Zebra (band)
Encyclopedia
Zebra is a hard rock
band founded in 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana
. It features Randy Jackson (guitar and vocals), Felix Hanemann (bass, keyboards and vocals) and Guy Gelso (drums and vocals). Their mainstream debut on Atlantic Records
was in 1983 with their eponymous album, highlighted by the singles "Tell Me What You Want" and "Who's Behind The Door". Like Twisted Sister
, Zebra cut their teeth on the East Coast club circuit, frequently playing at clubs on Long Island, NY.
Zebra started their career by playing covers of Led Zeppelin
, Moody Blues
and Rush
songs; it was their early fans' reaction to their Led Zeppelin renditions that helped convince the band to bring their act to New York. They had introduced their original material into their cover sets years before they were signed to Atlantic Records
, including "The La La Song", "Free" and "Bears" (originally entitled "The Bears are Hibernating").
Zebra had been noticed as an original act to contend with by local colleges and even had some of their early original performances recorded by Long Island FM radio station WBAB
, culminating in the inclusion of one of their songs on a release of "WBAB's Homegrown Album
", which commemorated some of the station's best local acts and performances culled from their on-air "Homegrown Hour" program.
The band continued to tour throughout the 1980s but put a temporary hold in the early 1990s after being dropped by Atlantic Records. Randy Jackson formed his solo band, Randy Jackson's China Rain, and released its only album in the year 1993. Zebra finally reunited in 1997 and released Zebra IV in 2003, their first album of all-new material since 1986. A DVD of recent live performances, mostly from a show at the House of Blues
in New Orleans, was released in the summer of 2007.
On July 10, 2010, during their 35th Anniversary performance at New Orleans' Mahalia Jackson Theater, Zebra was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band founded in 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. It features Randy Jackson (guitar and vocals), Felix Hanemann (bass, keyboards and vocals) and Guy Gelso (drums and vocals). Their mainstream debut on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
was in 1983 with their eponymous album, highlighted by the singles "Tell Me What You Want" and "Who's Behind The Door". Like Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
, Zebra cut their teeth on the East Coast club circuit, frequently playing at clubs on Long Island, NY.
Zebra started their career by playing covers of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
and Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
songs; it was their early fans' reaction to their Led Zeppelin renditions that helped convince the band to bring their act to New York. They had introduced their original material into their cover sets years before they were signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, including "The La La Song", "Free" and "Bears" (originally entitled "The Bears are Hibernating").
Zebra had been noticed as an original act to contend with by local colleges and even had some of their early original performances recorded by Long Island FM radio station WBAB
WBAB
WBAB is a rock radio station on Long Island. Located at 102.3 FM, the station is licensed to Babylon, New York and is owned by Cox Radio. The station is also simulcast on WHFM 95.3 FM in eastern Suffolk County. Both WBAB's 102.3 and WHFM's 95.3 signals are broadcast in HD. The station also streams...
, culminating in the inclusion of one of their songs on a release of "WBAB's Homegrown Album
WBAB Homegrown Album
WBAB Homegrown Album is the first compilation album recorded for WBAB-FM in Babylon, New York. The album was manufactured in 1981 at PRI Record Pressing in Wyandanch, New York...
", which commemorated some of the station's best local acts and performances culled from their on-air "Homegrown Hour" program.
The band continued to tour throughout the 1980s but put a temporary hold in the early 1990s after being dropped by Atlantic Records. Randy Jackson formed his solo band, Randy Jackson's China Rain, and released its only album in the year 1993. Zebra finally reunited in 1997 and released Zebra IV in 2003, their first album of all-new material since 1986. A DVD of recent live performances, mostly from a show at the House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
in New Orleans, was released in the summer of 2007.
On July 10, 2010, during their 35th Anniversary performance at New Orleans' Mahalia Jackson Theater, Zebra was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame is an IRS certified 501 non-profit organization based in the state capitol of Baton Rouge, La., that seeks to preserve Louisiana's rich music culture and heritage and to further educate its citizens and people worldwide about the state’s unique role contributing...
.
Discography
- Zebra (1983) (This album went Gold)
- No Tellin' LiesNo Tellin' Lies-Zebra:*Randy Jackson - Guitar and lead vocals*Felix Hanemann - Bass guitar, keyboards, and vocals*Guy Gelso - Drums and vocals-Additional musicians:*Stan Bronstein: Saxophone, Synthesizers*Michael Finlayson: Programming*George Small: Piano...
(1984) - 3.V3.V3.V is an album by Zebra was released in 1986 on Atlantic Records. Doug Stone from allmusic gave the album 4.5 stars, saying "3.V has that certain something extra: more than an album, 3.V opens the mind of an unheralded genius."- Track listing :...
(1986) - LiveLive (Zebra album)New Orleans via Long Island heavy metal/hard rock band Zebra, known for their legendary live shows, released the album Live in 1990. The recordings are taken from various shows they performed on Long Island in November 1989...
(1990) - The Best of Zebra: In Black and White (1998)
- King Biscuit Flower HourKing Biscuit Flower Hour (Zebra album)King Biscuit Flower Hour is a live album recorded live in 1984 and 1985 by Zebra, released in 1999. The tracks are mainly from Zebra and No Tellin' Lies. Some are played in an extended fashion, but most are just like the album...
(1999) - Zebra IVZebra IV (album)Zebra IV is the fourth album by American hard rock trio Zebra. It was released on 8 July 2003, some 20 years after their 1983 debut album, and 17 years after their last studio effort, 3.V from 1986.- Track listing :- Band members :...
(2003)