Pete Mazich
Encyclopedia
Peter Mazich is a punk rock
organist best known for his work with Mike Watt
And The Secondmen
. A classicly trained pianist, Mazich became interested in playing the organ after hearing the classic Deep Purple
album Machine Head
; he also counts jazz organ pioneer Jimmy Smith
as an influence.
A veteran of several San Pedro, California cover bands, Mazich first met and worked with Watt in a project band Watt was involved with, The Madonnabes, which devoted itself to reinterpreting the songs of Madonna
. From there, Watt asked Mazich and another Madonnabes member, drummer Jerry Trebotic, to help record a song for a 1998 compilation album benefiting Doctors Without Borders, under the group name Mike Watt & Masina.
In 2002, Mazich was asked to join Watt as organist in a new band that would record and tour behind Watt's third solo album, The Secondman's Middle Stand
. Mazich wholeheartedly agreed. His initial tours with Watt in 2002 and 2003 would end several weeks early for him because of time constraints related to his day job at a pet food lab; by the fall of 2003 he was able to resign from the job and be able to work as a longshoreman
in between Watt tours. For the first tour, Mazich used, almost unsuccessfully, a digital keyboard with a module that simulated an organ and rotating speaker. By the following tour, however, Mazich had self-customized for travel a Hammond B3 Organ
which he used for subsequent touring and recording.
Mazich joined Watt in recording The Secondman's Middle Stand in January and February 2004; the album was released in October of that year. Mazich proceeded to fulfill a lifelong dream of his when he became an endorsee of Hammond Organs during the tour.
Mazich's work ethic and love for music led Mike Watt to point out almost frequently that Mazich was his "rock", adding that the name Peter happens to come from the Greek word for "rock", pietros.
Mazich continues to play with Watt & The Secondmen's original lineup for special Los Angeles-area gigs. He is also leading his own band, Johnny Angry. The group had started under the name Pipe, only to discover that another band was using that name. They then went with AMF (Angry Mother Fuckers) but changed to their present collective moniker to avoid legal conflicts with the AMF
known for its bowling equipment and centers. Johnny Angry released a self-titled EP in 2006. Johnny Angry later became The Angry upon release of their first self-titled Album in October 2009 on Shab Records. The band later disbanded it May 2010 after the death of bass player Scott Cieszki in February of that same year.
Mazich has been married twice; he lives in San Pedro with his second wife, Ljiljana Nikolovska
, a former pop star in her native Croatia. He has two teenage daughters from his first marriage and a son in his present union.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
organist best known for his work with Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
And The Secondmen
The Secondmen
Mike Watt and the Secondmen is the punk rock trio formed by former Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt to perform and record his third solo album, The Secondman's Middle Stand...
. A classicly trained pianist, Mazich became interested in playing the organ after hearing the classic Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
album Machine Head
Machine Head (album)
Machine Head is the sixth studio album released by the English rock band Deep Purple. It was recorded through December 1971 in Montreux, Switzerland, and released in March 1972....
; he also counts jazz organ pioneer Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith (musician)
Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...
as an influence.
A veteran of several San Pedro, California cover bands, Mazich first met and worked with Watt in a project band Watt was involved with, The Madonnabes, which devoted itself to reinterpreting the songs of Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. From there, Watt asked Mazich and another Madonnabes member, drummer Jerry Trebotic, to help record a song for a 1998 compilation album benefiting Doctors Without Borders, under the group name Mike Watt & Masina.
In 2002, Mazich was asked to join Watt as organist in a new band that would record and tour behind Watt's third solo album, The Secondman's Middle Stand
The Secondman's Middle Stand
The Secondman's Middle Stand was Mike Watt's third solo album and the first full-length recording that he had made under his own name since the release of Contemplating The Engine Room in 1997....
. Mazich wholeheartedly agreed. His initial tours with Watt in 2002 and 2003 would end several weeks early for him because of time constraints related to his day job at a pet food lab; by the fall of 2003 he was able to resign from the job and be able to work as a longshoreman
Stevedore
Stevedore, dockworker, docker, dock labourer, wharfie and longshoreman can have various waterfront-related meanings concerning loading and unloading ships, according to place and country....
in between Watt tours. For the first tour, Mazich used, almost unsuccessfully, a digital keyboard with a module that simulated an organ and rotating speaker. By the following tour, however, Mazich had self-customized for travel a Hammond B3 Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
which he used for subsequent touring and recording.
Mazich joined Watt in recording The Secondman's Middle Stand in January and February 2004; the album was released in October of that year. Mazich proceeded to fulfill a lifelong dream of his when he became an endorsee of Hammond Organs during the tour.
Mazich's work ethic and love for music led Mike Watt to point out almost frequently that Mazich was his "rock", adding that the name Peter happens to come from the Greek word for "rock", pietros.
Mazich continues to play with Watt & The Secondmen's original lineup for special Los Angeles-area gigs. He is also leading his own band, Johnny Angry. The group had started under the name Pipe, only to discover that another band was using that name. They then went with AMF (Angry Mother Fuckers) but changed to their present collective moniker to avoid legal conflicts with the AMF
AMF Bowling Center
AMF Bowling Centers, Inc. is the world's largest owner and operator of bowling centers, employing more than 10,000 people. The centers offer multi-lane Ten-pin bowling for all ages, support league play, and local events such as Dollar Mania and Late Night College Fest as well as Xtreme Bowling...
known for its bowling equipment and centers. Johnny Angry released a self-titled EP in 2006. Johnny Angry later became The Angry upon release of their first self-titled Album in October 2009 on Shab Records. The band later disbanded it May 2010 after the death of bass player Scott Cieszki in February of that same year.
Mazich has been married twice; he lives in San Pedro with his second wife, Ljiljana Nikolovska
Ljiljana Nikolovska
Ljiljana Nikolovska Ljiljana Nikolovska Ljiljana Nikolovska (also spelled Nikolovski or Nikoloski, born August 24, 1964 in Split, Croatia, is a Croatian singer. Ljiljana is of mixed Croatian and Macedonian ethnicity. She is best known for being the original lead singer with Magazin, and for...
, a former pop star in her native Croatia. He has two teenage daughters from his first marriage and a son in his present union.