Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, when Zed's Renegade Fighter comes on the radio, you'd better keep your guard up - because this song packs a punch! From the first chords of its overdriven guitars, to its clever harmonies, to the final echo of its hook-heavy chorus, the debut track from Zed is equal parts menace and vulnerability, charm and arrogance. In short, it's 100% pure Rock n Roll, no imitations accepted.
Originally formed while they were still students at Christchurch's Cashmere High, Zed is the dream child of Nathan King, Ben Campbell and Adrian Palmer, all of whom found they shared a passion for guitar pop - fuelled by their parents old Beatles records, a bit of Crowded House, and radio stars Supergrass and Radiohead.
Sometime back in '96 though, daydreams and air-guitar weren't enough, and like thousands of young bands before them, the three began getting together in each others bedrooms for band practice.
Five years on and a few things have changed. For a start Zed are no longer a three-piece, now joined by second guitarist Andrew Lynch. Soon after their inception, Nathan says he felt there was someone missing from the band. "It was two years prior to Andy joining," he says, "and there was a nagging in the back of my mind that something wasn't quite right - maybe a personality was absent, or there was a layer missing in the sound, I wasn't sure what it was, but I know we've found it in Andy."
And certainly the circumstances of Andrew's hiring were pure Rock n Roll. "I was in Brazil when I got the call," he says. "I was there chasing a Brazilian girlfriend who'd gone home, but I left all that and the biggest festival on the planet to come back and rehearse for a tour." Although Andrew's addition was primarily for live work, once recording sessions for debut album Silencer began, Nathan says an all-new Zed began to take shape. "It's what Andy's brought to us," he says, "the connection between the four of us was powerful and immediate. Andy has different influences and he adds a real colour in his playing. The album was going in one direction initially, but it got twisted and re-shaped to where it is now."
Assisting with the twisting and re-shaping on Silencer was producer David Nicholas. Rhythm and vocal tracks were recorded at Revolver Studios in Auckland, with final overdubs and mixing at Mangrove Studios north of Sydney, Australia. Andrew says Nicholas's prior experience with artists like Sting, Ash, INXS and Bryan Adams, added a vital component to the emerging Zed sound.
"He's a crash hot engineer as well," he says, "so we were able to maximise the use of the studio - treat it as another instrument if you like - and use David to really bring out what made each song special." And Zed are all about songs - catchy, hooky, you-can't-stop-yourself-from-humming-along type numbers, that keep popping back into your head days after you first heard them. Pop songs no less.
Recording sessions were over in seven weeks and were for the most part hassle free says Nathan, although after all band members and production staff came down with the flu, he says he doubts the effectiveness of flu shots - on musicians at least. "Yeah, we all had our shots," he laughs, "but it was something I bought in and when you're in a confined space, well… you know how it is. So we all got really sick and vocally it was a nightmare for me to sing when I was blocked up. So I'd have to put my head over some steam, get clear, record for 20 minutes, and then do it all over again."
Silencer became the hit album of 2000 in New Zealand - debuting at #1 on the New Zealand album charts, quickly achieving triple platinum status, and spawning six bona-fide radio hits. Renegade Fighter was the #1 song at radio in New Zealand during 2000. The band have completed several sell-out national tours, and capped the year off by winning big at New Zealand's equivalent of the Grammy's - taking out Music Awards for 'Album Of The Year', 'Top Group', and 'Top Male Vocalist'.
With six top 20 singles to their credit, Zed have just begun their musical journey says Nathan. "We like to challenge ourselves," he says, "to do things differently and keep it interesting and that's cool. I'd hate to get somewhere and think that this is the end of the trip, because, you know - where do you go from there?"
Band Members:
Adrian Palmer (drums)
Andy Lynch (guitar)
Ben Campbell (bass, vocals)
Nathan King (vocals, guitar)
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ADRIAN4EVER
Joined: 29/12/05 Posts: 2 Location: Canterbury View Profile |
Adrian is Hot Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:33 pm What do u guys thin about Adrian???????? email mme at [email protected] anytime i will try my best to reply Lizzie |
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julius
Joined: 22/11/05 Posts: 71 Location: Taranaki View Profile |
ZED??? Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:48 pm Does any one know what Zed are up to. ??? |
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cxc_ass
Joined: 30/10/04 Posts: 62 Location: Waikato View Profile |
RE: Isn't Nathan sooo hot!!?? Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:59 pm yea maybe |
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hoping.in.anguish
Joined: 16/10/04 Posts: 182 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: Isn't Nathan sooo hot!!?? Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:46 pm ok slight over exageration.... |
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cxc_ass
Joined: 30/10/04 Posts: 62 Location: Waikato View Profile |
RE: Isn't Nathan sooo hot!!?? Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:43 pm NATHAN IS THE HOTTEST GUY IN THE MUZIC WORLD OH AND JON OFF 48 MAY |
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hoping.in.anguish
Joined: 16/10/04 Posts: 182 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: Isn't Nathan sooo hot!!?? Posted: Tue Dec 7, 2004 8:26 pm mmmmm rugged ugly smelly boys mmmm cant get beter than that. pretty, metro boys are snobby,materialistic, after one thing, and man, it feels like your hangin wit a chick! |
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hoping.in.anguish
Joined: 16/10/04 Posts: 182 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: nathans hot Posted: Tue Dec 7, 2004 8:17 pm holy god. now i see why you chose a blonde picture by your name. your just another ditz that has no clue about music or hmmm basically anything.you seriously gota stop talking cos you just digging your hole girl. if you think that bands that have hotter people in them do better then there is another reason to call u a ditz. eg. is marylin manson hot? i dont think so. like so like go paint your like nails or something. |
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mrs delonge
Joined: 27/11/04 Posts: 142 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: dis band roxs Posted: Mon Dec 6, 2004 9:30 pm to be honest, i think zed suck. they just do. i have plenty of reasons but i can't be bothered typing them all. |
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dixie45
Joined: 21/06/04 Posts: 24 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: dis band roxs Posted: Mon Dec 6, 2004 3:19 pm i am so hilarous i am really really funny |
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dixie45
Joined: 21/06/04 Posts: 24 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: dis band roxs Posted: Mon Dec 6, 2004 3:17 pm la la la la la polly hav u seen dat add? "can you get the hammer from the ummmm" "four wheel drive vechilcle" ha ha ha ha ha |
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dixie45
Joined: 21/06/04 Posts: 24 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: nathans hot Posted: Mon Dec 6, 2004 9:10 am boo lusa gt a life nd act lik a nrmal girl u homo |
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dixie45
Joined: 21/06/04 Posts: 24 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: Who agree's that Andy is a total sex god? Posted: Mon Dec 6, 2004 9:08 am wow i havent been on this site 4 ages ........................ day cme 2 our skl and day r reali gud |
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poodlepie
Joined: 03/12/04 Posts: 1 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: dis band roxs Posted: Fri Dec 3, 2004 6:02 pm i Agree z rox |
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laura 4 andy
Joined: 25/08/04 Posts: 4 Location: Outside NZ View Profile |
RE: nathans hot Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 8:20 am Hi evil_punx_queen! How are you? I hope your well! I've seen ZED perform live and they rock! I was blown away when I first saw them live! They were a support group for a band called The Calling! So I had no idea who they were but I was still blown ago because they were fantastic! Now i'm hooked and totally addicted to ZED! I just wanted to say thanks for setting the record sraight about Andy! He's my favorite member and I have met them all and Andy is by far the best member! I totally agree with what you and punks_ma_life and Ashalyna are saying it's totally about the music not about the looks because when their on the radio it's good music you want to hear because you can't even see them any way and ZED are a perfect example of this! they are a great band who play great music! But Andy has the bonus of being drop dead gorgeous! |
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laura 4 andy
Joined: 25/08/04 Posts: 4 Location: Outside NZ View Profile |
Who agree's that Andy is a total sex god? Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 6:25 am Hi I live in the United Kingdom! I saw ZED when they performed in the UK as a support act for another band! I would just like to say that they totally rocked and since their first gig in the UK in July 2004 they now have a huge fan base in the UK! I know that myself and the other fan's can not await their return to the UK! Hopefully in the near future! They are going to me huge and take the UK by storm! I hope! I also had the pleaser of meeting Andy and the other member's of ZED after the gig! Andy was so lovely and was more than happy to chat and sign autograph's for me and the other awaiting fan's for over 2 hour's! So I went home from that particular gig very happy and with a very big smile on my face because I even have his cigerette end's and he has even signed one for me! I'm not letting go of them to easily! I have since sent them an E-Mail which they have replyed to! I hope to hear from you again soon! from laura x x x P:S- I love Andy and ZED! |
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Shade
muzic.net.nz Admin Joined: 17/07/02 Posts: 5072 Location: Manawatu View Profile |
RE: nathans hot Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:23 am and you know this how? Do you have any statistics or facts to show this is true? |
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dixie45
Joined: 21/06/04 Posts: 24 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: nathans hot Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:54 am okay wat evr i'm a prep i dnt cre . mayb i fnk their hot as well as play gud music. most bands sell more records if they are a bit more gud lookin den other bands. l8r |
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evil_punx_queen
Joined: 11/07/04 Posts: 5 Location: Wellington View Profile |
RE: nathans hot Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 4:35 pm Thank-you punks_my_life at least sumbody gets it! and dixie45 ur funny "ur a prep prep"? seriously wft! am i the only one that laughed when they read that? ya no wat ur a preppyprep, prep! hahahahahahaha evil_punx_queen |
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dixie45
Joined: 21/06/04 Posts: 24 Location: Auckland View Profile |
RE: nathans hot Posted: Mon Aug 9, 2004 1:21 pm yea all im sayn is that they play vry gud music and are hot 2 top it all of l8r |
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punks_ma_life
Joined: 01/08/04 Posts: 2 Location: Nelson & Bays View Profile |
RE: dis band roxs Posted: Sun Aug 1, 2004 6:15 pm dude u suck if u loved them that much u wud at least kno the lead singers name is NATHAN not ANTHONY!!!! and come on guys its nottt bout the lookz!!!! *does angry dance 2wards stupid PREPPY biatch* |
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