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 a Chicago-based punk rock/post-punk group. Initially active from 1980 to 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006.

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.

Durango and Jeff Pezzati were also members of Big Black.

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).

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".

A two-show reunion in 1997 produced the live album Free Shit!.

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

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." The reunited lineup consists of its "Raygun...Naked Raygun" members: Pezzati, Stephens, Kezdy, and Spicer. 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.

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