Jerry Montano

7thHouse Talks with Jerry Montano of DANZIG

Photos and Interview by Devilman138

Recently we had a chance to interview Jerry Montano, bassist of DANZIG. We want to 'thank him' for this exclusive interview for the 7thHouse.com!

 

7th: How did you get the call to join DANZIG?

JM: I had actually been friends with Crazy Craig and Glenn Danzig for years, going back to 'The Deadlights'. Johnny Kelly had given me the heads up about that other guy quitting. (Johnny is one of my closest friends....Johnny and I have ALWAYS wanted to be in a band together!) It just all worked out. I had been doing 'ColdWhiteChrist' With my other band (Blessed/Nothingface) with the singer from Mudvayne and also playing in UNIDA (John Garcia's ex-KYUSS frontman) when I got the call to learn the DANZIG tunes.

I am pretty much the only person to have gotten in the band without an audition. I told Glenn Iwanted to be a part of DANZIG and that was it. He told me he never even considered anyone else for the band. I came in and knew a majority of the music the first day. I had the all the songs down within the week. It was on. Later, after the Blackest shows Johnny had obligations to Type O Negative so I suggested we bring in a friend Bevan Davies on drums.

It really came easy to me (not because it was an easy gig) because I had been a fan/friend for years. I had opened up for DANZIG years prior during Danzig5. (ex -bandmate BLASKO on bass) ... @ The Whiskey on Halloween night! The infamous $6.66 show! .. 57 CROWN (featured Myself..Mike Savage from PYGMY LOVE CIRCUS..Joey Gold-LOVE/HATE and yes.. another ex-DANZIG member Jeff Chambers!) So I guess you can say I've never been too far away from the camp.

(I've seen people ask what happened to Jeff..He is alive and well, playing guitar and is a MAGICIAN! ..really. He is awesome. Italk to him often these days)

7th: Tell us about the recording of 'Circle of Snakes'

JM: It was a good time. Working with Glenn is a very low stress enviroment as far as I am concerned. He really is amazing with his vision. Tommy, Bevan and I had a blast making the record and being a part of it. I have to say watching, hearing, and knowing what it is that Glenn does and how he does it is cool as hell. I was really into just listening to him in the vocal booth..he's the man.

I believe we started writing just before we headed to Europe and finished when we got home. There was a lot of cool stuff being written during that time, I am sure it will all eventually see the light of day.

7th: Danzig has toured the US and Europe for the latest release of 'Circle of Snakes' - what are the some the more memorable shows from the tour?

JM: I would have to say...London - (the Cradle guys are a fucking blast!) Tilburg (because we love Holland/Amsterdam!) Stockholm (just because...Fuck I loved em all! Over the years we've played alot of great and amazing shows..Summer Breeze was a blast too.

Jerry Montano7th: Doyle was special guest in Vegas and LA and then later a couple of East Coast dates - how was it being on stage with both Glenn and Doyle?

JM: Doyle is just an awesome guy and a great friend. I cannot say enough great things about him and his wife, band and soulmate Steph. I remember how excited and thankful he was to be there with us, the guy is the coolest. The rehearsals were insane! Knowing it was really going down and being a part of the legendary reunion of the two of them is something NO-ONE can ever take away. It was also cool to see them interact with each other ...it was like they were two kids in Jersey again. And the stories!! All of the REAL Misfits stories. It is cool to here how things really were, how Glenn would take the train to pick up the records HE had made, How HE did the covers, how and where and when and who recorded on what and what was going down at the time. Most people don't know Glenn played Drums and Guitar on ALOT of different Misfits songs...PRICELESS ..Things most people will NEVER know..Totally insane.

The coolest thing was Glenn's reaction to the music for the first time-it was haunting. He changed right before our eyes. The old stance came back-and it was as if he were somewhere else. Very, Very, Heavy. Very Real. Very Violent.

7th: I understand that this will probably be the last Danzig Tour with the latest announcement of the 'Blackest of The Black'. What's the latest on the upcoming tour?

JM: Blackest has been something Glenn really believes in. The first w/ Superjoint was awesome and the begining of my 3 year trek with Glenn...This next one will be insane and the last time anyone will here the MISFITS songs they love sung by the man who wrote them.

Blackest will be back next year with a different headliner, he wants 'Blackest of the Black' to continue to showcase bands Glenn feels deserve to be seen and heard.

As far as it being "the final tour" I am just happy I will remain a part of DANZIG history. I have always said to him... "They're are 3 true men in black as far as I am concerned and that will always be..Johnny Cash...Roy Orbison..and Glenn Danzig."

As long a he'll have me I'll be here to do any tour and play on anything DANZIG related.

7th: What are some of your personal favorite Misfits songs?

JM: Jerry MontanoOh man there are so many! How bout ALL OF EM' Bullet-Is a song I've always loved and covered in various bands since I was a teen!!..I would have to say my top ten are...

We are 138

She

Bullet

Angelfuck....!!

Some kinda hate !!!

Attitude

Hatebreeders

Hybrid Moments

I turned into a Martian

Death comes Ripping

All of wich are songs Iwish I'd wrote! ----Any or All of them would make awesome movie track material...

 

7th: While on tour do you ever get a chance to meet the fans? Any fans from the 7thHouse?

JM: Hell yeah! I never pass up the opportunity to hang out and get our fans loaded. I guess it is one of the many, many, many things I learned from my brothas Dime and Vinnie..(CHEERS DIME)

-Backstage after a DANZIG show can be a dangerous place to be!! You'll never make it out with less than a bottle of Crown Royal kicking your ass the next day...

I have had the pleasure of meeting more than a few people from the 7thouse over the years...You know who you are.

7th: Besides Danzig are you involved with any other musical projects?

JM: As many of you here already know I have another band-BlessedInBlack..It is very close to my heart as 2 of my closest friends and musical soulmates are apart of this vision. Nothingface was a great band as well as a very dangerous band, be it touring and destoying the country with PANTERA, DISTURBED, MUDVAYNE or just on our own it was truly insane...We are just continuing what we do best with Blessed.

As Isaid before I have played with many cool bands over the years. I was truly "Blessed" and "Honored" to have been asked in 2000-2001 to be the bassist for GASOLINE along side DIMEBAG DARRELL and VINNIE PAUL after touring together on OZZFEST and being label mates at Elektra via THE DEADLIGHTS.

Outside of NOTHINGFACE, BLESSEDINBLACK, DANZIG,THE DEADLIGHTS and GASOLINE ... I played in UNIDA w/john Garcia (KYUSS)..Scott Reeder had left and I was aked to join, I loved going out and being a part of the desert scene, great people, awesome band. Glenn saw us play the Troubador in Hollywood right before I joined the band.

Jerry MontanoI also was a part of SUFFER fronted by guitarist/singer Rob Nicholson aka BLASKO. In '95 Iwas living with the guy's in Coal Chamber before the record deals ... in a little shitty party house, no one had yet scored a record deal yet in our little circle of friends..who knew it would turn ou the way it did. We all did little shows grouped together in Hollywood with bands like STATIC-X, SNOT, COAL CHAMBER and SYSTEM OF A DOWN etc. I knew Rob (BLASKO) from DROWN. We hit it off and I was aked to join but didn't have a bass!! Paul Raven (PRONG) gave me a new bass (thanx Raven) I had smashed mine over some dudes face while onstage w/ another band a few months prior. I started playing with BLASKO doing shows as SUFFER. A great time in my life...21 and pissed off. lol

..57 CROWN...(ex members of PYGMY LOVE CIRCUS, LOVE/HATE and Jeff Chambers) was another cool heavy somewhat lengendary Hollywood band. Our singer would come out all 6'8 of him and scare the hell outta people!! Good times. (we are actually in talks about releasing a 57 CROWN record next year-old recordings done by Jay Baumgardner and Jay Gordon) maybe a few a shows..we'll see.

I have always kept myself busy musically and continue to maintain a steady and healthy career as both a writer and a musician. I love what I do and strive to continue to make forward progress. Music IS my life. I AM A LIFER. Period. I'll die doing what i was put here to do.

7th: I understand you enjoy watching Horror Movies, have any recommendations of any movies you have seen recently?

FUCK YES! Horror Hotel...Susperia....The Beyond...Cannibal Holocaust....Dead Waters...Demonia...The Fog....Devils Rain....Beyond the Darkness....Return of the Living Dead!!....Stacy....Maniac.....Man bites Dog....Brotherhood of Satan....Inferno....and Mad Monster Party!!

~THE END~