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Naked Raygun

From Alfawiki
Naked Raygun
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1980
FounderSantiago Durango, Marko Pezzati
Defunct1992 (first period)
FateReunited in 1997 and 2006, active since 2006
Headquarters
Chicago
,
United States
ProductsPunk rock music, albums, singles, EPs
Number of employees
4 (current lineup)

Naked Raygun is a punk rock group originating from Chicago in 1980. The band operated continuously from 1980 until 1992, reunited briefly in 1997, and has been active again since 2006.

The band's sound draws inspiration from influential acts such as Buzzcocks, Wire, The Stranglers, The Damned, The Ruts, Killing Joke, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Jam, and The Clash. Their objective was to forge a distinctive musical style influenced by these groups without directly copying them.

Early Years

Naked Raygun was established in 1980 by Santiago Durango and Marko Pezzati, with vocalist Jeff Pezzati joining shortly after; Pezzati remained the only consistent member amid various lineup changes. The roster also featured drummers Bobby Strange, Jim Colao, and Eric Spicer; bassists including Marko Pezzati, Pierre Kezdy, Camilo Gonzalez, Pete Mittler, and Fritz Doreza; guitarists such as Santiago Durango, John Haggerty, and Bill Stephens; along with keyboardist John Lundin.

Both Durango and Jeff Pezzati were involved with the band Big Black during this period.

After Naked Raygun

In 1989, guitarist John Haggerty departed to create Pegboy alongside his brother Joe—formerly of Bloodsport and The Effigies—and Steve Saylors and Larry Damore from the Bhopal Stiffs; Pierre Kezdy later replaced Saylors.

Jeff Pezzati fronts another project called The Bomb, which is unrelated to the San Francisco-based group named "Bomb."

Reunions

A pair of reunion concerts in 1997 resulted in the live album Free Shit!. In 1999, an independent label, Quarterstick Records, re-released Naked Raygun’s previous albums on CD.

In 2006, the band regrouped for Chicago’s Riot Fest, declaring their return permanent. This lineup featured Pezzati, Stephens, Kezdy, and Spicer. By 2009, they entered the studio to record several 7-inch singles for Riot Fest Records and announced plans for a new LP—their first since 1990’s Raygun... Naked Raygun.

In 2011, Pete Mittler from The Methadones stepped in on bass while Pierre Kezdy recovered from a stroke.

During August 2014, Naked Raygun supported Bad Religion, The Offspring, and Stiff Little Fingers on the Summer Nationals tour. The following year in August 2015, they opened for the Foo Fighters at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

Although an album was anticipated in 2016, no new recordings appeared until the release of Over The Overlords in 2021.

Pierre Kezdy passed away from cancer on October 9, 2020.

Musical style

According to Mark Deming of AllMusic, Naked Raygun’s music combines "anthemic melodies, aggressive guitar work, sing-along choruses, dynamic rhythms, and lyrics addressing both personal and political themes," effectively bridging hardcore punk with melodic punk elements.

Legacy and influence

Naked Raygun has left a significant impact on notable bands such as Blink-182, Rise Against, Fall Out Boy, and musician Dave Grohl of both Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. Grohl attended his first concert at a Naked Raygun show in Chicago and described the experience as transformative. Additionally, Matt Skiba of Blink-182 pays tribute to Naked Raygun in the track “Parking Lot” from their album California.

Current lineup

  • Jeff Pezzati – lead vocals (1980–1992, 2006–present)
  • Bill Stephens – guitar (1989–1992, 2006–present)
  • Eric Spicer – drums (1984–1992, 2006–present)
  • Fritz Doreza – bass guitar (2013–present)

Past members

  • Santiago Durango – guitar (1980–1983)
  • Marko Pezzati – bass (1980–1981)
  • Bobby Strange – drums (1980)
  • Jim Colao – drums (1980–1984)
  • John Lundin – keyboards (1980–1981)
  • Camilo Gonzalez – bass (1981–1985)
  • John Haggerty – guitar (1983–1989)
  • Sensitive Pete Mittler – bass (2011–2013)
  • Pierre Kezdy – bass (1985–1992, 2006–2010; deceased 2020)

Studio albums

  • Throb Throb LP released by Homestead Records (1985), reissued on CD by Quarterstick Records (1999), and on vinyl by Haunted Town Records (2008)
  • All Rise LP initially issued through Homestead (1986), later available on CD via Quarterstick (1999), and vinyl by Haunted Town (2008)
  • Jettison LP from Caroline Records (1988), with a CD edition from Quarterstick Records (1999)
  • Understand? LP issued by Caroline Records (1989) and re-released on CD by Quarterstick (1999)
  • Raygun...Naked Raygun LP originally released by Caroline Records (1990), CD version by Quarterstick Records (1999)
  • Last of the Demohicans CD issued by Dyslexic Records (1997)
  • Free Shit available as LP/CD through Haunted Town Records (2001) – live recording
  • Over the Overlords LP released on Wax Trax! Records (2021)

Extended plays

  • Basement Screams 12-inch EP originally on Ruthless Records (1983), reissued on CD by Quarterstick Records (1999), and as vinyl by Haunted Town Records (2007)
  • Treason 12-inch EP from Caroline Records (1989) – limited edition pink vinyl, 2,500 numbered copies

Singles

  • Flammable Solid 7-inch single via Ruthless Records (1983) featuring "Surf Combat" and "Gear"/"Libido"
  • Vanilla Blue 7-inch single released by Sandpounder Records (1987) on white/light blue marbled vinyl
  • Home 7-inch single from Caroline Records (1990) pressed on green vinyl
  • Series 1 7-inch single issued by Riot Fest Records (2009) in red and cream vinyl variants
  • Series 2 7-inch single also from Riot Fest Records (2010) on violet and black vinyl
  • Series 3 7-inch single released by Riot Fest Records (2011) pressed on clear orange vinyl

Compilation albums

  • Huge Bigness-Selected Tracks From Collected Works 1980-1992 issued by Quarterstick Records (1999)
  • What Poor Gods We Do Make: The Story And Music Behind Naked Raygun released through Riot Fest Records (2007)
  • Totally...Naked Raygun a five-CD set from Audio Platter (2021)

Appearances on compilations

  • Busted At Oz compilation released by Autum/Permanent in 1981 and reissued in 2011
  • Bang Zoom Issue #4 cassette via Bang Zoom Records (1984)
  • Code Blue cassette from Last Rites label (1984)
  • Included in The Middle Of America Compilation by H.I.D. Productions (1984)
  • Featured on Flipside Vinyl Fanzine #2 compilation from Flipside Records (1985)
  • Participation in Gunfire & Pianos, a Situation Two/ZigZag Magazine release (1986)
  • Appeared on the compilation Paranoia You Can Dance To issued by Weird System Records (1986)
  • Included in the influential Sub Pop 100 compilation from Sub Pop label (1986)
  • Contributions to several volumes of Rat Music For Rat People, Volumes I-III, released by CD Presents in 1987
  • Featured on an untitled 7-inch EP from Discopêö label (1987)
  • Part of the Homestead Records collection titled The Wailing Ultimate compiled in 1987
  • Included in the compilation Sounds And Shigaku Limited Present: Beautiful Happiness issued by Sounds And Shigaku Limited in 1988
  • Appeared on the cassette release Live Treatment, produced by Shotgunning Tape SXXXXX Inc./Discraceland in 1989
  • Covered Buzzcocks tracks for the compilation album Somethings's Gone Wrong Again, released by C/Z Records in 1992
  • Featured on Flipside Vinyl Fanzine best-of double CD compilation from Flipside Records in 1993
  • Included in the hardcore punk collection titled Faster & Louder-Hardcore Punk, Vol. 2, issued by Rhino Records in 1993
  • Various other compilation appearances up to 2020, including releases from Haunted Town sampler series and contributions to film soundtracks

Video

  • "Broken Things"
  • "Home"
  • "Living in The Good Times"
  • "Vanilla Blue"
  • "What Poor Gods We Do Make" DVD (Riot Fest) (2007) [packaged with CD]

See also

External links

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