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Help me Identify This Glam Rock/New Wave? Band From The 70s/80s

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I bought this large glossy photo at a garage sale this weekend. The previous owner had no idea who it is. But I know someone here on Tiki Central does. Help me out!

Sabu


[ Edited by: Sabu The Coconut Boy on 2005-06-15 18:34 ]

I

That is what you get when you cross Shields and Yarnell, Bea Arthur, and a Star Trek re-run.
(My pop culture references are helplessly out of date)

Vern

Yeah Vern, I thought the guy in the front looked like a Romulan too. If I can't find out the name of the band, I can always photoshop in blue skin, antennae, and sell it on Ebay as a rare Star Trek concept photo.

Sabu

'bugaloos gone badd'

Looks like 1970's Glam Rock to me. Same eyebrows & hair as Star Treks' Romulans. Wasn't there a glam band called Vulcan??? or it could be Sweet in their sunday best...

-Z

PJ .... yeah that's them ... note the same double swoosh on the left guy's costume, it matches the guy on the right in this image:

excellent find.

[ Edited by: hanford_lemoore on 2005-06-15 22:45 ]

Well, Humu informs me I have a reputation to maintain... :)

Good god, how did you find them?

I wonder if we could track them down and get them to reunite for us. Just picture it...

I'd love to say I had this little kernel of esoteric knowledge filed away in my head, but actually I did a search for "glam rock alien" and these guys came up.

Go here for an mp3 sample:
http://music.download.com/zolarx/3600-8660_32-100634183.html

[ Edited by: purple jade on 2005-06-15 22:56 ]

Here's their official page of their reissue, with a few MP3s:

http://www.alternativetentacles.com/product.php?product=804

Yikes!

On the Alternative Tentacles/ Dead Kennedys' label no less.

Apparently we just missed an interview:

06/15/2005 KZSU 90.1 FM Stanford, CA
Ygarr from Zolar X will be interviewed on KZSU at 10:30pm. You can listen over the Internet at http://kzsulive.stanford.edu/ or on iTunes under the "eclectic" category.

Do I get a prize?
(and I already have enough lampreys, thankyousomuch...)

PJ knew the alien freaks?

oh gee, I am so very shocked and suprized

:roll:

-Z

This 909th post sponsored (appropriately) by Roland:

[ Edited by: Feelin' Zombified on 2005-06-16 06:14 ]

OK, which intrepid Bay Area TCer(s) will go to the reunion gig on Saturday?

Saturday, June 18, The Blank Club, 44 South Almaden Ave, Downtown San Jose.

KFJC 89.7 FM Presents: L.A.'s Early 70's Glitter RocketRollers
ZOLAR-X!
In Their FIRST Gig in 26 Years!!!

plus: TAURUS & MASTER MOTH

Doors open at 9PM, tickets are $8 at the door.

An interesting piece of trivia: Ve Neill, singer Zory Zenith's ex-girlfriend who designed the bands makeup, won Oscars for her makeup work on Beetlejuice, Mrs. Doubtfire & Ed Wood, and she was nominated (but didn't win) for Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, Hoffa & Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which gives us a Pirate connection and tenuous (almost) tiki link to the band.

FZ, I told you a hundred times if you didn't send someone to pick up your Ricky Martin fan club starter kit and numerous boxes of Menudo memorabilia, I was going to burn them, so you only have yourself to blame.

T

On 2005-06-15 22:51, purple jade wrote:
I'd love to say I had this little kernel of esoteric knowledge filed away in my head, but actually I did a search for "glam rock alien" and these guys came up.

I am taking post 1000 to say "Great Job PJ", your sluethin' skills are unmatched. I'm sure the "glam rock alien" search had to yield millions of hits. I mean in Glam Rock weren't they all either Aliens or in Drag? A drink on me @ Exotica. :)

Well, Turbogod, it was the very first hit...but thank you for your support!

Are these guys included in the Spacerock compilation, Dr.FF?

On 2005-06-16 08:39, purple jade wrote:
Are these guys included in the Spacerock compilation, Dr.FF?

Sorry, PJ, this is the first I've heard of'em. I moved out to LA 4 years after they disintegrated, and that's at least a generation in the life cycle of the Sunset Strip.

The Utopia Device, the Space Rock Box, is coming up on 5 disks long now: 2 of Old School Space Rock, 1 of newer Psych/Drone style Space Rock, 1 of Classic Rock & Pop bands doing Space Rock, & 1 of Kosmische/Krautrock mixed with a little Space Jazz & Space Classical. This is probably going to be the final count, I keep finding cool stuff, but I can't justify making the comp much bigger. Also, if I keep making it bigger, I'll never finish.

Wow, what a find. Thanks to everyone for all the MP3 links. They sound like a poppier version of Ziggy Stardust-era glam. And they look like a band that should have played in the background of a club scene in that 70s Buck Rogers tv series.

The song title, "I Pulled My Helmet Off (I'm Going To Love Her)" has to be one of the greatest song titles ever.

DZ

Wow! When Sabu pulled this picture out of a stack of 80's era southwestern-style pastel artwork and assorted silkscreened prints of fish that some older gal was selling, he asked if I knew who it was. My guess was "Slade", but obviously I was way off. (Well, actually not too far off, but still...) I think he picked it up for a quarter and said (yes, he actually said this) "I'll bet someone on TikiCentral will know."

I actually don't know what is more surprising: the fact that this woman had this picture in the first place (I mean it was seriously out of oplace and out of context - it was much more of a 'faux country style' garage sale, with fabric pieces, used candles, lots of clothes and some other random things 'country-esque' items) or that within a few days this band has gone from being completely unknown to having folks planning on going to their reunion show!

Amazing!

Seems to be a case of some sort of cosmic entrainment. Sabu pulls a forgotten picture of a forgotten band out of an out of place stack of unrelated junk... just at the time that this forgotten band is staging a comeback? It would seem that their time may have come at last.

T

I'll have to miss the San Jose show (I'll be in Portland) but they're playing in San Francisco on July 8th. at Great American Music Hall and I wouldn't miss it! Thanks Sabu and Purple Jade!

Zorch! (martin for zazz)

On 2005-06-16 12:00, Doctor Z wrote:
or that within a few days this band has gone from being completely unknown to having folks planning on going to their reunion show!
Amazing!

No dought.
Is this like some Omen thread or something?
Maybe I should go to the July 8th concert.
They may have the answer to the meaning of life that we are searching for (Other that the Bong version).
If not, at least I'll get a beer out of it.

T

I think their web site is getting more hits than ever thanks to us! I keep getting this error when looking at the web site: "The web site you are trying to access has exceeded its allocated data transfer."

What a great lookin bunch of guys. I better get ahold of them soon cause I think they could use some of my "Authentic Hawiian Tiki Kneepads". Me, Son of a Beach, and Darth Vader Tiki will show up in force at their reunion show..I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
KneePads

Wait a minnit...
It's all starting to make sense...
Is that a swoggling sensation I feel in the horn area?

Sabu has obviously taken a job promoting this reunion concert (it's probably his second cousin's band) and has set up this treasure hunt as an elaborate publicity stunt to drum up interest in the show within the ranks of TC!

Oh Sabu...

Not So!

Honestly, this is better than I could have ever hoped for. Zolar X for crissakes!

When I found the photo I thought, "this is probably some fairly well-known rock band that I've just never heard about because I listened to John Denver during my formative years. But Freakin' Zolar X???!!! I'm pleasantly dumbfounded. Talk about obscure. I half-new that Purple Jade would be the first to uncover the mystery.

You guys are right - the synchronicity of it all is great. Doctor Z - shall we make it a road-trip and see the concert with Jab? I wouldn't mind getting my photo signed now. Suddenly, I feel the need to cherish it.

On the other hand, vintage Zolar X stuff seems to be going through the roof on eBay. Original vinyl lps for over $200 !? Maybe I should sell it. You folks have practically written my auction for me.

For the moment, I'm happy just listening to the tracks I've downloaded. Thanks for all the help tracking this band down. This throwaway post has become one of my favorites now.

PJ - another I.O.U. I hope you don't call them all in at once.

Sabu

T

On 2005-06-16 15:28, Sabu The Coconut Boy wrote: Doctor Z - shall we make it a road-trip and see the concert with Jab? I wouldn't mind getting my photo signed now. Suddenly, I feel the need to cherish it.

Yes! Grab your ray-gun and rock out! I know the opening band Nagg is great too.

Your weekend will be action packed because the amazing bluesman Jimmy McCracklin is playing at my favorite dive bar the Ivy Room on Saturday night.

I think this may be the 7th Sign. The end of the world is near!

I think this may be the 7th Sign. The end of the world is near!

M

On 2005-06-16 13:21, thejab wrote:

Zorch! (martin for zazz)

Actually, I just use Zazz normally.

Mr. Pineapple has been humming jet star 19 for the last few days, I think they look like the aliens who come to earth looking for help in Galaxy Quest.

hmhm hmhm jet star 19, lalalala....

dammit!

This morning mr. pineapple pulled his helmet off and loved me... what does this MEAN????

Seriously, he wants to put that song on my 'birthing mix' please help me stop the madness!

On 2005-06-17 10:12, mrs. pineapple wrote:
This morning mr. pineapple pulled his helmet off and loved me... what does this MEAN????

He's been on the viagra?
Perhaps 'pulling off your helmet' means something else in the US......

Trader Woody

DZ

On 2005-06-16 15:44, thejab wrote:

On 2005-06-16 15:28, Sabu The Coconut Boy wrote: Doctor Z - shall we make it a road-trip and see the concert with Jab? I wouldn't mind getting my photo signed now. Suddenly, I feel the need to cherish it.

Yes! Grab your ray-gun and rock out! I know the opening band Nagg is great too.

Your weekend will be action packed because the amazing bluesman Jimmy McCracklin is playing at my favorite dive bar the Ivy Room on Saturday night.

'bu-- iff'n you're talking about the July 8th show, count me in! That would be a heck of a road trip! Lets do it!

Anyone else wanna join the Zolar X Interstellar Caravan?

My first reaction on seeing Sabu's initial post was that this was Kaptain Kool and the Kongs. But they were never really outer-spacey.

Zolar-X?

Well, since their original singer has eight more years to go on his ten-year battery sentence, maybe they can get Kaptain Kool to front Zolar-X on the tour?

Although it would be a shame to leave Nashville, Turkey, and Flatbush at home...

On 2005-06-17 20:59, Formikahini wrote:
I'm waiting for the WWZXD t-shirt now

(Cr*p - I changed my signature just for this post, but now I can't get it to add to any new posts. Instead, it's changed on every old post, where the joke makes NO sense!)
OK, I can get my signatute to show up if I quote someone, so I'll quote myself!

If you own a copy of the book "L.A. Musical History Tour", A Guide To The Rock and Roll Landmarks of Los Angeles by Art Fein

http://www.sofein.com

You will find Zolar X mentioned under the Starwood entry. They got into the club free because they painted themselves silver and wore space suits

[ Edited by: KING BUSHWICH THE 33rd on 2005-06-20 11:58 ]

[ Edited by: KING BUSHWICH THE 33rd on 2005-06-20 14:56 ]

I'm having no luck tracking down ANYTHING on Zory Zenith's later rockabilly personna, Billy Bo Day.

Jab? Pea? Anything?

They got into the club free because they painted themselves silver and wore space suits

Oh my stars, Mr. Pineapple went by the GAMH this weekend to get his ticket (sadly, because of my pregnant state, I'll be unable to attend, awwwwww....) And when he came back to the car, I asked him if he thought the show would sell out, and he said 'definitely' and then I asked if he was planning on wearing his space suit, and he said 'definitely'. Can anyone who's going, make sure he doesn't get beat up in the Tenderloin after show :)

thanks-
Mrs. Pineapple

T

Contrary to Mrs. P's assertion, I do not currently own a space suit and have not owned one since 1978.

T

On 2005-06-20 12:09, purple jade wrote:
I'm having no luck tracking down ANYTHING on Zory Zenith's later rockabilly personna, Billy Bo Day.

Jab? Pea? Anything?

Nothing turned up here either.

On 2005-06-20 13:54, Tiki-bot wrote:
Contrary to Mrs. P's assertion, I do not currently own a space suit and have not owned one since 1978.

he's making one in the garage out of tin foil...

T

I just bought my ticket for July 8th. in San Francisco. Buy your tickets at Virtuous.com - they only charge $1 service charge.

http://virtuous.com/events/v/181536628/2005-07-08.html

Great American Music Hall is a great place to see the band. It's a beautiful old theatre with good acoustics and it's locally owned (unlike the Fillmore and others that are owned by Clear Channel). And it's only 4 blocks from Trader Vic's!

T

I just heard Zolar-X are playing at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood on Saturday, July 23rd.

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