Rozz Rezabek Explained

Rozz Rezabek
Birth Date:4 June 1960
Alias:Rozz Rezabek-Wright
Background:solo_singer
Instrument:Vocals
Occupation:Musician
Years Active:1977–present
Label:Truce, Tombstone Records, Imadethese Records

Rozz Rezabek-Wright (born June 4, 1960), usually Rozz Rezabek, is an American musician based in Portland, Oregon, formerly of San Francisco.

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-inch 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] [5]

Rezabek's first solo release, the Stockholm Today 7-inch EP, was released in 1986 by Truce. A 7-inch 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".[11]

In 1999, Rezabek released his first solo studio album, Lover Legend Liar.[12]

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.[13]

Theatre of Sheep reunited for Portland shows at Slabtown in 2007.[1] and the closing of Satyricon in 2010.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Last Pogo: Portland's old New-Wave champions Theatre of Sheep tend the flock.. Wweek.com. 20 September 2020.
  2. [The Nose (magazine)|Boulware, Jack]
  3. Web site: Negative Trend | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos. Myspace.com. 20 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Negative trend . 2007-03-01 . 2007-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013449/http://www.localsonline.com/negativetrend/Ntstory.html . dead .
  5. Web site: "Courtney's Love" by Gary Aker. Xmag.com. 20 September 2020.
  6. Web site: Band Logos - Brand Upon The Brain: Negative Trend: Logo #1. David. Cotner. Pictograms.blogspot.com. 11 July 2007. 20 September 2020.
  7. Web site: Two Louies Magazine: History of Portland Rock: The Early 80's. Twolouiesmagazine.com. 20 September 2020.
  8. Web site: Rozzrezabek Resources and Information. Rozzrezabek.com. 20 September 2020.
  9. http://localcut.wweek.com/2007/12/19/the-last-pogo-portlands-old-new-wave-champions-theatre-of-sheep-tend-the-flock/ Willamette Week: The Last Pogo: Portland's Old New Wave Champions Theatre of Sheep
  10. Courtney Love: Queen of Noise. Melissa Rossi. Simon & Schuster Pocket Books 1996. p 64-65
  11. Web site: "Kurt and Courtney" (1998) at Soundtrack Incomplete . 2009-07-14 . 2008-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080721150318/http://restless.rimspace.net/soundtrack/kkk/kurt_and_courtney.htm . dead .
  12. Web site: Willamette Week | 25th Anniversary Issue | 1984 . 2005-06-15 . 2005-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050324033802/http://www.wweek.com/html/25-1984.html . dead .
  13. Web site: Ginger's Gossip. Punkglobe.com. 20 September 2020.
  14. portlandtribune.com, Sep 29, 2010