The Effigies
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The Effigies are considered one of the most important[1] early punk rock groups in Chicago in the 1980s. The band, first formed in 1980, was active for approximately a decade, undergoing multiple personnel changes, with frontman John Kezdy the only constant, before disbanding in 1990 [2]. The band released 5 LPs and several EPs, most on Ruthless Records and distributed by Enigma. They toured outside of Chicago, notably including a live performance at CBGB in 1983 [3], and received some radio airplay, principally on Northwestern University's WNUR and other college stations.
The Effigies' website states that they were one of the first punk bands in Chicago[4]. This is a complicated claim for a band not formed until 1980, but true in the sense that the Chicago market was very late to discover or appreciate punk to any degree; in the half-decade after the The Ramones and The Sex Pistols first released records, Chicago remained dominated by blues, heavy metal, and even disco; punk bands had few places to play, and punk music fans had few places to hear live bands. Chicago's "progressive" radio station, WXRT, was never very supportive of punk. What most punk fans recall as the first "scene" in Chicago did not occur until the 1980s, when Oz and O'Banion's provided venues for live punk; Chicago Sun-Times music writer Jim Derogatis "correctly" terms the heyday of The Effigies "the second generation of Midwestern punks [5]."
The Effigies are generally considered hardcore or post-hardcore[6] and, to the extent it is distinguishable, Chicago hardcore. Indie rock pundit Steve Albini writes that The Effigies "were a moving force during a crucial and exhilarating time"[7].
The Effigies original line up consisted of John Kezdy (vocals), Earl "Oil" Letiecq (guitar), Paul Zamost (bass) and Steve Economou (drums). Robert O'Connor replaced Letiecq in 1985. In 1986, the entire band dissolved but in 1987 Kezdy reunited with Letiecq and added Chris Bjorklund (bass) and Joe Haggerty (drums). In 1988, Letiecq departed again to form the band Jack Scratch with Dave Bergeron, formerly of the local band Bloodsport. Bjorklund moved to guitar and Tom Woods became the Effigies bassist. Coincidentally, Bjorklund, Haggerty, and Woods had comprised the rest of Bloodsport[8]. In 1990, the Effigies called it quits and Kezdy pursued a career as an attorney. The original line up reunited for a one-off show in 1992. They came together again in late 1995 and early 1996 to play a few local shows to celebrate the reissue of their Remains Nonviewable compilation CD on Touch and Go Records.
The Effigies re-formed in 2004 and play at punk revival shows[9] as well as at Midwest punk venues such as The Bottom Lounge in Chicago. The line up consists of original members John Kezdy, Paul Zamost, and Steve Economou, along with new guitarist Robert McNaughton, who had previously been best known for composing music for a number of films, including Henry: Portait of a Serial Killer[10].
[edit] Discography
Haunted Town 12" EP (Autumn Records 1981/reissued with "Security" as a bonus track by Ruthlesss Records 1984)
"Bodybag" b/w "Security" 7" (Ruthless Records 1982)
We're Da Machine 12" EP (Ruthless Records/Enigma Records 1983)
For Ever Grounded LP (Ruthelss Records/Enigma Records 1984)
Fly on a Wire LP (Fever Records/Enigma Records 1985)
Ink LP (Fever Records/Enigma Records 1986)
Remains Nonviewable LP - compilation of the first 3 EPs and parts of For Ever Grounded (Roadkill Records 1989/reissued on CD by Touch and Go Records 1995)
"VMLive Presents The Effigies Live 12/16/95" 7" EP (VML Records 1996)
