Naked Raygun

Naked Raygun

Naked Raygun in Chicago, 2012
Background information
Origin Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres Punk rock, post-hardcore, post-punk
Years active 1980–1992, 2006–present
Labels Ruthless Records, Homestead, Quarterstick Records, Caroline, Riot Fest Records
Associated acts Big Black, Effigies, Pegboy, The Bomb, Silver Abuse
Website www.nakedraygun.org
Members Jeff Pezzati
Bill Stephens
Pierre Kezdy
Eric Spicer
Pete Mittler
Fritz Doreza (touring)
Past members Santiago Durango
John Haggerty
Bobby Strange
Jim Colao
Marco Pezzati
Camilo Gonzalez
John Lundin

Naked Raygun is an American punk rock and post-punk band formed in Chicago in 1980. Initially active until 1992, the band had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006.

History

Initial run

The band was formed in 1980 by Santiago Durango, Marko Pezzati and later Jeff Pezzati. Singer Jeff Pezzati was the sole constant member through multiple personnel changes. Members over time include drummers Bobby Strange, Jim Colao, and Eric Spicer; bassists Marko Pezzati, Pierre Kezdy, Camilo Gonzalez and Pete Mittler; guitarists Santiago Durango, John Haggerty, and Bill Stephens; and keyboardist John Lundin.[1]

Durango and Jeff Pezzati were also members of Big Black.[2]

Naked Raygun in 1987. L-R: John Haggerty, Jezz Pezzati, Eric Spicer, Pierre Kezdy

Post-Naked Raygun

In 1989, John Haggerty left Naked Raygun to form Pegboy with his younger brother Joe (formerly of Bloodsport and The Effigies) and Steve Saylors and Larry Damore of the Bhopal Stiffs (Pierre Kezdy would later replace Steve Saylors).[3]

Jeff Pezzati is also the lead singer of The Bomb, which is a different and later band than the San Francisco group, known as "Bomb".[4]

Reunions

A two-show reunion in 1997 produced the live album Free Shit!.[5][6]

In 1999, the independent record label Quarterstick Records re-issued the bands back catalog on CD.[1][7]

In 2006 Naked Raygun reunited for Riot Fest, an annual punk rock festival held in Chicago. Following their 2006 reunion, Naked Raygun announced that the band was "back for good."[8][9] The reunited lineup consists of its "Raygun...Naked Raygun" members: Pezzati, Stephens, Kezdy, and Spicer.[10] In 2009 Naked Raygun returned to the studio for the first time since 1997 for a series of 7" singles released on Riot Fest Records and announced plans to record an LP, the first since 1990's Raygun... Naked Raygun.[11]

In 2011, Pete Mittler of The Methadones joined the line-up so that longtime bassist Pierre Kezdy could convalesce from a stroke.[12]

In August 2014, Naked Raygun opened for Bad Religion, The Offspring and Stiff Little Fingers on the last two shows of the Summer Nationals tour at The Rave in Milwaukee[13] and Harrah's Stir Cove in Council Bluffs, Iowa.[14]

Naked Raygun (along with Urge Overkill and Cheap Trick) opened for the Foo Fighters at Wrigley Field, Chicago, on August 29, 2015.[15]

Naked Raygun will put out a new album in 2016.[16]

Legacy

Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has frequently discussed seeing Naked Raygun as his first concert in 1982 (when he was 13) at Chicago's Cubby Bear. During their October 17, 2014 show at the Cubby Bear, Jeff Pezatti joined the band for a Naked Raygun cover. Naked Raygun themselves later opened for Foo Fighters on select dates during the Sonic Highways World Tour.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Video

Compilation album appearances

See also

References

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