Zoetrope (band)

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" [ [http://www.nolifetilmetal.com/zoetrope.htm No Life 'til Metal - CD Gallery - Zoetrope ] ] . 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 [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 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) [ [http://punk.dee-nee.com/wiki/Zoetrope Zoetrope - ChicagoPunk ] ] . 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 [Kevin Michael's liner notes to "A Life of Crime" reissue] . 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 [Kevin Michael's liner notes to "A Life of Crime" reissue] . 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, 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 passed away on April 1, 2005, from complications after hip-replacement surgery [ [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=34935 BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Former TROUBLE/ZOETROPE Drummer BARRY STERN Passes Away ] ] . 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.

Members

*Kevin Michael - Guitar (1976-1993)
*Ken Black - Guitar (1976-1987)
*Barry Stern - Drums/Vocals (1976-1988)
*Calvin "Willis" Humphrey (1976-1990)
*Louis Svitek - 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 Records, reissued on CD with the "Metal Log" demos as bonus tracks by Century Media in Europe in 1999)
*"A Life of Crime" LP (1987, Combat Records, reissued on CD with liner notes by Kevin Michael on Century Media in Europe in 1998)
*"Mind Over Splatter" LP/CD (1993, Grind Core Records/Red Light)

References

Links

* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1831 Zoetrope @ the Metal Archives]
* [http://www.librariusmetallicus.com/Band/view/2059 Zoetrope @ the Librarius Metallicus]
* [http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,10238.sm Zoetrope @ Rockdetector]