Rozz Rezabek
Rozz Rezabek-Wright (born June 4, 1960), usually Rozz Rezabek, is an American musician based in Portland, Oregon, formerly of San Francisco, California.
Rozz Rezabek | |
---|---|
Also known as | Rozz Rezabek-Wright |
Born | June 4, 1960 |
Genres | Post-punk, new wave |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1977–present |
Labels | Truce, Tombstone Records, Imadethese Records |
Associated acts | Negative Trend, Theatre of Sheep |
According to Willamette Week, Rezabek "gave ex-flame Courtney Love (once Courtney Harrison) her rocker name; he thrashed backstage with Johnny Rotten at the Sex Pistols' final show, took a teenage Joan Jett to Deep Throat, and shall be remembered in punk histories (his own forthcoming) ever after".[1]
History
Negative Trend
In 1977, Rezabek formed punk San Francisco-based band Negative Trend with guitarist Craig Gray (later of Toiling Midgets) and bassist Will Shatter (later of Flipper).[2][3][4][5][6] He left the band in March 1978, prior to their released recordings.
Theatre of Sheep
In 1980, Rezabek formed Portland new wave band Theatre of Sheep, who were popular locally but never made the jump to a wider audience.[7][8][9] Their 1983 cassette-only release, A Cathartic Aquacade, was produced and engineered by Greg Sage, leader of Portland punk band the Wipers. Theatre of Sheep's debut 12" extended play, A Quiet Crusade, was released on their own Sheepish label in 1983, followed by a cassette-only collection, Theatre of Sheep's Greatest Hits. The band broke up in 1984. Theatre of Sheep were later documented with the 2006 compilation album Old Flames.
Solo work
In an attempt to escape ongoing conflicts with several women (one being Love), Rezabek moved back to San Francisco for several years.[10][11]
Rezabek's first solo release, the Stockholm Today 7" EP, was released in 1986 by Truce. A 7" single, "Blue Blessing", followed in 1988, issued on Tombstone Records.
He appeared in the 1998 documentary film Kurt & Courtney, which also featured the Theatre of Sheep song "Pyramid's Babylon".[12]
In 1999, Rezabek released his first solo studio album, Lover Legend Liar.[13]
Reunions
On November 3, 2007, Rezabek performed a set of Negative Trend songs in San Francisco at a Lennon Studios benefit for punk musician Johnny Genocide of No Alternative.[14]
Theatre of Sheep reunited for Portland shows at Slabtown in 2007.[1] and the closing of Satyricon in 2010.[15]
References
- http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-22760-the-last-pogo-portlands-old-new-wave-champions-theatre-of-sheep-tend-the-flock.html
- Boulware, Jack; Tudor, Silke (2009). Gimme Something Better: The Profound, Progressive, and Occasionally Pointless History of Bay Area Punk from Dead Kennedys to Green Day. Penguin Books. ISBN 9781101145005.
- Negative Trend on MySpace
- Locals Online: Rozz and Negative Trend
- “Courtney's Love” by Gary Aker
- Negative Trend Logo Design
- Two Louies Magazine: History of Portland Rock: The Early 80's
- rozzrezabek.com: Theatre of Sheep for Dummies
- Willamette Week: The Last Pogo: Portland's Old New Wave Champions Theatre of Sheep
- Courtney Love: Queen of Noise. Melissa Rossi. Simon & Schuster Pocket Books 1996. p 64-65
- "Courtney's Love" by Gary Aker, Exotic Magazine, May 1998.
- Soundtrack Incomplete: Kurt & Courtney
- http://www.wweek.com/html/25-1984.html
- http://www.punkglobe.com/gossip.html
- portlandtribune.com, Sep 29, 2010