About Me
Founded in the summer of 1977 By Jim Carmichael and Frank Cameron {16 year olds who came up with the name on Venice beach, something that sounded Sabbathy but spelled with Z's like the band Starz} Mozez was the hardest rock band in Venice in the late 1970's {and probably the loudest} The original line up had Jim on the Ludwig drums and vocals, Russell Thomas on the Fender Strat, Casey Carberry on the Gibson EB3 bass and Frank on lead vocals. David Gerlach replaced Rusty Thomas on guitar and Frank recommended his Culver High buddy John Thrasher take over the singing chores. This line up played the legendary Venice Canal parties, Venice Auditorium, Vets Auditorium, Marina Skate Park and all the famous backyard parties of the late 70's that went down every weekend in Santa Monica, Venice and Culver City along with local bands of the era like Seagull, Monkey Chow and Eclipse. The early 80's had Doug Fay {from the band Fourth Street} taking over the bass duties on the Rickenbacker 4001 and Frank Cameron became a guitarist and rejoined on the Gibson SG. The band tried a name change in the early 80's "Sorcerer" and had some memorable gigs at Gazzari's. Gerlach was asked to fuck off and Thrasher attempted to handle the second guitar duties as well as the lead vocals for a spell until long time drum roadie {and Jim's youngest brother} Tony, stepped up to handle the guitar {with Frank} and the band was once again Mozez. The early 1990's caught the band at another peak with a new found audience {as well as some of the old dogs still hanging around} and their stomping grounds stretched from Orange County to deep into the San Fernando Valley {home base still the Southern California beach communities} with original songs played on KNAC {Thanks Gregg} and classic shows at The Troubador, The Whiskey, Gazzari's, Trancus, The Marquee {this was known as the Shit-Tower Tour} and every fall the SMC Ampitheater in which the band annually destroyed their equipment in a manner that would make Keith Moon proud! At this time Mozez was managed by Lee Dorman who was the bass player for Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond {Lee also produced Black Oak Arkansas first album} He was introduced to Mozez by the guys in Hans Naughty. 1992 Mozez won Pirate radio's New Years Day Battle of the Bands and was the house band for KNAC's Rock Onion Wednesday Night. This period of time was the opportunity to "Go Pro" because contracts were being proposed {unfair contracts} a southern states tour was being planned along with discussions with BMI {who were great} and some fag at A&M records but marriages to whores, coke, booze and burnout took its toll. {the crew called it Fist Fuck 92} Band members and crew scattered for years until 2001 rolled around {asshole terrorists united the guys for the American Revenge Tour} and twice a year until 2004 Mozez {with Marty Ramirez on bass} would jam a packed house in some local hell hole playing old Black Sabbath, UFO, Y&T, and Judas Priest reminding the old timers what they already know that 1970's rock played correctly is still the best and sending a message to all young punks with no mileage that they suck and can be smoked by a bunch of cats that hate each other and don't practice together anymore but can get together and jam and still be better than all the crap going down in music these days. UPDATE: MOZEZ jammed Aug 16, 2008 at some shithouse in Culver City. It was a raging success even after a 5 year hiatus. John Thrasher flew in from Ohio to sing, Mona Eckerman filled in on bass, Tony and Frank on guitars and Jim on drums. The set list included Victim of Changes, Beyond the Realms of Death, Heaven and Hell, National Acrobat, Dirty Women, Come on Over, Hot n Ready, Rock Bottom and Hot Rod, plus the originals Move Over & Heartbreak City. And the theme of this reunion: LAPD SUCKS
