The Zeros (American glam punk band)
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The Zeros, originally known as The Double “O” Zeros, were a
glam metal Glam metal (also known as hair metal or pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal that features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat rock anthems, and slow power ballads. It borrows heavily from the fashion and image of 1970s glam ...
and
glam punk Glam punk is a term used retrospectively to describe a short-lived trend for bands which produced a form of proto-punk that incorporated elements of glam rock, initially in the early to mid-1970s. History Glam punk has been seen as a backlash to ...
band from
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. Characterized by their matching purple hair, the band was a prominent figure on the Hollywood club scene of the late 1980s – early 1990s. In 1991 the band’s record label
Restless Records Restless Records is a record label that was started in El Segundo, California in 1986 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal, and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade R ...
had the nightclubs
Whisky a Go Go The Whisky a Go Go (informally nicknamed "the Whisky") is a historic nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip, corner North Clark Street, opposite North San Vicente Boule ...
and
Coconut Teaszer The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or t ...
painted purple to commemorate the release of their album ''4-3-2-1 The Zeros''.


History


As The Double “O” Zeros

The Double “O” Zeros formed in 1982, in
New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
and consisted of lead vocalist Sammy Serious, guitarist Joe “Normal” Hutchinson, bassist Mace Byers and drummer Jim “Mr. Insane” Hutchinson. The band gained greater exposure in 1984 when they recorded the theme song “H.O.W.A.R.D S.T.E.R.N.” for radio personality
Howard Stern Howard Allan Stern (born January 12, 1954) is an American radio and television personality, comedian, and author. He is best known for his radio show, '' The Howard Stern Show'', which gained popularity when it was nationally syndicated on terr ...
, who used the track as the theme music for his radio show on
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and WXRK in
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. In early 1985 the band released a five-song 7-inch EP entitled "Be A Zero" on the then New Jersey based independent record label Mountain Records. The band then temporarily relocated to the U.K. touring from the Spring to Fall of 1985.


As The Zeros

Relocating to Los Angeles in 1986, the band shortened their name to The Zeros and were joined by bass player Danny Dangerous. Under the guidance of former Poison manager Howie Hubbberman, The Zeros developed their image which was characterized by matching purple hair, custom made
Converse Converse may refer to: Mathematics and logic * Converse (logic), the result of reversing the two parts of a definite or implicational statement ** Converse implication, the converse of a material implication ** Converse nonimplication, a logical c ...
thigh-high sneakers, and their hot-rodded classic 1968
Chevrolet Nomad Chevrolet Nomad is a nameplate used by Chevrolet in North America from the 1950s to the 1970s, applied largely to station wagons. Three different Nomads were produced as a distinct model line, with Chevrolet subsequently using the name as a trim ...
Wagon ‘Zeromobile’. The band's local notoriety exploded when Danny Dangerous' childhood friend
Butch Lukic DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...
began illustrating The Zeros’ cartoon likeness which appeared in magazines, flyers, merchandise, and eventually the cover of the albums ''4, 3, 2, 1 … Zeros'' and ''Rule The World''. In 1987, The Zeros appeared alongside
Peter Noone Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone (born 5 November 1947) is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and actor. He was the lead singer "Herman" in the 1960s pop group Herman's Hermits. Early life Noone was born in Davyhulme, Lancashir ...
of Herman’s Hermits fame in an episode of the
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sitcom Easy Street. In 1988, The Zeros recorded the song “Mr. MX-7” with producer
Nigel Harrison Nigel Harrison (born 24 April 1951) is an English musician. Harrison spent several years as the bassist of the American rock band Blondie during the 1970s and 1980s. Life & career Harrison grew up in Princes Risborough, a small town in the ...
and guest vocalist Stiv Bators for the comedy film
Tapeheads ''Tapeheads'' is a 1988 comedy film directed by Bill Fishman and starring John Cusack, Tim Robbins, Sam Moore and Junior Walker. The film was produced by Michael Nesmith, who briefly appears as a bottled water delivery man. Plot After losing th ...
starring
John Cusack John Paul Cusack (; born June 28, 1966)(28 June 1996)Today's birthdays ''Santa Cruz Sentinel'', ("Actors John Cusack is 30") is an American actor, producer, screenwriter and political activist. He is a son of filmmaker Dick Cusack, and his ol ...
. While the song was written by Sammy Serious, Stiv Bators is featured in the movie singing the song. The Zeros placed two songs and performed in the 1989 movie Caged Fury starring actor
Erik Estrada Henry Enrique Estrada (born March 16, 1949) is an American actor and police officer. He is known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn "Ponch" Poncherello in the police drama television series ...
. In 1991, The Zeros released their full-length album ''4, 3, 2, 1 … Zero'' on Restless Records. To promote the album’s release, Restless Records had both the Whisky A Go-Go and Coconut Teaszer painted purple and adorned with The Zeros’ logo.


Post-break up (1997–present)

Sammy Serious formed the band Serious Suicide in 2000. Joe Normal and Danny Dangerous formed the Psychobilly band Cold Blue Rebels with vocalist Mickey Finn of
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and Spazz Draztik of Glamour Punks. In May 2015, the albums ''4, 3, 2, 1 … Zeros'' and ''Names (Vol. 1)'' were re-released by
Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...


Discography


Studio albums


EPs

*''Another Girl / Pretty Woman'' (1983) *''Be A Zero!'' (1985) *''Sneak Preview'' (1991)


Filmography

*Episode of '' Easy Street'' - “Our Kind of People” (1987) * ''
Tapeheads ''Tapeheads'' is a 1988 comedy film directed by Bill Fishman and starring John Cusack, Tim Robbins, Sam Moore and Junior Walker. The film was produced by Michael Nesmith, who briefly appears as a bottled water delivery man. Plot After losing th ...
'' (1988) * '' Caged Fury'' (1989)


Past members

*Sammy Serious – lead vocals (1982–1997) *Joe “Normal” Hutchinson – guitar (1982–1992) *Jim “Mr. Insane” Hutchinson – drums (1982–1992) *Danny “Dangerous” Lucas – bass, vocals (1986–1992) *Toy Staci- bass (1992–1995) *Mace Byers – bass (1985–1986) *Andy James - touring drums 1992-1993 *Joey Foxx - touring drums (1996)


References


External links

*
The Zeros
at
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeros Glam metal musical groups from California Glam punk groups Hard rock musical groups from California Musical groups from Los Angeles Restless Records artists