Rob Zabrecky
Encyclopedia
Rob Zabrecky is an American
songwriter
, actor
and magician. His career began as a musician while being the front man for the band Possum Dixon
. He later found success as a magician and actor.
and bassist
for the Los Angeles
group Possum Dixon
. The band, originally hailing from Silver Lake
, are best remembered by their distinguished slacker spirit, unique song writing ability and new wave idealism. In 1993 the band signed to Interscope Records
and released three albums during the 1990s.
During the mid 1990s, he stumbled into magic and has since become a performing member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. In magic, he is best known for an aberrant magician character he plays that applies mentalism
and the artful use of elongated pauses during performances. In the mid 2000s he began a career in acting and has since landed roles on major network television programs and commercials.
, The Mentalist
, Brothers & Sisters and in several episodes of MTV
's ROOM 401
. In theater, he graduated from the Associate Program at Theatre West
, where he has appeared in theatrical adaptations of the television classic, The Twilight Zone
and other productions. In addition to television and theater, he has appeared in several short films and in a variety of commercials for a wide range of companies including Comcast
, Denny's
, the Humane Society, Kia
, Oliver Peoples
, Scion, Swedish Fish
and Tanqueray
.
in the basement of that establishment by presenting a provocative Dada-esque combination of wizardry, mentalism and off-beat humor. In 2008, 2009, and 2010 The Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle named him among the top five magicians for his performances inside the club's Parlour of Prestidigitation.
Was host of Who’s Hoo, an on-line interview talk show for members of the Academy Arts at the Magic Castle, which he co-created with his wife, Tommi Zabrecky. Since airing in 2008, Zabrecky interviewed over 85 Magic Castle luminaries and performing members including co-founder Milt Larsen
. Additionally, he occasionally performs with the performance art group The Mums.
In February 2009 after returning from a string of magic appearances in Japan, Zabrecky performed for Michael Jackson, four months before Jackson's death. He was hired to perform for Blanket's 7th birthday at Jackson's Holmby Hills home (A juggler and a hula-hoop artist also performed; there were no other party guests.) Zabrecky was only a few minutes into his act when a paparazzi helicopter buzzed loudly overhead. "In a split second, they each pulled out cloths and placed them over their heads." Once the chopper flew off, so did the coverings. "They sat there smiling and waiting for me to continue," he said. "They looked like four peas in a pod. It wasn't exactly Norman Rockwell, but it sure felt close."
In 2010 he performed at New York’s longest-running Off-Broadway magic show, Monday Night Magic. In 2011, Magic Magazine described him as, "A unique persona, highly reminiscent of Norman Bates, with a bit of Rod Serling in the mix — a psycho from the Twilight Zone, doing magic. Whether performing the Diminishing Cards while spasmodically “dancing” off beat to the music, getting electrocuted, cutting paper into two-headed dolls, or introducing his 95-year-old grandfather — who turns out to be ashes in an urn — the results are both mystifying and amusing, fascinating and entertaining. One cannot help but wonder, however, just how much of the strange fellow onstage is the real Rob and how much is acted by design." He currently serves as one of the primary Seance Mediums in the Houdini Seance Room at the Magic Castle.
, Earle Mankey
, Tom Rothrock
, Pleasant Gehman
, Carla Bozulich
, Tim O'Heir and others.
In 1998, Zabrecky, with Possum Dixon released New Sheets
, which would be the last album by the band. The LP, produced by Ric Ocasek
, featured co-written material with Jane Wiedlin
, Charlotte Caffey
, Dave Stewart
and Pat MacDonald. Shortly after the breakup of Possum Dixon he spent time singing for the Los Angeles art rock band, Human Hands and played bass in a Gun Club tribute band alongside original members Ward Dotson and Terry Graham.
In early 2010 he appeared on-stage with Maria McKee
at a fund raiser in Hollywood. The pair sang a duet to Lou Reed
's Satellite of Love
.
auction house (known then as Butterfield & Butterfield
), during the late 1990s. He has played an auctioneer on several television shows including "Brothers & Sisters" and "The Mentalist."
Print
Zabrecky has appeared in magazine and print advertisements for Cymbalta, Flaunt
, Vogue Italia
, Mercedes Benz, UNICEF and Oliver Peoples
among others.
.
----
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and magician. His career began as a musician while being the front man for the band Possum Dixon
Possum Dixon
Possum Dixon was an American alternative rock band. Fronted by singer/songwriter/bassist Rob Zabrecky, the group's neo-new wave pop and post punk style first appeared among a string of early independently released 7 inch singles and on their self-titled debut on Interscope Records in 1993...
. He later found success as a magician and actor.
Life and career
Zabrecky was born and raised in Burbank, California. From 1989 to 1999 he was the singer-songwriterSinger-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
group Possum Dixon
Possum Dixon
Possum Dixon was an American alternative rock band. Fronted by singer/songwriter/bassist Rob Zabrecky, the group's neo-new wave pop and post punk style first appeared among a string of early independently released 7 inch singles and on their self-titled debut on Interscope Records in 1993...
. The band, originally hailing from Silver Lake
Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
Silver Lake is a hilly neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California east of Hollywood and northwest of Downtown Los Angeles. Silver Lake is inhabited by a wide variety of ethnic and socioeconomic groups, but it is best known as an eclectic gathering of hipsters and the creative class.The...
, are best remembered by their distinguished slacker spirit, unique song writing ability and new wave idealism. In 1993 the band signed to Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
and released three albums during the 1990s.
During the mid 1990s, he stumbled into magic and has since become a performing member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. In magic, he is best known for an aberrant magician character he plays that applies mentalism
Mentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...
and the artful use of elongated pauses during performances. In the mid 2000s he began a career in acting and has since landed roles on major network television programs and commercials.
Actor
As a television actor he has appeared on CSI: NYCSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
, The Mentalist
The Mentalist
The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
, Brothers & Sisters and in several episodes of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's ROOM 401
Room 401
Room 401 was a hidden camera/reality television series on MTV, executive produced by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg. It was named after the room Harry Houdini died in at Detroit's Grace Hospital in 1926. The show also used some of his famous acts....
. In theater, he graduated from the Associate Program at Theatre West
Theatre West
Theatre West is a theatre company in Hollywood, California, the oldest continually-operating theatre company in Los Angeles, established in 1962....
, where he has appeared in theatrical adaptations of the television classic, The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
and other productions. In addition to television and theater, he has appeared in several short films and in a variety of commercials for a wide range of companies including Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
, Denny's
Denny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
, the Humane Society, Kia
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
, Oliver Peoples
Oliver Peoples
Oliver Peoples is an eyewear manufacturer of glasses and sunglasses, established in 1986 by Larry and Dennis Leight. The company was founded in West Hollywood, CA and first appeared on the cover of German Vogue in 1987. It began selling vintage frames from a boutique and now includes a number of...
, Scion, Swedish Fish
Swedish Fish
Swedish Fish is a type of chewy fish-shaped candy. It has been developed with special flavors specifically for the North American market by the Swedish candy producer Malaco, which exports products to North America.-History:...
and Tanqueray
Tanqueray
Tanqueray is a brand of British gin produced in Scotland by Diageo Plc and marketed world-wide.-History:Tanqueray Gin was initially distilled in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in the Bloomsbury district of London. When Charles died in 1868, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray inherited the distillery, which...
.
Magician
After his music career ended Zabrecky has worked throughout the United States and Japan as a magician. He is best known for performances in which he combines irreverent dark humor and mentalism. Since 2002 he has been a regular performer at the Magic Castle. In 2003 he formed the off-beat magic trio, The Unholy ThreeThe Unholy Three (Magic Trio)
The Unholy Three are a magic cabaret trio composed of magicians David Lovering , Rob Zabrecky and Fitzgerald...
in the basement of that establishment by presenting a provocative Dada-esque combination of wizardry, mentalism and off-beat humor. In 2008, 2009, and 2010 The Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle named him among the top five magicians for his performances inside the club's Parlour of Prestidigitation.
Was host of Who’s Hoo, an on-line interview talk show for members of the Academy Arts at the Magic Castle, which he co-created with his wife, Tommi Zabrecky. Since airing in 2008, Zabrecky interviewed over 85 Magic Castle luminaries and performing members including co-founder Milt Larsen
Milt Larsen
Milt Larsen is a writer, actor, performer, lyricist, magician, entrepreneur, speaker and the creator of The Magic Castle, a private club for magicians and enthusiasts.-Early life:...
. Additionally, he occasionally performs with the performance art group The Mums.
In February 2009 after returning from a string of magic appearances in Japan, Zabrecky performed for Michael Jackson, four months before Jackson's death. He was hired to perform for Blanket's 7th birthday at Jackson's Holmby Hills home (A juggler and a hula-hoop artist also performed; there were no other party guests.) Zabrecky was only a few minutes into his act when a paparazzi helicopter buzzed loudly overhead. "In a split second, they each pulled out cloths and placed them over their heads." Once the chopper flew off, so did the coverings. "They sat there smiling and waiting for me to continue," he said. "They looked like four peas in a pod. It wasn't exactly Norman Rockwell, but it sure felt close."
In 2010 he performed at New York’s longest-running Off-Broadway magic show, Monday Night Magic. In 2011, Magic Magazine described him as, "A unique persona, highly reminiscent of Norman Bates, with a bit of Rod Serling in the mix — a psycho from the Twilight Zone, doing magic. Whether performing the Diminishing Cards while spasmodically “dancing” off beat to the music, getting electrocuted, cutting paper into two-headed dolls, or introducing his 95-year-old grandfather — who turns out to be ashes in an urn — the results are both mystifying and amusing, fascinating and entertaining. One cannot help but wonder, however, just how much of the strange fellow onstage is the real Rob and how much is acted by design." He currently serves as one of the primary Seance Mediums in the Houdini Seance Room at the Magic Castle.
Musician
As the front man for Possum Dixon, Zabrecky became a notable figure in the early 1990s emerging Silver Lake independent music scene. During those years he wrote, recorded and performed with several musicians and producers including BeckBeck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, Earle Mankey
Earle Mankey
Earle Mankey was a guitarist for the seminal band Halfnelson, later called Sparks...
, Tom Rothrock
Tom Rothrock
Tom Rothrock is an international record producer, composer and musician. Tom Rothrock has produced albums with James Blunt, Badly Drawn Boy, R. L. Burnside, Yonder Mountain String Band, Athlete, Sloan and Roman Carter....
, Pleasant Gehman
Pleasant Gehman
Pleasant Gehman is a magazine writer, poet, actor, dancer and musician from Los Angeles.In the 1980s, she was the singer for the punk rock band Screamin' Sirens, and later, The RIngling Sisters and Honk If Yer Horny. All three bands have released numerous titles on vinyl, as well as cd...
, Carla Bozulich
Carla Bozulich
Carla Bozulich is an American musician based in Los Angeles, known for her work as the lead singer, lyricist and founder of both The Geraldine Fibbers and and as a founding member of Ethyl Meatplow. Her 2006 album, Evangelista, was released by Constellation Records, that label's first release by a...
, Tim O'Heir and others.
In 1998, Zabrecky, with Possum Dixon released New Sheets
New Sheets
New Sheets is the third and final full-length album released by alternative rock band Possum Dixon. It was released in 1998 on Interscope Records.- Track listing :# Song From A Box - 0:48...
, which would be the last album by the band. The LP, produced by Ric Ocasek
Ric Ocasek
Ric Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band, The Cars....
, featured co-written material with Jane Wiedlin
Jane Wiedlin
Jane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known as the rhythm guitarist of the all-female New Wave band The Go-Go's.-Early life:...
, Charlotte Caffey
Charlotte Caffey
Charlotte Irene Caffey is an American rock and roll guitarist and songwriter, best known for her work in the Go-Go's in the 1980s, including writing "We Got the Beat."...
, Dave Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
and Pat MacDonald. Shortly after the breakup of Possum Dixon he spent time singing for the Los Angeles art rock band, Human Hands and played bass in a Gun Club tribute band alongside original members Ward Dotson and Terry Graham.
In early 2010 he appeared on-stage with Maria McKee
Maria McKee
Maria Luisa McKee is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for her work with Lone Justice and her 1990 UK solo chart-topping hit, "Show Me Heaven".-Music:...
at a fund raiser in Hollywood. The pair sang a duet to Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
's Satellite of Love
Satellite of Love
"Satellite of Love" is one of Lou Reed's best-known songs from his solo career. It is the second single from his 1972 album Transformer. At the time of its release it did not achieve any chart success, though it later became a staple of his concerts and compilation albums.-Background and...
.
Auctioneer
He is a skilled auctioneer, trained by BonhamsBonhams
Bonhams is a privately owned British auction house founded in 1793. It is the third largest auctioneer after Sotheby's and Christie's, and conducts around 700 auctions per year. It has 700 employees....
auction house (known then as Butterfield & Butterfield
Butterfield & Butterfield
Butterfield and Butterfield was a large American auction house, founded in 1865 by William Butterfield in San Francisco.It was purchased in 1999 from Bernard Osher by online auctioneer eBay for $260 million....
), during the late 1990s. He has played an auctioneer on several television shows including "Brothers & Sisters" and "The Mentalist."
Flaunt
Flaunt is a monthly American fashion culture magazine founded by the current editor-in-chief, Luis Barajas, and creative director, Jim Turner, also the founders of Detour magazine. Long Nguyen, a third founder and style director, also was working on Detour for four years...
, Vogue Italia
Vogue Italia
Vogue Italia is the Italian edition of Vogue magazine. Owned by Condé Nast International, it is the least commercial of all editions of Vogue magazine and has been called the top fashion magazine in the world....
, Mercedes Benz, UNICEF and Oliver Peoples
Oliver Peoples
Oliver Peoples is an eyewear manufacturer of glasses and sunglasses, established in 1986 by Larry and Dennis Leight. The company was founded in West Hollywood, CA and first appeared on the cover of German Vogue in 1987. It began selling vintage frames from a boutique and now includes a number of...
among others.
Personal life
Zabrecky is married to his wife Tommi. They married in 1998 and live in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Publications
- “Music for Deaf People” chapbookChapbookA chapbook is a pocket-sized booklet. The term chap-book was formalized by bibliophiles of the 19th century, as a variety of ephemera , popular or folk literature. It includes many kinds of printed material such as pamphlets, political and religious tracts, nursery rhymes, poetry, folk tales,...
(1992) - Smartish PaceSmartish PaceSmartish Pace is a non-profit, independent literary journal based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Smartish Pace was founded in 1999 by Stephen Reichert who was a University of Maryland School of Law student at the time. The name, Smartish Pace, originates from a tort case in which a horse carriage,...
Art/Poetry Journal (contributor) - The Underground Guide to Los Angeles (contributor)
- Stories of Famous Magicians (contributor)
- Secrets of My Friends 2 (contributor)
- MAGIC, The Magazine for MagiciansMagic (magazine)MAGIC, also known as The Magazine for Magicians, is an independent magazine for magicians that is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. A creation of Stan Allen, magician, it debuted in September 1991, with its first issue featuring Lance Burton on the cover, and over the years it has also featured David...
(contributor) - MUM, The Society of American Magicians (contributor)
Awards and Nominations
- 1999 LA Weekly Award for Best Pop/Rock Band (Award)
- 1999 California Music Awards (Award)
- 2008 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
- 2009 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
- 2010 Parlour Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
- 2010 Stage Magician of the Year, Academy of Magical Arts (Nomination)
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External links
- Rob Zabrecky Official website
- Rob Zabrecky on Internet Movie Database
- Dancing Like a Motherf*cker With Rob Zabrecky, 2010 Interview
- Rob Zabrecky 2008 Interview by Ross Anthony
- Rob Zabrecky 1998 Interview
- LA Weekly Story and Interview with Rob Zabrecky
- Rock Magicians | LA Weekly Article
- LA Weekly Article on Silverlake Artists featuring Rob Zabrecky
- http://google.com/search?q=cache:C8xsaVzRB7MJ:www.planethollywood.com/pr/pr4.pdf+rob+zabrecky+julien%27s+auctions&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
- International Brotherhood of Magicians - Magic Castle Nominations