Underground Zerø
Encyclopedia
Underground Zerø is a British space rock
band, based in Norfolk
, UK. The band is also known as UZØ. While the band is often referred to as "Underground Zero" or "Underground Zer0" in print, the official name of the band includes the slashed zero
in its name. Their sound is similar to Hawkwind
.
The nucleus of UZØ was started in 1979 by Andrew Rix (bass/vocals), Adrian Rix (keyboards), Judi Griggs (vocals), Brian Savage (drums) and Karl Dawson (guitar). From 1981, then known as Ground Zero, the group underwent several major changes. Brian left and was replaced by Mike (Mel) Melnyk and guitarist Paul Holden joined. In 1983 Mel left and was replaced by Sean Holden. The band featured on the UKs Tommy Vance
’s Friday Rock Show
on Radio 1
and during 1983-85 developed a large following in the new Psychedelic scene. At this point the name became Underground Zerø to avoid confusion with a R & B group in the London Area. They performed at the large open air concert Anglia for Africa in Norwich in 1985, which also featured Hawkwind, Magnum
, Amazulu
, Eek-A-Mouse
and Dean Friedman
. Underground Zerø also performed at the last Stonehenge
festival with Hawkwind and has featured on Hawkwind, Friends and Relations
albums. Although UZØ never split up they stopped performing live in 1994. In 2005, they resumed live performances, doing 3 gigs in the UK and released a CD, Powerplay, featuring remixed versions of the studio tracks from their two vinyl LPs plus one bonus track. At about the same time an unofficial CD entitled Never Reach the Stars appeared, containing the original unremastered mixes of all the tracks from their vinyl albums and single. Although this release was not officially sanctioned it does include three live and one studio tracks that are not on the official CD and is acknowledged on the band's website.
Recent performances include the 2006 Eastern Haze Festival in Somerleyton Hall
, UK. and 2008 saw them perform alongside the legendary Hawkwind at the Hawkfest
, at Honiton in Devon
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
band, based in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, UK. The band is also known as UZØ. While the band is often referred to as "Underground Zero" or "Underground Zer0" in print, the official name of the band includes the slashed zero
Slashed zero
The slashed zero is a representation of the number '0' , with a slash through it. In character encoding terms, it is an alternate glyph for the self-same zero character...
in its name. Their sound is similar to Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
.
The nucleus of UZØ was started in 1979 by Andrew Rix (bass/vocals), Adrian Rix (keyboards), Judi Griggs (vocals), Brian Savage (drums) and Karl Dawson (guitar). From 1981, then known as Ground Zero, the group underwent several major changes. Brian left and was replaced by Mike (Mel) Melnyk and guitarist Paul Holden joined. In 1983 Mel left and was replaced by Sean Holden. The band featured on the UKs Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance was a British pop radio broadcaster, born in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. He was one of the few music broadcasters in the United Kingdom to champion hard rock and heavy metal in the early 1980s, providing the only national radio forum for both bands and fans...
’s Friday Rock Show
Friday Rock Show
The Friday Rock Show was a radio show in the United Kingdom that was broadcast on BBC Radio 1 from 10pm to midnight on Friday nights from 1978 to 1993. Throughout most of its run it was hosted by Tommy Vance. Ostensibly for the genre of rock in general, it was most closely associated with heavy metal...
on Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
and during 1983-85 developed a large following in the new Psychedelic scene. At this point the name became Underground Zerø to avoid confusion with a R & B group in the London Area. They performed at the large open air concert Anglia for Africa in Norwich in 1985, which also featured Hawkwind, Magnum
Magnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
, Amazulu
Amazulu (band)
Amazulu were a British ska / pop band from the 1980s. Composed of five females and one male, they achieved success in the UK charts with four top twenty hits - the biggest of these being "Too Good to Be Forgotten" in 1986.-Early days and success:...
, Eek-A-Mouse
Eek-a-Mouse
Eek-A-Mouse is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is one of the early artists to be described as a "singjay".-Biography:...
and Dean Friedman
Dean Friedman
Dean Friedman is an American singer-songwriter who plays piano, keyboard, guitar and other instruments, including the harmonica.-Music:...
. Underground Zerø also performed at the last Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
festival with Hawkwind and has featured on Hawkwind, Friends and Relations
Hawkwind, Friends and Relations
The Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
albums. Although UZØ never split up they stopped performing live in 1994. In 2005, they resumed live performances, doing 3 gigs in the UK and released a CD, Powerplay, featuring remixed versions of the studio tracks from their two vinyl LPs plus one bonus track. At about the same time an unofficial CD entitled Never Reach the Stars appeared, containing the original unremastered mixes of all the tracks from their vinyl albums and single. Although this release was not officially sanctioned it does include three live and one studio tracks that are not on the official CD and is acknowledged on the band's website.
Recent performances include the 2006 Eastern Haze Festival in Somerleyton Hall
Somerleyton Hall
Somerleyton Hall is a country house in the village of Somerleyton near Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. It has a notable garden.-History:In 1240, a manor house was built on the site of Somerleyton Hall by Sir Peter Fitzosbert whose daughter married into the Jernegan family. The male line of the...
, UK. and 2008 saw them perform alongside the legendary Hawkwind at the Hawkfest
Hawkfest
Hawkfest is 3 day outdoor weekend Festival organised and centered around Hawkwind. The event is open only to members of their fanclub and is limited to around 1000 attendees....
, at Honiton in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
Discography
- 1983. Ground Zerø. Cassette.
- 1983. The Official Bootleg. Live Cassette. (featuring Hawkwinds Nik TurnerNik TurnerNik Turner is a British musician, best known as a founding member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner plays saxophones, flute, sings and is a composer...
). - 1984. Seven Light Years. 12" Single.
- 1984. Never Reach the Stars. LP. Sharp 023. Flicknife RecordsFlicknife RecordsFlicknife Records was an independent record label setup in the United Kingdom in 1979 by Marc "Frenchy" Gloder, and Gina 'Wild Thing' Nares. It specialised in psychedelic rock and Hawkwind and ex-members solo projects...
. - 1985. Hawkwind, Friends and RelationsHawkwind, Friends and RelationsThe Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
3.Sharp 024.Flicknife RecordsFlicknife RecordsFlicknife Records was an independent record label setup in the United Kingdom in 1979 by Marc "Frenchy" Gloder, and Gina 'Wild Thing' Nares. It specialised in psychedelic rock and Hawkwind and ex-members solo projects...
. - 1986. Orbit 9. Cassette. Terry Hopkins.
- 1986. Orbit 10. Interview/Fanzine Cassette. HT 111. Terry Hopkins.
- 1986. A Pretty Smart Way to Catch a Lobster. Live Compilation LP.Sharp 035. Flicknife RecordsFlicknife RecordsFlicknife Records was an independent record label setup in the United Kingdom in 1979 by Marc "Frenchy" Gloder, and Gina 'Wild Thing' Nares. It specialised in psychedelic rock and Hawkwind and ex-members solo projects...
. - 1986. Hawkfan 12. Compilation LP.
- 1986. Through The Looking Glass. Live/Studio EP. Blunt 038. Flicknife RecordsFlicknife RecordsFlicknife Records was an independent record label setup in the United Kingdom in 1979 by Marc "Frenchy" Gloder, and Gina 'Wild Thing' Nares. It specialised in psychedelic rock and Hawkwind and ex-members solo projects...
. - 1987. Underground Zerø Live. Video. Under 002
- 1988. The Best of Hawkwind, Friends and RelationsHawkwind, Friends and RelationsThe Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
. CD. Sharp 1724CD. Flicknife RecordsFlicknife RecordsFlicknife Records was an independent record label setup in the United Kingdom in 1979 by Marc "Frenchy" Gloder, and Gina 'Wild Thing' Nares. It specialised in psychedelic rock and Hawkwind and ex-members solo projects...
. (Re-released in 1994 by Emporio - EMPRCD 547.) - 1994. From Year Zerø. CD. Under 003
- 1995. Hawkwind, Friends and RelationsHawkwind, Friends and RelationsThe Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
- The Rarities. Compilation CD. CDMGRAM 91. Anagram. - 1995. Forlorn & Lethal. Video. Under 004
- 1996. Hawkwind, Friends and RelationsHawkwind, Friends and RelationsThe Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
- Cosmic Travellers. CD. CDMGRAM 105 Anagram. Pinnacle. - 1999. The Elf & The Hawk CD BWRCD 026-2 Black Widow
- 2005. Powerplay. CD. Under 005
- 2005. Never Reach The Stars + CD BR187 Black Rose Records
External links
- Underground Zerø website
- Underground Zerø on Facebook
- Underground Zerø on Myspace
- Underground Zerø on YouTube
- http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/underground_zero