metal band Danzig. The album was recorded in Eerie Von's home...
(as SpiderCider) - 2009 - Kinda CountryKinda CountryKinda Country is an album released by Eerie Von in 2009 on Ghastly Records. It is Eerie Von's fifth album since he left the metal band Danzig. The album is notable for being the first by Eerie Von not to fit into the rock genre, instead featuring a dark country-style sound. The choice of album...
Others
- 1998 - The Black Bible by Various Artists (Contributed the track "Cinerarium Waltz")
- 2000 - The Darkest Millennium (A Gothic, Industrial, and Synth Pop Collection) by Various Artists (Contributed the track "An Investment in Hate")
- 2000 - Darken My Fire: A Gothic Tribute To The Doors by Various Artists (Contributed the track "The Spy")
- 2001 - Darker Shade of Goth by Various Artists (Contributed disc one)
- 2005 - Pledge Your Allegiance...To Satan! by Various Artists (Contributed the track "The Bone Drone")