Editing Glenn Danzig (section)

===="Classic" era (1986–1994)====
In 1986, after two albums and an EP, Samhain was signed to a major label by Rubin and the name of the band was changed to [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]] to allow the band to retain its name in the event of line-up changes.<ref name="Seconds"/> Danzig discussed the reasoning behind the name change: "Rick [Rubin] convinced me it was the way to go, and would also provide me with a lot more artistic freedom. After all, I was now in charge of where we were going musically, so if I didn't want to do something, it was a lot easier to say so."<ref name="MetalHammer" />[[File:Danzig at Sweden Rock.jpg|thumb|left|Glenn Danzig performing with Danzig at Sweden Rock (2010)]] Danzig's intention at the time was for each album he recorded to consist of a different recording line-up, allowing him to keep working with different musicians.<ref name="ocweekly">{{cite news|url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-05-24/music/danzig-s-lost-and-found/|title=Danzig's Lost and Found: Underground Auteur Unearths Hits from Hell|last=Ferris|first=D.X.|date=May 24, 2007|newspaper=[[OC Weekly]]|access-date=November 11, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711124957/http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-05-24/music/danzig-s-lost-and-found/|archive-date=July 11, 2010 }}</ref> The original band consisted of guitarist [[John Christ]], bassist Eerie Von, and former [[Circle Jerks]]–[[D.O.A. (band)|DOA]]–[[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] drummer [[Chuck Biscuits]].

In 1987, Danzig, owing to his association with Rubin, was asked to write a song for [[Roy Orbison]]. The result was "Life Fades Away", featured in the 1987 movie ''[[Less than Zero (film)|Less than Zero]]''.<ref name="PennyBlood" /> Danzig also contributed to the film's soundtrack with "You and Me (Less than Zero)".<ref name="PennyBlood" /> Danzig had originally been asked to write the song for a female vocalist, but when Rubin could not find a suitable singer, Danzig recorded the vocals himself.<ref name="the7thhouse Satan's Child" /> The song is credited to Glenn Danzig and the Power Fury Orchestra, which featured the same membership as the initial lineup of Danzig, with the exception of Eerie Von. Since Von did not like the way producer Rubin wanted the bass played on the song, [[George Drakoulias]] played the bass instead.

In 1988, the newly formed band Danzig released their [[Danzig (album)|eponymous debut]]. Its sound showed a progression from the gothic–deathrock sound of Samhain, to a slower, heavier, more [[blues]]-based [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] sound.

In 1990, the band's sophomore effort, ''[[Danzig II: Lucifuge]]'', marked an immediate change in musical direction. The album's overall bluesier tone and somewhat milder approach were departures from ''Danzig'', featuring a '50s-style ballad ("Blood & Tears") and a full-on acoustic blues ("I'm the One").

Other projects in 1990 included the final Samhain album, ''[[Final Descent (album)|Final Descent]]''. The album was started under the title ''Samhain Grim'' several years prior. The album contained previously unreleased studio recordings, at least some of which had been intended for the ''Samhain Grim'' album before it was aborted.

In 1992, Danzig again changed musical direction, releasing the darker ''[[Danzig III: How the Gods Kill]]''. Several songs featured a more textured, slower sound between fast, dominant guitar riffs.

Also in 1992, Danzig tried his hand at composing classical music with ''[[Black Aria]]''. The album debuted at number 1 on the [[Billboard charts|Billboard]] classical music chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=21477|title=Glenn Danzig Unleashes 'Black Aria II' To Follow-Up His Classic Release|date=August 30, 2006|publisher=Metal Underground|access-date=December 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007232827/http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=21477|archive-date=October 7, 2012 }}</ref>

In 1993, Danzig released ''[[Thrall-Demonsweatlive]]'', an EP featuring both studio recordings and live tracks. Danzig broke into the mainstream when the live video of "Mother '93" became a hit on [[MTV]] and earned [[Buzz Bin]] rotation,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301185,00.html|title=On the Same Track|date=February 18, 1994|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=August 2, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421092941/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301185,00.html|archive-date=April 21, 2009 }}</ref> six years after the original song was recorded. During this time the band reached its commercial peak, with both the debut album and ''Thrall-Demonsweatlive'' being certified Gold, and "Mother" becoming the band's highest charting single. Both ''Danzig'' and ''Thrall-Demonsweatlive'' have since been certified Platinum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unratedmagazine.com/bios/danzig.cfm|title=DANZIG Interview|last=Farr|first=Sara|date=August 2005|publisher=Unrated Magazine|access-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022003148/http://www.unratedmagazine.com/bios/danzig.cfm|archive-date=October 22, 2013 }}</ref>

In 1994, the release of ''[[Danzig 4]]'' saw the band going further into a darker, heavier and more experimental sound. The album also saw further development of his vocal style and range, most notable in songs like "Let It Be Captured", and a more blues-based approach on songs like "Going Down to Die".

Also in 1994, Danzig's song "Thirteen", written for [[Johnny Cash]], appeared on the latter musician's album ''[[American Recordings (album)|American Recordings]]''.<ref name="PennyBlood" />