ZENGRENADE

Zengrenade 'Dirt Monster' (Music Video)

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Contact Box Generated from MySpace Layout ExpressOnce described as “a bath in broken glass, heavy as hell, bludgeoning as hell”, Zengrenade evolved in a Finsbury Park squat in 1990.
The band started out as 'Loose' with a line-up of Geoff Wright on vocals (ex-singer with NZ thrash metal band Anigma), Steve Watson on guitar (ex-manager of Anigma, guitarist with Maya and early eighties NZ punk band Public Enemy), William Griffiths on bass (ex-Dentists, Spare Messiah and Maya drummer) and Andrew Moon on drums (ex-Public Enemy and Goblin Mix drummer).
A set was written and rehearsed but no gigs were played. Andrew and William eventually returned to NZ. Geoff left to pursue a career as a club DJ in London before returning to NZ, via a stint in LA. Marina Young (who was living above the squat) took over on bass, with the equipment William left behind, and moved in. Zengrenade was born (named after mis-remembering the name of a pacifying weapon used in 'The Ballad of Halo Jones' comic strip in 2000AD.
Reading Festival 1991, after being 'delayed' by a couple of over-enthusiastic Thames Valley policemen, Steve and Marina race to the gates to catch what is left of Nirvana’s set. At the gates Steve bumps into a familiar face: Matthew Hyde, who Steve had met in Auckland and Sydney (former singer in NZ punk band The Microwave Babies and an associate of Anigma’s). Matthew joins the band there and then and eventually moves into the squat above (recently vacated by crusty folksters 'the Tofu Love Frogs'). So, with a singer sorted, all that’s needed was a drummer. William (just recovered from a near-fatal car crash in NZ) returns to take over on drums and Zengrenade set about creating their vision of “distorted, melodic, hardcore rock”.
June 1992, Zengrenade’s first gig was supposed to be on the anniversary of William’s car crash at the newly established Jungle Club in Camden (later Scar). Relying on Klaw (featuring ex-Wipers and UK Subs members) to supply the drum kit, went disastrously wrong when they forgot the cymbals (almost all Zengrenade’s songs were cymbal-heavy at that stage). Klaw managed to play, but Zengrenade just got drunk and angry.
After recording a cassette demo in rehearsal rooms (under the Westway) and in the squats, they got offered to play 'Lark in the Park 2: National Music Day festival' at Millwall Park, June 1992. On the main stage were ageing family favourites Gerry and the Pacemakers and Suzi Quatro. Zengrenade had to borrow equipment from friends Daisy Chainsaw to play the gig, and were amazed to find out on arrival that they would be headlining the Green stage. Ultimately, having to wait all day in the blistering heat and consuming a collection of cheap highs took its toll. It was a sloppy gig, and Matthew’s screaming and mic-lead whipping ruined quite a few random children’s happy day.
August 1992, ZG record three songs at La Rocka Studios (Freegun, Flowing Left Head and Splinter). This demo opens up the opportunity to play the standard circuit of North London rock dives, such as The George Robey, The Falcon, The Monarch, The Dublin Castle, Bull and Gate, Water Rats, Powerhaus and The Samuel Beckett.
ZG catch the attention of Belgian-based label Frantic and publishers Les Editions Confidentielles, and sign a deal.
February 1993, Steve's 25th birthday, and ZG had a gig at The Samuel Beckett with Joyryde. An odd gig all round, Matthew had been in Camden Town that afternoon and got caught up in an IRA explosion. He decided to get seriously fucked-up to calm his nerves, but that backfired when, during the gig, he projectile-vomited into the crowd, very nearly sparking a chain reaction from Steve and Marina. As was traditional after ZG gigs, they would have a party afterwards back in Finsbury Park, regardless of the time or the day of the week. This was no exception and a crowd from the venue braved a freak snowstorm to get to the party. Somewhere on the way, they were joined by a crazy French girl who ran around biting everyone at the party then kicked cars outside.
March 1993, ZG were booked to play a gig/rave at a squatted mansion in Hampstead. Unfortunately the neighbour was a Tory cabinet minister and notorious rave-hater, subsequently the doors were kicked open by dozens of police in riot gear during the sound-check and all the musical equipment was confiscated. It took three weeks to get the gear back; just in time, as Frantic Records had invited ZG over to Belgium for gigs in Brussels and Ghent. The gig at the university in Brussels was a mess, so ZG drowned their sorrows drinking Chimay in an all-night bar, while Matthew stood on top of the bar trying incomprehensibly to teach the old landlord how to do the Charleston.
The next night in Ghent the gig went really well - there was an audience of around 500 people. A few of ZG’s friends had flown out for the gig, but had nowhere to stay. So in great ZG tradition, everyone came back to the hotel for a party. At around 5am the hotelier took exception to this and called the police. Three vanloads of gun-wielding cops evicted them from the hotel and escorted their transit van out of the city limits. After finding what they believed was a quiet lane to park up in, the band and friends tried to sleep in any space they could, around, over and under equipment. In the morning everyone woke to find out they were parked next to a military depot, and a row of tanks and armoured vehicles were facing them. Exit Belgium, with Matthew’s visa about to run out, ZG had to sober up and smarten him up for UK immigration.
ZG are evicted from the squats in Finsbury Park and headquarters move to Camden Town.
Frantic Records introduce ZG to Ritchie Thomas (former drummer with The Jesus and Mary Chain), to help with production on their first EP. Pre-production takes it toll; William quits the band and returns to New Zealand.
Martyn Wimbury from Flowtation (previously in Pipedream and Altered States) offers to step in on drums and help ZG finish the recording. He gets more than he bargains for, as pre-production rehearsals, recording and gigs go on for a lot longer than expected. One night he even plays drums for both bands live at the Falcon.
April 1994, ZG record and mix their EP at Milo Studios in Hoxton. The four tracks are Still Here, Dirt Monster, Never, and Skin. The launch party is at The Monarch in Camden (later the Barfly) with support from G-Love & Special Sauce and Shed 7.
Martyn finds ZG their next drummer, Des Connolly (former drummer for Junior Manson Slags, Creaming Jesus and Brigandage), who had just returned from living in the US.
ZG make a music video independently of the record company. Asking favours from anyone possible, ZG get the location, the shoot and the editing for free. It’s co-directed by Raph Morant (his first of many music videos) and sees TV airplay on MTV, as well as UK and European Music shows.
Little did they know it at the time, but ZG were playing their final - and arguably finest - gigs. One night at the Dublin Castle saw a friend of ZG bound on to the stage, administer tequila slammers to Steve and Matthew (mid song) then dive off, only to flatten someone down the front, who was later seen in a neck brace. Another memorable gig was with Thee Hypnotics at the Water Rats in Kings Cross - great performances from both bands and a capacity crowd.
Frantic Records fold.
In 1995, ZG record the instrumental tracks for the next EP while Matthew is in New Zealand. When he returns, he decides to quit the band, the EP doesn't get finished and the band folds.
What happened to them? William lives in Melbourne and has opened a jewellery shop; he also plays drums for Wendy Rule and tours worldwide. Des plays in Altered States. Martyn still plays with members of Flowtation, who turned into Tence and are now called Sea On Fire. After ZG, Marina played with Rumorosa (formerly Joyryde), Brigandage, On, Karl Blakes Shock Headed Peters, The Long Decline and currently Angel Racing Food. Matthew still lives in NZ and has played in Sulu and The Larry Normans. Steve set up a studio in Camden with a dance music inclination, then started designing album sleeves and vowed never to play in a band again.