Isn’t it everyone’s dream to follow around an awesome band in their heyday? (As in, not 2009-era… well, we won’t say names.) Imagine: if you were born in such-and-such a year, you could’ve been metal as hell and photographed antics too crazy for words. Then you wouldn’t have to feel like such a loser when you watch Almost Famous, wishing that you’d known rock stars once too.
Eerie Von lived the dream, and now he’s releasing a taste of what it’s like. Way back in the day, he was the roadie and unofficial photographer for The Misfits. After The Misfits disbanded in 1983, he went on to play drums and then bass in Glenn Danzig’s subsequent band, Samhain (Undead’s Steve Zing took his place as drummer), and was bassist for Glenn’s eponymous next band, Danzig. Von had his camera all the while, and his new book of photography, Misery Obscura: The Photography of Eerie Von (1981-2006), is divided up into four chapters, each covering a different stage of his involvement with punk and metal’s most famous ripped, greasy frontman in leather. Throughout the chapters covering The Misfits, Samhain, Danzig, and then finally Eerie Von’s own solo work, Von scatters set lists and ephemera throughout for the true Danzig fan.
Misery Obscura is out now from Dark Horse, and for all you people out there preparing corn syrup and food coloring for your new Misfits cover band, maybe you should consult Eerie Von before asking mommy if you can go out and kill tonight.
• Eerie Von: http://www.eerievon.com
• Dark Horse: http://www.darkhorse.com
