Dave, Zack, Mitch
How the local band ‘Jesus Chrysler’ helped spawn the band ‘MrZERo’
“BUZZ: Newspaper Article” Jul- Aug 2013 (#29-jC)
> Riff One < I first met Bakko the Lead Singer & Guitar Player of 'JESUS CHRYSLER’ (They are a local band essentially from St. Paul), through my Co-Worker (Mr. Zero's) Crazy Rob sometime in spring 2010. Bakko & I hit it off, straight away both of us being huge KISS fans, I told him about a book I was involved with on KISS "Alive Forever" & he told me about the local band he was in. Bakko: "I was Born in Minneapolis, 1970, I mainly grew up in Owatanna, I founded the band in 1998 with our original drummer Shaggz, before JC, we were called 'Bloody Bedsheets' oddly enough my Mom thought “What was wrong with that name”. I play on all 5 of the CD's we have out so far. I've had at minimum at least a hand in writing every song. I like playing "Dashboard Jesus" and "Love Is A Lie". I don't really enjoy playing any particular cover. Duffy took over for Shaggz about 2004, Duffy had played with 'Treble’ in another band" "Jesus Chrysler" much like our childhood heroes KISS not only had out 4 CDs (at that time) "Ride" 2001 "Intake" 2001 "BurnOut" 2002, our mutual friend Glenn Bogan of the local band "Attica" produced the 1st 3 CDs for them, there is a music video for "Airbourne" released in 2006, followed by the CD "IV: Backfire" 2009 & finally "Make Bold Statements" 2012 to list them all, but the band also put out, trading cards, personalized guitar picks, coffee mugs, stickers, posters, matchbooks, buttons, t-shirts. etc. the only other local band I had seen do anything like this was "FLIP" who was even managed by former KISS manager Bill Aucoin, some years back. Brynn Arens (FLIP), is currently in "The ODDFATHERS" who recently worked with Eddie Kramer on their upcoming CD. > Given Away < Bakko invited me to his birthday party in Oct 2010, there I met the rest of the band, I 1st met the bass player ‘Knuckles’ me being of Polish decent he & I became fast friends. Knuckles: (Mirek Aleksandrowicz) "I was born in Katowice, Poland on 27 Sep 1972, biooootch!!! I joined the band by a drunken fluke & being co-workers with Bakko sometime about Sept-Oct '98. I played on; "Ride", "Intake" and the new one "Make Bold Statements". For the CDs I wrote; "Behind", "Given Away" & I collaborated on a number of other songs. My favorite original has to be "Route 666" & my favorite cover we did was Sex Pistols: "Holidays in the Sun" While socializing at the birthday party, I met the drummer 'Duffy' (Craig Duffy 14 Jan 1973 Mound, MN.) Duffy really didn't have a lot to say, but he sure know some very technical details about some songs we were about to perform that night. Bakko handed me a Tobacco Sunburst Gibson Les Paul and said "Here we're gonna jam in a few minutes, we're tuned to Eb, are there any songs you feel comfortable doing right away?" I responded with "Yea, 'Deuce' 'Cold Gin’ & 'Love Gun" I was then introduced to 'Treble' the lead guitarist of the band, I didn't quite know what to make of him at first, as he was walking around in a powder blue polyester leisure suit, & always seemed to be holding a beer in his left hand. Treble: (Marty Lang) “I was born in small town in Ontario, Canada in 1977. How I came to join the band, well, my band 'Distant Relatives of God' parted ways during the summer of 2003 for various reasons, but prior to that we had played a handful of shows with 'Jesus Chrysler'. During those shows Bakko and I talked a few times and exchanged phone numbers, at some point they needed a new lead guitar player and when Bakko heard that I was potentially available he called me up. I learned all of the songs off of their most current album at that time (Burn Out) before showing up to the audition, it was fun to show up and be able to say, "Yeah, let’s play any song you want, I know them all". I have played on 3 CDs so far "Backfire" the newest one "Make Bold Statements" & the unreleased "Deny it All Later". Bakko and I wrote almost everything for 'Make Bold Statements / Deny it All Later' together. My favorite original song to play right now is “Third Ring of Hell”, it's cool because Bakko and I both have cool vocal parts and rhythmic leads guitar parts. "War Pigs" is a fun song to cover; I really like the structure of the song, Black Sabbath rules. > Had To Be There < Well we all plugged in, with me on Rhythm Guitar & jammed away, I remember thinking "This lead guy is really good, I'd love to be in a band with this kind of player". We played for about 30- 45 minutes; it felt good, as I had not played with people in many years. My good friend Chris Watous of the Des Moines Band "Seven Hells" had been hounding me for years to join their band, in spring 2009 I had agreed to do the encore of a show in Baxter, Iowa, with ‘Seven Hells’ then again in July in Des Moines. I was so intrigued with the idea of playing again I asked to jam with 'Jesus Chrysler' again in Jan 2011. I had seen a video Bakko had done as a spoof of a sports celebrity & thought it was comic genius; I told him that I thought so. In Feb 2011 Bakko came to me with an idea & a script to do a video short for Mr. Zero's, he didn't give me any details, but I loved his last video, so I was in. The story is the owner of Mr. Zero's becomes the manager of the band only exploits them as free labor. As I had been involved with a local film "Attack of the Moon Zombies" (2011) a few months earlier, so I still had the acting bug so I was ready to do my part. The band (JC) recorded "Not Your Steppinstone" by The MONKEES for this video, as the Shop Mr. Zero's is named after a MONKEES TV episode (#52 "Devil & Peter Tork" Feb 1968). While filming this video I learned their long time bass player Knuckles was leaving the band, I quickly inquired about auditioning for the open position. I was informed "Naw, you're too old and you hair's too long" Christian Howard Shores: "I was born in Rochester Mn. & lived in Owatonna. That's where I graduated from high school and know Bakko from. We weren't very good friends only by friend association which is weird. I moved to Vegas when I was 21 and lived there for 13 years working mostly as a Chef at the Bellagio Hotel. I played in an original band & we recorded a CD, the band's name was "Haddenfield" (named in honor of the movie Halloween) we just changed spelling a little, it was the town that Michael terrorized. We played several gigs around Vegas... even opened up for Winger once. I got in touch with Bakko thru "fb" & he got invited to my surprise 40th Bday party after not seein’ him in 22years I joined the band in fall of 2011. I just played on a few songs on new CD, & redid some bass lines in my style. We are currently putting new material together for new CD, that I will play on whole thing and be a major contributor. My favorite new song is "Stankbutt", my favorite song on "Make Bold Statements" is "Oh Devil" ... the rest is history” > Get Up & Get Your Grandma Outta Here < So this is about the time I started thinking about putting my own band together. In Feb 2011 I met a country singer Colene Walters a "Patsy Cline" impersonator from Nashville, I began working with her until Sep 2011 when we parted ways. When in Sep 2011 'JESUS CHRYSLER' asked me to play Lead Guitar & Sing Lead & Backup on a promotional video they were working on for the song "Born To Raise Hell" a Motorhead cover. I had such a great time I wanted to do more. Then in Mar 2012 Bakko wrote & produced a Theme Song for "Mr. Zero's" which we used in our 3rd Anniversary Commercial later that spring. I met Mitch (Guitar & Keyboards) here at the Shop (Mr. Zero's 1744 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN. 55113) in 2009 soon after we 1st opened. Rakehell: (Mitch Anderson: 1966 Feb Minneapolis) "When I was 15 I was at a house party when I 1st heard "Iron Man" by BLACK SABBATH, it changed my life. I soon asked my Mom if I could take guitar lessons. As far as my influences, I would have to say it starts & ends with Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, although I must acknowledge Dave Mustaine when he was with 'Metallica' & (early) 'Megadeth', although I am not a big fan of his now, oh & Barry Thompson & Gavin Ward of 'Bolt Thrower' as far as my influences there was also 'Judas Priest' & 'Iron Maiden' my favorite cover songs; "Into The Void" by Black Sabbath, "The Conjuring" by Megadeth & "For Victory" by Bolt Thrower.” “The only other actual band that I've been in is one that I started in high school with a couple of friends, which had several incarnations over the years. We called ourselves 'The Psychotic Embryos' & the last time we played together was probably 1993. We were a 50/50 band that did half covers and half originals, we did write some pretty cool songs, some of which I still remember how to play!" Through Mitch, I met the Drummer & Vocalist Dave in early 2010, both from St.Paul, he was in a band at the time called ‘Party Army’. Nailer: (Dave Columbus: 5 Jan 1964 St. Paul, Mn.) "When I was about 6 or 7 my brother would let me play his drums, but I didn't get serious about it until I was 14 or 15 when I got my first drum set. The bands I listened to early on were 'YES', 'RUSH' & 'Kansas'. I can't really say I have 3 favorite songs, there are so many I could name from a wide variety of bands, but I’ll stay with the 3 groups that I listed. "Roundabout", "Spirit of Radio", and "Dust in the Wind". The bands that mean the most to me that I've played in are 'Spirits Of Adventure', & the first band I played in. I still once in awhile get together and jam with them. Another is 'Show Me Yours', which is the most talented band I played in, & of course ’Rock Brigade', which is one of the bands I currently play in." > Let The Winter Sunshine On < I then met the 2nd Guitarist & Backing Vocals; Zach of Brooklyn Center through his wife in mid 2010, once again here at the shop. Gunslinger: (Zachary Plese: 197x Minneapolis,MN. @ North Memorial) “I got my 1st guitar around age 14, but I didn't start seriously playing till I was 18, my best friend got me into it, he was murdered sometime later. My main influences were Edward Van Halen, Tom Scholz: Boston & Steve Perry: Journey. My favorite songs would be "Love Will Find A Way" YES, "Peace Of Mind" Boston & "Dance the Night Away" Van Halen, although for some time now I have been into Alan Holdsworth, seriously anything by Holdsworth, it's my dream to play like him.” Drummer Dave continued to ask me to sit in with him, after a year & half of hounding me, (I had realistically stopped playing in 1989) I agreed to jam with these guys, 1st Zach in 2011 then Mitch in 2012 and eventually all 4 of us in Jan 2013. At 1st I was the Lead Vocalist & Guitar Player, but when we realized Mitch & Zach were levels ahead of me, I agreed to go back to playing Bass which I played in 2 or 3 different bands in the mid to late 80s. > Don’t Let Your Mind Post Toastee < Dr. Rox (R. L. Schwinden: 29 May 196? Sioux City, Iowa home of Tommy Bolin) “I was interested in music at an early age, my Aunt Debby used to play Dave Clark 5 records for me & I used to watch the MONKEES TV show (to hear the music) my Dad was a sub-drummer for ‘The Trashmen' back in the day, he wanted me to play drums but I could not keep a beat, so my Uncle Jeff gave me a guitar at age 8. I got my 1st real guitar at 16, my friends Mike Langley & Brett Rodgers taught me how to play, I was in a few bands, 'Magic Acid Band' 'Palace Guard' 'Black Diamond' currently I use a 1968 Gibson EB-O (modified) & a 1972 SG Deluxe (refinished). My main influences: The MONKEES, Black Sabbath, KISS & Tommy Bolin.” It was Drummer Dave's suggestion to call the band "MrZERo" since this is where the band came together. My friend Peggy Sorrell & I created the Band's Logo/CD Cover, she started in 2011 and I finalized in 2013. My friend Lily graces the poster art we use. We're currently performing covers: KISS, Black Sabbath, RATT, Twisted Sister, Van Halen, Cheap Trick, Night Ranger, David Bowie & Three Doors Down. In spring 2013 "MrZERo" approached "JESUS CHRYSLER" about performing on a double bill as they have just released their 4th CD "Make Bold Statements" however it was Treble of: JC who secured MrZERo to play with "JESUS CHRYSLER" @ The Red Sea in Jun 2013. And so now you know … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6igSCQYGH8 By: Dr. Rox (RLSchwinden) c/o Mr. Zero’s: Pop Culture Heaven 1744 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN. 55113 www.MrZeros.Com *Est. 2009
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