Pezband
| Pezband | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Oak Park, Illinois, USA |
| Genres | Power pop |
| Years active | 1971–1983, 2006–2007, 2012–2014, 2016 |
| Labels | |
| Website | |
| Members | |
| Past members |
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Pezband was an American power pop band formed in 1971 in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois.
The ensemble began in the fall of 1971 when four Oak Park musicians teamed up to jam on covers of songs by The Yardbirds, Kinks and Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac. The original lineup consisted of Mimi Betinis (guitar and lead vocals), Mick Rain (drums and vocals), John Pazdan (guitar, piano and vocals), and Mike Gorman (bass and vocals)
Pezband played its first shows at small clubs in the Chicago suburbs, then advanced to performing on Rush Street, one of several very large entertainment districts in Chicago. Singer Cliff Johnson was added to the lineup in the Spring of 1972. Playing venues such as Rush Up, they often performed five days in a row, four to five sets a night.
John Pazdan left the group in December 1972, replaced by guitarist Dan Wade. With the new lineup, Pezband started touring the American Midwest and East Coast, incorporating original songs into their sets. A year later, guitarist Tommy Gawenda replaced Wade, and the band played the West Coast as well, with shows at the legendaries Whisky A Go-Go and Starwood, both in West Hollywood. By the end of 1975, Johnson was replaced by singer West Davis. In 1976, the group made the decision to play as a foursome with Betinis back as lead singer. They recruited NRBQ manager Mike Lembo and were soon signed to Passport/ABC Dunhill Records, relocating to New Jersey to be closer to management and record company.
Pezband's first record, eponymously titled (Pezband), was recorded in early 1977 at The House of Music in New Jersey, with E-Street sax player Clarence Clemmons, synthesist Larry Fast, and jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker making guest appearances. Positive reviews followed their first release, and the band found itself showcased as "most promising act" at the ABC/Dunhill record convention. Soon after featured on national TV, they appeared on The Today Show with Jane Pauley, who commented that "this is the sound everybody will be talking about."
In 1978, the group opened major stadium shows for Fleetwood Mac and Supertramp and played in New York at Max's Kansas City and CBGB's. By the end of that year, the band flew to London to record their second record, Laughing In The Dark, at Jethro Tull's studio, Maison Rouge. Guest musicians included Tommy Eyre and King Crimson sax player Mel Collins. Famed cover art designers Hipgnosis produced the artwork for the album (the first Hipgnosis cover design for an American band). While in London, they also cut a live EP, Too Old Too Soon, at the club Dingwall's, the first American group to record there. As 1978 drew to a close, Rolling Stone cited the Laughing in the Dark LP as one of the top records of the year.
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