Ivan Wilzig
Encyclopedia
Ivan L. Wilzig also known as Sir Ivan or Peaceman, is a musician who is best known for techno
remixes of 1960s songs such as "Imagine
" and "San Francisco
". He is also founder of the nonprofit Peaceman Foundation and appeared as Mr. Mitzvah on Season Two of the reality television show Who Wants to be a Superhero?
and sister Sherry, in Clifton, New Jersey
. Wilzig's father Siegbert (Siggi) Wilzig
(who died in January 2003) had come to the United States
as a destitute German Holocaust survivor. 59 of Ivan Wilzig's relatives had been killed during the Holocaust. Siggi Wilzig then earned a fortune as president of the Trust Company of New Jersey and chairman of the Wilshire Oil Company of Texas.
In his youth Wilzig attended an Orthodox Hebrew school, and also sang in the Hebrew choir at the local synagogue. He began voice lessons in his teens, but was later discouraged from continuing in music by his father, who wanted his son to have a more secure profession. He has a particular love for comic books — especially Captain Marvel
, Superman
, and Batman
.
Ivan Wilzig graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
, earning a degree in European intellectual history
. He then earned his law degree at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
at Yeshiva University
. Upon graduating Wilzig practiced law for a year, and has stated he hated being a lawyer. He then joined his brother, Alan Wilzig, in assisting their father in running the Trust Company Bank of New Jersey. Most of Ivan Wilzig's work at the bank was in public relations and marketing. One of Wilzig's most notable accomplishment at the Trust Company Bank was the brokering of a deal that allowed several bank branches to open up at A&P
Supermarkets. He sat on the board of the Trust Company Bank starting in 2001, finally leaving in 2004 when the bank was acquired by North Fork Bank
.
's "Imagine
," with Wilzig performing vocals. Tom Silverman
, owner of Tommy Boy Records
and founder of the Winter Music Conference
, signed the track and released it on September 4, 2001. The single sold 10,000 vinyl copies in its first four months. The remix also became a Top-40 hit on the Billboard Club play chart.
Wilzig continued to release techno remixes of up-beat "hippie
" music of the 1960s, such as "Blowing in the Wind" and "San Francisco
". The remix of "San Francisco" was signed by producer Jellybean Benitez, and released on Jellybean Recordings, reaching #7 on the Billboard Singles sales chart. "Imagine", "San Francisco" and "Peace on Earth" were produced by Grammy-nominee Ernie Lake. His newest song, "For What It's Worth", was produced by FORD aka Lawrence Fordyce.
Wilzig released his first original song, "Peace on Earth," in August 2004 on Artemis Records. It reached #42 on the Billboard dance charts, and according to Artemis president Daniel Glass
, received generous play at clubs in Ibiza
. His debut 15-track album, I Am Peaceman, was released in September of 2010 on AWAL
. His dance remix of "Hare Krishna" reached #10 on the Billboard Dance charts on April 16, 2011. Wilzig describes his music as techno produced tracks with hippie
lyrics, which he shortens to "technippy."
Wilzig is the founder of the non-profit Peaceman Foundation, and as the spokesman he began to dress as a caped character named Peaceman. Wilzig has stated he was inspired to adopt the Peaceman persona after suicide bombings in Israel
and the events of September 11, 2001. "Then the world finally woke up and realized that evil is evil, and that there is right and wrong, and there are the bad guys versus the good guys," said Wilzig.
. Referred to as "the Castle", it has also been dubbed in the media and by Wilzig as the "Playboy Mansion
of the East Coast". It was featured in a number of television shows, including the Travel Channel
's Grand Castles of America. Wilzig has stated that after building the castle his father began calling him "Sir Wilzig," and the name stuck. In August 2011, Wilzig hosted India's Crown Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil
, a gay rights activist, at the castle.
in 2006, Wilzig attempted to audition with the producers as Peaceman, but he was too late to be included. He was encouraged to audition for the next season. His "Peaceman" character made the cut for Season Two
, but as a precondition, the Sci Fi Channel
and NBC obtain the trademarks to contestant characters. Wilzig refused to give up the trademark to "Peaceman" and attempted to create a new character "Mitzvah
Man", but the name had already been trademarked. "Mr. Mitzvah", however, was not trademarked, and Wilzig took on the identity of Mr. Mitzvah for the show. He was eliminated in the third episode.
featured Wilzig in 2003 (Hopelessly Rich) and in 2007 (The Fabulous Life of the Hamptons).
He appeared on the German show ProSieben right after September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, where he introduced his "Imagine" remix. Also present on the show was Mina Otsuka, Wilzig's best friend, who had escaped the attacks from her office on the 79th floor of Two World Trade Center
. In early 2004 Wilzig reappeared on ProSieben, this time as part of the series So lebt ein Milliardaer! Lifestyle of a Billionaire). Wilzig appeared as Peaceman next to supermodel Naomi Campbell
, DJ Paul Oakenfold
and tennis player Venus Williams
. In 2006 ProSieben featured him in Die Maedchen und der Milliardaer (The Girls and the Billionaire).
At one point Wilzig filmed a television pilot
for his Peaceman character, which he stated was a combination of reality, scripted material and animation. Its airing status is unknown.
Albums
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
remixes of 1960s songs such as "Imagine
Imagine (song)
"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971...
" and "San Francisco
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)
"San Francisco " is a song, written by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, and sung by Scott McKenzie. It was written and released in 1967 to promote the Monterey Pop Festival....
". He is also founder of the nonprofit Peaceman Foundation and appeared as Mr. Mitzvah on Season Two of the reality television show Who Wants to be a Superhero?
Who Wants to Be a Superhero? (Season 2)
Who Wants to Be a Superhero? is a reality show hosted by Stan Lee. Contestants dress up as comic book superheroes of their own invention. Each week, Lee challenges the contestants to represent what "superheroes are all about." Three or four supervillains will attempt to defeat the superheroes...
Early life and career
Ivan Wilzig was born in 1956 and raised with his two younger siblings, AlanAlan Wilzig
Alan Wilzig is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, championship-winning race car driver, and restaurateur. He is also son of the late Siggi Wilzig, a German Holocaust survivor. Alan's father rose to fame after coming to America with nothing and eventually earned his fortune in finance...
and sister Sherry, in Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
. Wilzig's father Siegbert (Siggi) Wilzig
Siggi Wilzig
Siegbert B. Wilzig was a survivor of the Holocaust, oil tycoon, commercial banker and assistant to Nobel Prize winner writer Elie Wiesel. He triumphed over the worst possible conditions, and became a self-made millionaire.-Early life:Siggi Wilzig was born in 1926 in Krojanke, West Prussia...
(who died in January 2003) had come to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a destitute German Holocaust survivor. 59 of Ivan Wilzig's relatives had been killed during the Holocaust. Siggi Wilzig then earned a fortune as president of the Trust Company of New Jersey and chairman of the Wilshire Oil Company of Texas.
In his youth Wilzig attended an Orthodox Hebrew school, and also sang in the Hebrew choir at the local synagogue. He began voice lessons in his teens, but was later discouraged from continuing in music by his father, who wanted his son to have a more secure profession. He has a particular love for comic books — especially Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
, Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, and Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
.
Ivan Wilzig graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, earning a degree in European intellectual history
Intellectual history
Note: this article concerns the discipline of intellectual history, and not its object, the whole span of human thought since the invention of writing. For clarifications about the latter topic, please consult the writings of the intellectual historians listed here and entries on individual...
. He then earned his law degree at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law is the law school of Yeshiva University, located in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The school is named for Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo. Cardozo's success as a young school has been remarkable, leading some to characterize Cardozo as a...
at Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
. Upon graduating Wilzig practiced law for a year, and has stated he hated being a lawyer. He then joined his brother, Alan Wilzig, in assisting their father in running the Trust Company Bank of New Jersey. Most of Ivan Wilzig's work at the bank was in public relations and marketing. One of Wilzig's most notable accomplishment at the Trust Company Bank was the brokering of a deal that allowed several bank branches to open up at A&P
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
Supermarkets. He sat on the board of the Trust Company Bank starting in 2001, finally leaving in 2004 when the bank was acquired by North Fork Bank
North Fork Bank
North Fork Bank was an American bank from 1950 until 2008 when it became Capital One Bank .In November 2007, it had 365 branches in the New York metropolitan area.-History:...
.
Peaceman
In 2001 Wilzig played some demo tapes for acquaintance Dave Jurman of Dance Music at Colombia Records. Jurman introduced Wilzig to Grammy-Award winning producer Ernie Lake, who produced Wilzig's remix of John LennonJohn Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's "Imagine
Imagine (song)
"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971...
," with Wilzig performing vocals. Tom Silverman
Tom Silverman
Tom Silverman is the founder, chairman and CEO of the record label Tommy Boy Records , and he is co-founder of the independent film and television company Tommy Boy Films. Silverman co-founded Dance Music Report magazine, which ran from 1978 to 1992, and he co-founded the Dance Music Hall of Fame,...
, owner of Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
and founder of the Winter Music Conference
Winter Music Conference
The Winter Music Conference is a weeklong electronic music conference, held every March since the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida, United States. Venues are hosted primarily in Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach...
, signed the track and released it on September 4, 2001. The single sold 10,000 vinyl copies in its first four months. The remix also became a Top-40 hit on the Billboard Club play chart.
Wilzig continued to release techno remixes of up-beat "hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
" music of the 1960s, such as "Blowing in the Wind" and "San Francisco
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)
"San Francisco " is a song, written by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, and sung by Scott McKenzie. It was written and released in 1967 to promote the Monterey Pop Festival....
". The remix of "San Francisco" was signed by producer Jellybean Benitez, and released on Jellybean Recordings, reaching #7 on the Billboard Singles sales chart. "Imagine", "San Francisco" and "Peace on Earth" were produced by Grammy-nominee Ernie Lake. His newest song, "For What It's Worth", was produced by FORD aka Lawrence Fordyce.
Wilzig released his first original song, "Peace on Earth," in August 2004 on Artemis Records. It reached #42 on the Billboard dance charts, and according to Artemis president Daniel Glass
Daniel Glass
Daniel Glass is an American music industry executive whose output has included work with artists Billy Idol, Wilson Phillips, Sinéad O'Connor, Jon Secada, Warren Zevon, Blur, Goldfinger, Reel Big Fish, Erykah Badu, Baha Men, Kurupt, Susan Tedeschi, The Pretenders, Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society,...
, received generous play at clubs in Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
. His debut 15-track album, I Am Peaceman, was released in September of 2010 on AWAL
AWAL
AWAL is a UK based digital distribution and entertainment services company that works with independent artists, comedians, and labels. The company was started in 1997 by Denzyl Feigelson....
. His dance remix of "Hare Krishna" reached #10 on the Billboard Dance charts on April 16, 2011. Wilzig describes his music as techno produced tracks with hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
lyrics, which he shortens to "technippy."
Wilzig is the founder of the non-profit Peaceman Foundation, and as the spokesman he began to dress as a caped character named Peaceman. Wilzig has stated he was inspired to adopt the Peaceman persona after suicide bombings in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and the events of September 11, 2001. "Then the world finally woke up and realized that evil is evil, and that there is right and wrong, and there are the bad guys versus the good guys," said Wilzig.
The Castle
In the late 1990s Wilzig and his brother Alan built a lavishly decorated 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) medieval-style estate in Water Mill on Long Island, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Referred to as "the Castle", it has also been dubbed in the media and by Wilzig as the "Playboy Mansion
Playboy Mansion
The Playboy Mansion is the home of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner. Located in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, California, the mansion became famous during the 1970s through media reports of Hefner's lavish parties.-History:The house is described as being in the "Gothic-Tudor" style...
of the East Coast". It was featured in a number of television shows, including the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
's Grand Castles of America. Wilzig has stated that after building the castle his father began calling him "Sir Wilzig," and the name stuck. In August 2011, Wilzig hosted India's Crown Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil
Manvendra Singh Gohil
Manvendra Singh Raghubir Singh belongs to the royal family of the former princely state of Rajpipla in India.His parents attempted but failed to disinherit him after he revealed his homosexuality, and since then his relations...
, a gay rights activist, at the castle.
Mr. Mitzvah
During the first season of Who Wants to be a Superhero?Who Wants to Be a Superhero?
Who Wants to Be a Superhero? is a reality show hosted by Stan Lee. Contestants dress up as comic book superheroes of their own invention. Each week, Lee challenges the contestants to represent what "superheroes are all about." One or more of the superheroes deemed the least deserving is eliminated...
in 2006, Wilzig attempted to audition with the producers as Peaceman, but he was too late to be included. He was encouraged to audition for the next season. His "Peaceman" character made the cut for Season Two
Who Wants to Be a Superhero? (Season 2)
Who Wants to Be a Superhero? is a reality show hosted by Stan Lee. Contestants dress up as comic book superheroes of their own invention. Each week, Lee challenges the contestants to represent what "superheroes are all about." Three or four supervillains will attempt to defeat the superheroes...
, but as a precondition, the Sci Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
and NBC obtain the trademarks to contestant characters. Wilzig refused to give up the trademark to "Peaceman" and attempted to create a new character "Mitzvah
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
Man", but the name had already been trademarked. "Mr. Mitzvah", however, was not trademarked, and Wilzig took on the identity of Mr. Mitzvah for the show. He was eliminated in the third episode.
Other television
Wilzig has appeared on a number of lifestyle and reality television shows since 2000. He was on the dating show Manhattan on the Beach in 2000, and Single in the Hamptons in 2002. VH1VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
featured Wilzig in 2003 (Hopelessly Rich) and in 2007 (The Fabulous Life of the Hamptons).
He appeared on the German show ProSieben right after September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, where he introduced his "Imagine" remix. Also present on the show was Mina Otsuka, Wilzig's best friend, who had escaped the attacks from her office on the 79th floor of Two World Trade Center
Two World Trade Center
Two World Trade Center is an 88-story skyscraper under construction as part of the new World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan of New York City. The tower will be located in the northeast corner of the World Trade Center site, where the former 5 World Trade Center stood, with the original 2...
. In early 2004 Wilzig reappeared on ProSieben, this time as part of the series So lebt ein Milliardaer! Lifestyle of a Billionaire). Wilzig appeared as Peaceman next to supermodel Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell is a British model. Scouted at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognisable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and she was one of six models of her generation declared "supermodels" by the fashion world...
, DJ Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...
and tennis player Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
. In 2006 ProSieben featured him in Die Maedchen und der Milliardaer (The Girls and the Billionaire).
At one point Wilzig filmed a television pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for his Peaceman character, which he stated was a combination of reality, scripted material and animation. Its airing status is unknown.
Discography
Singles- "ImagineImagine (song)"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971...
" Remix (2001, Tommy Boy RecordsTommy Boy RecordsTommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
) - "San FranciscoSan Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)"San Francisco " is a song, written by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, and sung by Scott McKenzie. It was written and released in 1967 to promote the Monterey Pop Festival....
" Remix - "Blowing in the Wind" Remix (Jellybean Recordings)
- "Peace on Earth" (2004, Artemis RecordsDaniel GlassDaniel Glass is an American music industry executive whose output has included work with artists Billy Idol, Wilson Phillips, Sinéad O'Connor, Jon Secada, Warren Zevon, Blur, Goldfinger, Reel Big Fish, Erykah Badu, Baha Men, Kurupt, Susan Tedeschi, The Pretenders, Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society,...
) - "For What It's Worth" Remix (Peaceman Music)
- "KumbayaKumbaya"Kumbaya" or "Kumbayah" — is an African-American spiritual song from the 1930s. It enjoyed newfound popularity during the folk revival of the 1960s and became a standard campfire song in Scouting and nature-oriented organizations...
" (Peaceman Music) - "Hare Krishna" Remix (2010, AWALAWALAWAL is a UK based digital distribution and entertainment services company that works with independent artists, comedians, and labels. The company was started in 1997 by Denzyl Feigelson....
)
Albums
- I Am Peaceman (2010, AWAL)