Danzig's new autographed merch has a Nazi problem

Nic Huber

Iconic goth rocker Glenn Danzig has ignited controversy over the choice of his solo band's new artwork on several pieces of merch prominently featuring a Nazi emblem in the background, according to numerous posts on Reddit and social media.

Just as the band wrapped the final tour date of their headlining run with Down, Abbath and Cro-Mags, fans flocked to multiple Reddit forums to post photos of various merchandise up for sale March 29 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Nazi merch at the Danzig show last night.
byu/jankyclothing inDanzig

Appearing on a shirt and autographed tour poster, a design featuring an anime Glenn Danzig glaring menacingly with flames coming out of his hands, and a Nazi-era sunwheel variant, known as a "sonnenrad" or "black sun," in the background.

The Anti-Defamation League considers the emblem a hate symbol and calls the sonnenrad "one of a number of ancient European symbols appropriated by the Nazis in their attempt to invent an idealized 'Aryan/Norse' heritage."

So, naturally, most Danzig fans took issue.

Whether Mr. Danzig knew about the design remains to be seen as he, nor the band, have made an official comment.

The punk rock crooner is known for his interest in Nazi Germany, so one would think he would know what the symbol represents—after all, he derived his stage from the Danzig Crisis of the 1930s, an important prelude to WWII.

Nic Huber

Texas

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