Underground Zerø

Underground Zerø is a British space rock band, based in Norfolk, UK. The band is also known as UZØ. While the band is often referred to as "Underground Zero" or "Underground Zer0" in print, the official name of the band includes the slashed zero in its name. Their sound is influenced by Hawkwind.

The nucleus of UZØ was started in 1979 by Andrew Rix (bass/vocals), Adrian Rix (keyboards), Judi Griggs (vocals), Brian Savage (drums) and Karl Dawson (guitar). From 1981, then known as Ground Zero, the group underwent several major changes. Brian left and was replaced by Mike (Mel) Melnyk and guitarist Paul Holden joined. In 1983 Mel left and was replaced by Sean Holden. The band featured on the UKs Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show on Radio 1 and during 1983-85 developed a large following in the new Psychedelic scene. At this point the name became Underground Zerø[1] to avoid confusion with a R & B group in the London Area. They performed at the large open-air concert Anglia for Africa in Norwich in 1985, which also featured Hawkwind, Magnum, Amazulu, Eek-A-Mouse and Dean Friedman. Underground Zerø also performed at the last Stonehenge festival with Hawkwind and has featured on Hawkwind, Friends and Relations albums. Although UZØ never split up they stopped performing live in 1994.

In 2005, they resumed live performances, doing 3 gigs in the UK and released a CD, Powerplay, featuring remixed versions of the studio tracks from their two vinyl LPs plus one bonus track. At about the same time an unofficial CD entitled Never Reach the Stars appeared, containing the original unremastered mixes of all the tracks from their vinyl albums and single. Although this release was not officially sanctioned it does include three live and one studio tracks that are not on the official CD and is acknowledged on the band's website.

Performances include the 2006 Eastern Haze [2] Festival in Somerleyton Hall, UK. 2008 saw them perform alongside the legendary Hawkwind at the Hawkfest,[3][4] at Honiton in Devon. They regularly feature at Space Rock festivals such as "On Board The Craft" and "Jackdaw".

In November 2014, founder keyboardist Adrian Rix left the band,[5] and their planned 2015 appearances at HawkEaster and Sonic Rock Solstice were cancelled.[6]

The band have announced their intention to archive their entire back catalogue of space rock IN space rock...with the help of Lunar Mission One. By using a digital time capsule to be buried deep in the moon, the band hope that future generations - or even civilisations - will be able to enjoy Underground Zerø for millennia to come!

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Interview with Andrew Rix. Topic: Underground Zero, ProgArchives, 27 October 2011, archived from the original on 8 May 2015, retrieved 8 May 2015
  2. ↑ Eastern Haze 2006 - Main Stage, 2006, archived from the original on 5 May 2006
  3. ↑ Hawkfest 2008 microsite, 2008, archived from the original on 27 July 2008
  4. ↑ Review of Hawkfest 2008. Hawkfest 2008, 2009, archived from the original on 5 August 2009
  5. ↑ Timeline Photos, 2014, archived from the original on 6 May 2015
  6. ↑ Timeline Photos, 2014, archived from the original on 6 May 2015
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