Eerie Von

Eerie Von, born Eric Stellman on August 25, 1964, is a gothic/country/punk musician best known as the original bassist for the metal band Danzig. Eerie Von grew up listening mostly to Elvis Presley and 50's Rock and Roll music and began playing the drums and taking lessons at 8 years old. He attended Lodi High School with future Misfits guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, who introduced Eerie Von to the punk rock music of The Misfits. It was in high school that he earned the "Eerie" nickname. Eerie Von would later strike a friendship with Glenn Danzig and the Misfits, becoming the band's roadie and unofficial photographer in 1978. Eerie Von was the drummer for Rosemary's Babies from 1980 to 1983, a hardcore punk band from Lodi, New Jersey where Eerie Von grew up. He 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. 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 Samhain, before quickly switching to bass guitar after being taught to play the instrument by Glenn Danzig. He remained with Samhain from 1983 to 1987. They then changed their name to Danzig, which he played with from 1987 to July 1995. Eerie Von's association with the Misfits led to him providing the liner notes to the Misfits box set in 1996. He currently works as a solo performer and 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.