Zoetrope (band)
Encyclopedia
Zoetrope was an American heavy metal
band from Chicago, Illinois. Although their sound was akin to thrash metal
, the group described themselves as "Street Metal" . The group was formed in 1976 by teenage friends Barry Stern
(drums/vocals), Kevin Michael Rasofsky, aka Kevin Michael, (guitar), and Calvin "Willis" Humphrey (bass), soon to be joined by second guitarist Ken Black. Initially playing covers, the band soon ventured into writing their own material and released a single in 1980. Although undeniably a metal band, Zoetrope was also active in Chicago's hardcore punk
scene, sharing bills with locals hardcore bands and hanging out at O'Banions, a Chicago punk bar (Ken Black and Barry Stern also produced the self-titled LP by Chicago-based hardcore band Life Sentence in 1986). Following the release of a couple of demo tapes, the group was signed to Combat Records
and issued their first LP, Amnesty, in 1985. In 1987, the band traveled to Los Angeles
to record their follow up, A Life of Crime, with producer Randy Burns (Megadeth
, Nuclear Assault
). During the recording sessions, Ken Black left the band and returned to Chicago to sort out substance abuse issues. He was replaced by Louis Svitek
. Although Svitek appears on the album's cover, Kevin Michael later confirmed that Ken Black had finished his guitar parts before leaving Los Angeles. During the tour supporting A Life of Crime, Svitek was recruited for M.O.D.
by Billy Milano
. After the tour, Barry Stern jumped ship to fellow Chicagoans Trouble
. Kevin Michael eventually returned with a new line up for 1993's Mind Over Splatter but the band folded for good soon after.
Louis Svitek later played with the Chicago punk band Lost Cause, Ministry
, Mind Funk
, Pigface
, The Hollow steps (also featured Ken Black on a few cuts) and Project 44. He currently runs Wu Li Records, a hip-hop label based in Chicago. Original member Barry Stern filled in on drums for a tour with Cathedral
and made a guest appearance on the self-titled debut by Debris Inc., which featured former members of Saint Vitus
and Trouble
. Barry died on April 1, 2005, from complications after hip-replacement surgery. He was singing for the local band D-Connect at the time of his passing. Trouble
dedicated their 2007 album Simple Mind Condition
to his memory.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Chicago, Illinois. Although their sound was akin to thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
, the group described themselves as "Street Metal" . The group was formed in 1976 by teenage friends Barry Stern
Barry Stern
Barry Stern was a heavy metal drummer from Chicago, Illinois. From 1976 until 1988, Barry drummed for Zoetrope, for whom he also served as vocalist and songwriter. After recording two LPs with that band, Barry joined Trouble in 1989. He appeared on two LPs with the band, 1990's Trouble and 1992's...
(drums/vocals), Kevin Michael Rasofsky, aka Kevin Michael, (guitar), and Calvin "Willis" Humphrey (bass), soon to be joined by second guitarist Ken Black. Initially playing covers, the band soon ventured into writing their own material and released a single in 1980. Although undeniably a metal band, Zoetrope was also active in Chicago's hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
scene, sharing bills with locals hardcore bands and hanging out at O'Banions, a Chicago punk bar (Ken Black and Barry Stern also produced the self-titled LP by Chicago-based hardcore band Life Sentence in 1986). Following the release of a couple of demo tapes, the group was signed to Combat Records
Combat Records
Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and...
and issued their first LP, Amnesty, in 1985. In 1987, the band traveled to 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...
to record their follow up, A Life of Crime, with producer Randy Burns (Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...
). During the recording sessions, Ken Black left the band and returned to Chicago to sort out substance abuse issues. He was replaced by Louis Svitek
Louis Svitek
Louis Svitek is a musician and former guitarist for a number of bands including M.O.D., Ministry, Pigface, Mind Funk, The Hollow steps and Project .44...
. Although Svitek appears on the album's cover, Kevin Michael later confirmed that Ken Black had finished his guitar parts before leaving Los Angeles. During the tour supporting A Life of Crime, Svitek was recruited for M.O.D.
M.O.D.
M.O.D. was a crossover thrash band from New York City, fronted by former Anthrax roadie and Stormtroopers of Death vocalist Billy Milano. The band existed from 1986 to 1997, and again from 2001 to 2008...
by Billy Milano
Billy Milano
Billy Milano is a Bronx-born heavy metal musician now based in Austin, Texas. He was the singer, guitarist, and bassist of crossover thrash band M.O.D., and the singer of its predecessor, Stormtroopers of Death....
. After the tour, Barry Stern jumped ship to fellow Chicagoans Trouble
Trouble (band)
Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
. Kevin Michael eventually returned with a new line up for 1993's Mind Over Splatter but the band folded for good soon after.
Louis Svitek later played with the Chicago punk band Lost Cause, Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
, Mind Funk
Mind Funk
Mind Funk were an American stoner rock/grunge band containing members of Chemical Waste and several other bands, originally known as "Mind Fuck" but were forced by Epic Records to change their name. The band signed to the Sony/Epic-label and released their self-titled debut album in 1991...
, Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
, The Hollow steps (also featured Ken Black on a few cuts) and Project 44. He currently runs Wu Li Records, a hip-hop label based in Chicago. Original member Barry Stern filled in on drums for a tour with Cathedral
Cathedral (band)
Cathedral are a doom metal band from Coventry, England. The group forged a link between early doom metal and a 1990s extreme metal aesthetic, making doom slower and heavier. Their debut album, Forest of Equilibrium, is considered a classic of the genre. They later on changed their doom style,...
and made a guest appearance on the self-titled debut by Debris Inc., which featured former members of Saint Vitus
Saint Vitus (band)
Saint Vitus is an American doom metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1978. They consist of founding members Dave Chandler and Mark Adams , alongside sporadic singer Scott Weinrich and recently added drummer Henry Vasquez...
and Trouble
Trouble (band)
Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
. Barry died on April 1, 2005, from complications after hip-replacement surgery. He was singing for the local band D-Connect at the time of his passing. Trouble
Trouble (band)
Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
dedicated their 2007 album Simple Mind Condition
Simple Mind Condition
Simple Mind Condition is Trouble's seventh studio album. It was the band's first full-length studio release in twelve years, the longest gap between Trouble's studio albums to date...
to his memory.
Members
- Kevin Michael - Guitar (1976-1993)
- Ken Black - Guitar (1976-1987)
- Barry SternBarry SternBarry Stern was a heavy metal drummer from Chicago, Illinois. From 1976 until 1988, Barry drummed for Zoetrope, for whom he also served as vocalist and songwriter. After recording two LPs with that band, Barry joined Trouble in 1989. He appeared on two LPs with the band, 1990's Trouble and 1992's...
, - Drums/Vocals (1976-1988) - Calvin "Willis" Humphrey (1976-1990)
- Louis SvitekLouis SvitekLouis Svitek is a musician and former guitarist for a number of bands including M.O.D., Ministry, Pigface, Mind Funk, The Hollow steps and Project .44...
- Guitar (1987-1988) - Pete Montswillo - Vocals (1988-1993)
- Michael Ray Garrett - Guitar (1988-1993)
- Drew Kristoff - Drums/Vocals (1988-1990)
- Sean Schipper - Drums (1990-1993)
- Eric Armstrong - Bass (1990-1993)
Discography
- "The Right Way" b/w "Call 33" 7" (1980, self-released)
- The Metal Log Vol. 1 demo tape (1983, self-released)
- The Metal Log Vol. 2 demo tape (1985, self-released)
- Amnesty LP (1985, Combat RecordsCombat RecordsCombat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and...
, reissued on CD with the Metal Log demos as bonus tracks by Century Media in EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1999) - A Life of Crime LP (1987, Combat RecordsCombat RecordsCombat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and...
, reissued on CD with liner notes by Kevin Michael on Century Media in EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1998) - Mind Over Splatter LP/CD (1993, Grind Core Records/Red Light)