Zoetrope was an American heavy metal band from

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. Although their sound was akin to

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, ...

, the group described themselves as "Street Metal".

History

The group was formed in 1976 by teenage friends

Barry Stern Barry Stern (January 24, 1960 – April 1, 2005) was a heavy metal drummer from Chicago, Illinois. History Zoetrope and Trouble (1976-1995) From 1976 until 1988, he drummed for Zoetrope, for whom he also served as vocalist and songwriter. Aft ...

(drums/vocals), Kevin Michael Rasofsky, aka Kevin Michael, (guitar/vocals), and Calvin "Willis" Humphrey (bass), soon to be joined by second guitarist Ken Black.Kevin Michael's liner notes to ''A Life of Crime'' reissue 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 (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

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 was an American independent record label founded in 1982 and based in New York City. The label was made specifically for heavy metal and punk rock acts. Notable artists include: Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, OZ, ...

and issued their first LP, ''Amnesty'', in 1985. In 1987, the band traveled to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

to record their follow up, ''A Life of Crime'', with producer Randy Burns. 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 is an American musician and former guitarist for a number of bands including Zoetrope, M.O.D., Ministry, Pigface, Mind Funk, The Hollow steps, Project .44, and The Joy Thieves. His work can also be found in many movie soundtracks ...

. 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 Billy Milano (born June 5, 1964) is an American heavy metal and hardcore punk musician. He is the singer and occasionally guitarist and bassist of crossover thrash band M.O.D., and was the singer of its predecessor, Stormtroopers of Death. Be ...

. After the tour, Barry Stern left to join fellow Chicagoans

Trouble Trouble may refer to: Film and television * ''Trouble'' (1922 film), an American silent comedy-drama film directed by Albert Austin * ''Trouble'' (1933 film), a British comedy film * ''Trouble'' (1977 film), a Soviet drama film * ''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 Mind Funk (spelled Mindfunk on later releases) was an American Rock music, rock band, containing members of Chemical Waste and several other bands. The band was originally known as "Mind Fuck" but were forced by Epic Records to change their nam ...

Pigface Pigface is an American 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 Fee ...

, 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 A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

and made a guest appearance on the self-titled debut by Debris Inc., which featured former members of

Saint Vitus Vitus (), whose name is sometimes rendered Guy or Guido, was a Christian martyr from Sicily. His surviving hagiography is pure legend. The dates of his actual life are unknown.Basil Watkins, ''The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical ...

and

. Stern 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 death.

dedicated their 2007 album, '' Simple Mind Condition'', to his memory.

Members

*Kevin Michael – Guitar/Vocals (1976–1993) *Ken Black – Guitar (1976–1987) *

– Drums/Vocals (1976–1988) *Calvin "Willis" Humphrey – Bass (1976–1990) *

– 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) *Erik "Tater" 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,

, reissued on CD with the ''Metal Log'' demos as bonus tracks by

Century Media A century is a period of 100 years or 10 decades. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c. A ...

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

in 1999) *''A Life of Crime'' LP (1987,

, reissued on CD with liner notes by Kevin Michael on

in 1998) *''Mind Over Splatter'' LP/CD (1993, Grind Core Records/Red Light)

References

External links

Zoetrope @ the Metal ArchivesZoetrope @ the Librarius Metallicus
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zoetrope Heavy metal musical groups from Illinois Musical groups established in 1976 Musical groups disestablished in 1993 American thrash metal musical groups Musical groups from Chicago