Glenn Danzig talks cover albums, touring and turning 60

At 60, Glenn Danzig is the godfather of American punk rock. Beginning with the Misfits in the mid-1970s, Danzig's distinctive baritone elevated his band's amateurish horror rock. In 1987, the singer formed Danzig and began experimenting with slower tempos that recalled the classic metal sludge of Black Sabbath.

A 1993 rerelease of the single "Mother" became a hit, and Danzig found his lasting entry into pop culture. Rather unsurprisingly, another hit has proven elusive, but that hasn't prevented Danzig from having a lengthy career during which he has done things his own way.

Speaking from his home in California in anticipation of playing the South Side Ballroom on Friday, Danzig was happy to discuss his upcoming covers album as well as how he deals with his dislike of touring.

When is the covers album Skeletons going to be released, and what's the reason for making it?

I know in Europe it's going to come out in late July. I don't know when it's coming out here. I've always wanted to make a covers album since back in the day. I've covered classic movie theme songs since 1979. That was "Devil's Angels." That's how long I've been planning on doing a covers record. I don't know why it took me so long. I am glad I waited because there are songs that wouldn't be on there if I would have made it earlier.

Who are some of the artists you are covering?

Of course Elvis [Presley] and Black Sabbath are going to be on there. I don't think it could be a good Danzig record without those two. [Laughs.] It's all across the board. There are two biker horror movie theme songs. There is a ZZ Top cover on there. There's a song from the Troggs. There's a Young Rascals track. There is a lot of different stuff. I just covered what I wanted to do.

Will the long-rumored EP of all-Elvis covers be released?

Yes, that is already done. That is going to come out later on. The first covers album is coming out and then the next Danzig record is coming out with all-new Danzig material. And then after that, Danzig Sings Elvis will be released.

You worked on three releases at the same time?

Yes, and I am still working on the new Danzig tracks. With the Elvis EP, we were only going to do five songs, but now I think it is going to be seven or eight. It could even be a whole album. We'll see.

You've said before that you really do not like to tour. How do you psych yourself up to go on the road?

I will never get tired of being onstage. I love having that energy and giving so much of it back to the crowd. It is a very cool thing. That never gets tiring or boring. Driving around on the tour bus wasting my day gets tiring. Doing nothing but looking at the road. That is frustrating because I am a workaholic. That is the frustrating part. I ended up flying home after doing West Coast shows, and that helped. We extended the tours, but I still got to fly home every couple of days, or whatever it is.

You recently turned 60. Do you have to physically prepare yourself differently for touring?

No, I've been doing this my whole life. I am in pretty good shape, especially cardio and that kind of stuff. I run around on 40- and 50-foot stages and sing at the same time. There are a lot of singers who run around and they are not really singing. I am all over the place.

Plan your life

Danzig, with Pennywise and Cancer Bats, 7:30 p.m. Friday at South Side Ballroom, 1135 S. Lamar St., Dallas. $29.50. concerts.livenation.com.

Darryl Smyers is a Dallas freelance writer.