The Zeros
Encyclopedia
The Zeros were an American
punk rock
band
, formed in 1976 in Chula Vista
, California
. The band was composed of Javier Escovedo (younger brother of Alejandro Escovedo
, older brother of Mario Escovedo of the Dragons) on vocals/guitar and Robert Lopez (later known as El Vez
) on guitar, who were both attending Chula Vista High School
; Hector Penalosa, (bass), and Baba Chenelle, (drums), who attended Sweetwater High School
.
in Los Angeles
at the Orpheum Theater. Opening the show was the first performance by The Germs
, followed by The Zeros and then The Weirdos
. The gig was promoted by Peter Case
of The Nerves
who later served as the frontman of The Breakaways and The Plimsouls
. The Zeros' first single
release, "Wimp" b/w "Don't Push Me Around" was released in 1977 on Bomp! Records
.
In 1978, Penalosa left the band briefly to live and play in Los Angeles, and was replaced by Guy Lopez, Robert Lopez's brother. Soon after, Robert left to live in Los Angeles as well and his brother quit the Zeros. Penalosa rejoined the band and they continued as a trio
, and eventually relocated to San Francisco
. In March 1979, the UK
music magazine, NME
, reported that "punk riots had come to the U.S.
, when Los Angeles police broke up a Zeros' gig at Elks Hall." In 1980, the band recorded
a new single, including the songs "They Say That (Everything's Alright)," "Girl on the Block" and "Getting Nowhere Fast." After more touring that led to Austin
, Texas
and New York
, the band fizzled out.
The band is infamous for playing an entire set consisting of 8 replays of "Beat Your Heart Out" in San Francisco.
More recently, the Zeros reunited to tour in Spain
in early 2007. All four members reunited again for a short West Coast tour that began in San Diego
in June 2009. In October 2010, the Zeros embarked on a short U.S. tour of the East Coast.
Cover version
s of songs by The Zeros were released by The Hoodoo Gurus (Wimp), Los Angeles' bands, Wednesday Week
("They Say That Everything's Alright") and The Muffs
("Beat Your Heart Out").
Albums
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed in 1976 in Chula Vista
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The band was composed of Javier Escovedo (younger brother of Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:The son of Mexican immigrants to Texas, Escovedo is from a family that boasts several professional musicians, including brothers Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo, and Sheila E...
, older brother of Mario Escovedo of the Dragons) on vocals/guitar and Robert Lopez (later known as El Vez
El Vez
El Vez is the stage name of Robert Lopez, a Mexican-American rock and roll artist, who performs and records original material and covers classic rock songs...
) on guitar, who were both attending Chula Vista High School
Chula Vista High School
Chula Vista High School in Chula Vista, California, was founded in 1947. It is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District. The school colors are "spartan" blue and white, and the mascot is Sammy Spartan. CVHS underwent a renovation to several classrooms and received a new ASB building in...
; Hector Penalosa, (bass), and Baba Chenelle, (drums), who attended Sweetwater High School
Sweetwater High School (National City, California)
Sweetwater Union High School is a secondary school located in National City, California, United States. Established in 1921, it is one of the oldest high schools in San Diego County...
.
Biography
In 1977, The Zeros played their first major gigGig (musical performance)
Gig is slang for a musical engagement in which musicians are hired. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement", now refers to any aspect of performing such as assisting with performance and attending musical performance...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
at the Orpheum Theater. Opening the show was the first performance by The Germs
The Germs
The Germs are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band's early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and their most consistent drummer Don Bolles. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane...
, followed by The Zeros and then The Weirdos
The Weirdos
The Weirdos were an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. They formed in 1976 and broke up in 1981, were occasionally active in the 1980s, and recorded new material in the 1990s...
. The gig was promoted by Peter Case
Peter Case
Peter Case is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has had a wide-ranging career ranging from new wave music to folk rock to solo acoustic performance.-Early career:...
of The Nerves
The Nerves
The Nerves were a mid-'70s American power pop trio based in Los Angeles, featuring guitarist Jack Lee, bassist Peter Case, and drummer Paul Collins. All three members composed songs and sang. They managed an international tour in the U.S. and Canada, including dates with The Ramones, and...
who later served as the frontman of The Breakaways and The Plimsouls
The Plimsouls
The Plimsouls are an American rock band formed in Paramount, California in 1978.-Formation:Formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Peter Case , the Plimsouls began as a trio in 1978 which included Case, bassist Dave Pahoa and drummer Louie Ramírez...
. The Zeros' first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
release, "Wimp" b/w "Don't Push Me Around" was released in 1977 on Bomp! Records
Bomp! Records
Bomp! Records is an Los Angeles-based indie label formed in 1974 by fanzine publisher and music historian Greg Shaw.-History:The label has featured punk, pop, powerpop, garage rock, new wave, old school rock, neo-psychedelia among other genres, and its roster has included artists such as The Modern...
.
In 1978, Penalosa left the band briefly to live and play in Los Angeles, and was replaced by Guy Lopez, Robert Lopez's brother. Soon after, Robert left to live in Los Angeles as well and his brother quit the Zeros. Penalosa rejoined the band and they continued as a trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, and eventually relocated to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. In March 1979, the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music magazine, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, reported that "punk riots had come to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, when Los Angeles police broke up a Zeros' gig at Elks Hall." In 1980, the band recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
a new single, including the songs "They Say That (Everything's Alright)," "Girl on the Block" and "Getting Nowhere Fast." After more touring that led to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the band fizzled out.
The band is infamous for playing an entire set consisting of 8 replays of "Beat Your Heart Out" in San Francisco.
More recently, the Zeros reunited to tour in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in early 2007. All four members reunited again for a short West Coast tour that began in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in June 2009. In October 2010, the Zeros embarked on a short U.S. tour of the East Coast.
Cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of songs by The Zeros were released by The Hoodoo Gurus (Wimp), Los Angeles' bands, Wednesday Week
Wednesday Week
Wednesday Week is the seventh single released by The Undertones. The song was written in December, 1979 by the band's rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter, John O' Neill, during a Christmas break the band had taken while recording their second album, Hypnotised...
("They Say That Everything's Alright") and The Muffs
The Muffs
The Muffs are a rock band based in Southern California, formed in 1991 and led by Kim Shattuck.-History:The Muffs' leader is singer-songwriter Kim Shattuck...
("Beat Your Heart Out").
Discography
Singles- "Wimp" b/w "Don't Push Me Around" - 1977 Bomp! RecordsBomp! RecordsBomp! Records is an Los Angeles-based indie label formed in 1974 by fanzine publisher and music historian Greg Shaw.-History:The label has featured punk, pop, powerpop, garage rock, new wave, old school rock, neo-psychedelia among other genres, and its roster has included artists such as The Modern...
- "Beat Your Heart Out" b/w "Wild Weekend" - 1978 Bomp!
- "Getting Nowhere Fast" b/w "They Say That (Everything's Alright)" - 1980 Test Tube RecordsTest Tube RecordsTest Tube Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. It was started by Chris Trent in 1978. One of the very first of the small indie labels to exclusively record and promote underground artists and punk rock music.- Releases :...
- "I Don't Wanna" b/w "Li'l Latin Lupe Lu" - Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
- "You, Me, Us" b/w "Talkin'" - 1998 Penniman
Albums
- "Don't Push Me Around" - 1980 Bomp!
- "Right Now!" - 1992 Bomp!
- "Knocking Me Dead" - 1994 Bomp!