Nazz
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Founder | Todd Rundgren, Carson Van Osten |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Nazz was a rock ensemble originating from Philadelphia in 1967, founded by guitarist and principal songwriter Todd Rundgren alongside bassist Carson Van Osten. Soon after, drummer Thom Mooney and vocalist/keyboardist Robert "Stewkey" Antoni became members. The band gained recognition primarily for their debut track "Open My Eyes" as well as the popular single "Hello It's Me".
During the period from 1968 to 1969, Nazz issued two albums: Nazz and Nazz Nazz. Following their breakup in 1969, previously unreleased recordings were compiled and released under the title Nazz III. Rundgren later reinterpreted "Hello It's Me" as a solo artist, achieving a peak position of number 5 on U.S. charts.
Name and formation
Established in Philadelphia in 1967,[1] vocalist and keyboardist Robert Antoni, known professionally as Stewkey, joined founding members Rundgren and Van Osten.[2]
Their name was inspired by the 1966 track "The Nazz Are Blue" by The Yardbirds.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Although a 1952 comedic monologue titled "The Nazz" by Lord Buckley exists,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Rundgren confirmed that the band had no knowledge of this work.[2]
Officially styled as "Nazz" on their records and promotional materials without the definite article, the group occasionally referred to themselves as "the Nazz." Rundgren explained that this naming choice was intended to maintain simplicity amid the era’s common usage of "the Something" for band names.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name In their song "Loosen Up," they identify as "the Nazz, from Philadelphia,"Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name though in a 2019 interview both Mooney and Antoni confirmed that "Nazz" is the proper name.[3]
Managed by Jack Warfield and Jerry Bartoff—owners of a Philadelphia record store where the band initially rehearsed—Nazz secured their first significant live appearance opening for the Doors on June 18, 1967.[3][2]
At the same time, another group named Nazz emerged in Phoenix, Arizona. That band released a single before moving to Los Angeles and changing their name to Alice Cooper.[4]
Nazz
The band attracted the attention of manager and publicist John Kurland at a Holiday Inn bar, who negotiated to manage them and acquire their contract. Kurland, together with his assistant Michael Friedman, promoted Nazz alongside popular acts like the Monkees in youth-oriented magazines; however, Nazz’s musical style leaned more toward heavier rock influences such as The Who and Cream. This disparity may have caused some confusion among listeners.
While band members often suggested that Kurland restricted their live performances, drummer Thom Mooney later clarified that although touring was quite active, their underage status prevented them from playing in bars, which limited booking options.
They signed with SGC Records and released their first album, Nazz, in October 1968. The group deliberately avoided issuing it through Colgems Records to distance themselves from the Monkees’ pop image.
Nazz Nazz and Nazz III
An attempt to record in England in January 1969 was interrupted by the Musicians' Union due to permit complications. Before returning stateside, the band refreshed their look with new clothing. Their second album was recorded in Los Angeles across late 1968 and early 1969, initially carrying the working title "Fungo Bat."
Rising internal conflicts resulted in bassist Van Osten departing after tracking sessions were completed; Rundgren left shortly thereafter. At the request of Stewkey and Mooney, what was originally intended as a double album was condensed into a single LP titled Nazz Nazz, released in May 1969. A significant portion of Rundgren’s piano-centric compositions influenced by Laura Nyro were omitted, signaling a shift away from the band's initial rock sound.
Following this, Nazz briefly continued as a duo supported by additional musicians before dissolving entirely. Rundgren later reflected on the band’s brief yet intense existence, noting his growing role as songwriter and producer eventually eclipsed the group dynamic.
Posthumously released in May 1971, Nazz III consists mainly of tracks left off Nazz Nazz.
Solo endeavors and enduring impact
Todd Rundgren found acclaim both as an individual performer and as a member of the group Utopia. His most notable solo success was the lively track "Hello It's Me," featured on his 1972 album Something/Anything?, which climbed to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1973.
Carson Van Osten stepped away from the music industry, dedicating many years to creating comic books and other media for The Walt Disney Company.
Stewkey and Thom Mooney briefly came together again to perform with Fuse, alternating between the names Fuse and Nazz depending on the venue. After Mooney left, Fuse transformed into "Sick Man of Europe" and eventually, without Stewkey, became known as Cheap Trick.
The Nazz played a significant role in shaping the nascent power pop movement by merging catchy pop melodies with a more forceful sound. Their track "Open My Eyes" gained broader attention through its inclusion on the seminal 1972 compilation Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968. All three of their studio albums were reissued by Rhino Records in 1983 and subsequently released on CD with additional bonus material. In 2009, Spectra Records issued three Nazz-related albums: Nazz vs. Toddzila, 13th and Pine (a collection), and Hello It's Crazy Me.
In 2011, the Bangles offered their rendition of "Open My Eyes" on their album Sweetheart of the Sun. The following year, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard contributed a cover for the compilation Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations Of The First Psychedelic Era.
Appearances in popular media
- The songs "Open My Eyes" and "Wildwood Blues" by the Nazz are featured on the soundtrack of The Mad Room, a horror movie from 1969 directed by Bernard Girard.
Band members
- Todd Rundgren – guitar, lead and backing vocals, keyboards
- Carson Van Osten – bass guitar, backing vocals (deceased December 22, 2015)
- Stewkey – lead and backing vocals, keyboards (deceased October 9, 2023)
- Thom Mooney – drums, occasional backing vocals, percussion
Studio albums
| Year | Details |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Nazz
|
| 1969 | Nazz Nazz
|
| 1971 | Nazz III
|
Compilation albums
| Year | Details |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Best of Nazz
|
| 1998 | Thirteenth and Pine
|
| 2002 | Open Our Eyes: The Anthology
|
| 2006 | Nazz Nazz – Including Nazz III – The Fungo Bat Sessions
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart rankings | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | CA RPM Charts | |||
| 1968 | "Open My Eyes" | 112 | – | Nazz |
| 1969 | "Hello It's Me" | 66 | 41 | |
| "Not Wrong Long" | – | 90 | Nazz Nazz | |
| "Some People" | – | – | Nazz III | |
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedStewMoonInt - ↑ [/ The Nazz] Alice Cooper - The Singles Website. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- Pages with reference errors
- Articles with short description
- American power pop bands
- Garage rock bands from Pennsylvania
- American psychedelic rock bands
- Musical acts formed in 1967
- Musical acts disbanded in 1970
- Artists signed to Atlantic Records
- Todd Rundgren
- 1967 formations in Pennsylvania
- Rock bands originating from Philadelphia
- Musical groups disestablished in 1970