| The Zorros | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock Punk rock |
| Years active | 1979–1994 |
| Labels | Au Go Go Records Dreamtime Software |
The Zorros were an Australian rock band, formed in 1979.[1][2]
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The Zorros played their first gig at the Champion Hotel, Fitzroy in January 1980.
Nic Chancellor was previously a roadie for 1970s punk band, The News and a doorman at 'Bernhardt's Nite Club'. Darren Smith played in The Proles.[3]
The Zorros were popular in the Melbourne music scene of the early 1980s, playing at venues such as the Crystal Ballroom , Exford Hotel Russell St Melbourne CBD, Sydenham Hotel Richmond, Pier Hotel Frankston, Sorrento Hotel, Piccadilly Hotel Kings Cross, Le Tote Fitzroy, Derby Hotel Nth Fitzroy, Katunga RSL Numurkah, Macy's South Yarra, Prince of Wales St Kilda, Duke of Edinburgh St Kilda, Roxy Sth Melb, 465 Club Spencer St, Tiger Lounge St Kilda, Bombay Rock Brunswick, The Champion Hotel Fitzroy, Barleycorn Hotel Collingwood, The Club Collingwood, Hearts Carlton, The Stockade Carlton, The Central Club Richmond, Bananas St Kilda, the Market Hotel Prahran, Geelong Hotel Geelong, The Rehearsal Redfern, The Esplanade St Kilda, Floyd's Canberra, ANU Canberra, The Stockade Canberra, Port Melbourne Park, Princess Hill High, Hunt Club Hotel Merrijig , Brunswick High School.
They released one 7" single on Au Go Go Records, "Too Young",[3][4] written by Chancellor,.[5] It was mixed and produced by Tony Cohen (The Birthday Party).[6] "Too Young" was released in October 1981[7] and went to number 3 on the Melbourne 3RRR charts.[8] In 1988 a Zorros' album was released on Dreamtime Software. The Zorros played original independent music for 16 years with over 500 performances and over 500 songs written by Darren Smith and Nic Chancellor.
Evolving from Melbourne's indie rock scene, The Zorros played with other bands such as INXS, Rose Tattoo, 21 Faces, Z Cars, Marching Girls and La Femme.
They played their final gig on the 31 October 1987 at the Crystal Ballroom in St Kilda.
Darren Smith died 13 February 2009.
In 2008 Chancellor created Zorros 27 Light Years, a music DVD compilation of 16 remastered and remixed songs from the Zorros. Nic's animations have been broadcast to over 300,000 people on the SBS TV Documentary Shaman of the Amazon.