my zebra history

[phil]

Hello All,

It was early 1983 and I was living in the barracks at Ft. Lewis Washington. I was aware of TMWYW, but one Sunday eve I heard the King Biscuit Live show, and went and got the album the next day.
Luckily I can still have the tape 19 years later, and when I play it now it brings me back to the happiness of finding a great band. The record got stolen in 1983 in a burglary on Dec 24th, so
bummed as it was great and hard to find now.
Thanks Zebra, for 20 years of great music. I knew you were no Loverboy. Phil:p

[phil]

Damn, it must have been summer of 83, the Houston show. I
am bad at remembering time. I see the album is available at the Zebra store, so I have to buy it again it seems, along with the live show. I am glad there is the website, can't find this band at the wal-mart. Phil:eek:

[OU812]

thanks phil for the report.

[the hoser]

my first time hearing zebra was back in late1982 drag racing on
hempstead turnpike in a 83 mustang gt
from that time on zebra was my favorite band hands down

[magz28]

first time....mmmmm

1977... st. ceclia's in new orleans.. prob one of Zebra's very first shows...

blew the house down...god...closed your eyes.. and it was Led Zep

[OU812]

I have an old ass 1978 video of zebra at a cyo , the light show was made up of 2 lights one on each side of the stage.

[JUKEBOX HERO]

the first time i heard zebra, i was in the hospital waiting to have surgery on my shattered ankle and broken heal in october of 1998. this was due to a drunk driver crashing headon into me. anyway, i was listening to wbab and a listener called in and requested "take your fingers from my hair". i immediately fell in love with the song and called the radio station every night to request this song. i later got to see zebra for the first time at cpi in june of 1999. since then i have seen all but one of their shows in the local area. ZEBRA ROCKS!!!!!!

[OU812]

JH do you know if any one has a live video of tt quick.

[Big Sun]

Hey JUKEBOX HERO it's really to cool to see such a "new" Zebra fan. Everytime I flip channels and see the local New Orleans Cash Money Records rappers flying around in personal helicpoters and driving $100k cars I think about how much Randy & the boys deserve so much more.......

[OU812]

If only zebra had gold chains and drank 40 dogs . they would be on MTV cribs

[phil]

Hello All,

Man that is some great stories. Zebra is a good band that did not get the big time fame, but are known by many it seems.

I love that live Houston show, hearing them on KBFH really made me get the album. Which goes to show, the system works.

Don't hear much live concert recordings anymore it seems, not like in the 70's and 80's. I saw Blue Oyster Cult in a freakin horse arena in Medford, OR in 1978. It was a full on show with the lasers that are now banned. Those were the days, now all is kinda boring. Anyways, Zebra is a GREAT band. thanks, Phil

( now blind from lazers in a horse arena ) It's the music baby !!!

[ryank]

apologize for going off topic, but i have to weigh in on the cash money/helicopter issue. These guys infuriate me. You'd think that being music millionaires that they'd stay out of trouble. well, it's not music. It's disappointing that a large number of people are into this junk. black or white. and another thing; i'm a little ticked that some of these rappers are getting to star in blockbuster movies. what have they done to deserve this? go to acting school? no!, just sell cd's to dummies. right when i see a movie on the blockbuster shelf, with good actors, then i'm disappointed to see puff diddy or whatever he's called, snoop dog, jay z, ice cube. put me in a movie. shit.

[OU812]

ryank all you need is some gold in your mouth and your in. you can be in the next T3 with arnold TRUST ME get some gold.

[Michael]

The first time and if my flashback is correct I saw Zebra either in '76 or '77 or '78 during Mardi Gras season at what I called "The Barn" in Houma, LA. It was were the rodeo was held at during the summer. Anyway I do remember it was pretty chilly that night when they played. I was amazed the way they sounded playing mostly Led Zep and Rush.

I've seen Zebra also at the Warehouse in New Orleans with Pat Travers and Johnny Van Zant. If my flashback is correct The Warehouse was an old red warehouse that was freakin' hot during the summer time. That was before Zebra got a record contract.

I saw them with Journey, Foghat, and Bryan Adams at City Park Stadium in New Orleans when they released their first recording. Later on I saw them backing up Loverboy at the Riverside Centralplex in Baton Rouge, LA.

For their second album I saw them with REO Speedwagon and Survivor at the UNO Lakefront Arena. Also at the Spectrum in Thibadaux, LA. Does anybody remember that pole in the middle of the stage there?

Then for their third album I saw them many times at Ole Man Rivers just outside of Westwego, LA and Fantasy's in Houma, LA.

Each time I saw Zebra live I was never disappointed.

Now that I live in the Everett, WA the only time that I hear them live is when I put in their live CD.

[Studiovod]

In my Living Room watching all the Videos of the day when this Video came on that BLEW ME AWAY!

Who's behind the Door

It...to me...KICKED THE CRAP out of all the Duran Duran, David Bowie, Nena Hagen, Def Leppard, Madness, Dexy's Midnight Runners........and SO ON........Videos that MTV Played at the time.

Now, dont get me wrong...i actually like a lot of that stuff now. :D

I always remember waiting for MTV to put that Video on.
Since then...i was hooked.

Now i find myself here with you guys! :cool:

[magz28]

heres one....

back in 82..i think... watching some rock show around midnight in houston...zebra was one of the bands...(not the midnight special)
damn.. if they didnt BLOW away every other band...flet like a proud dad that night:)

[Don Wishon]

Michael,

That show at The Warehouse in New Orleans was in 1979. I was at the Breakfast with the Beatles benefit concert at The House of Blues in Chicago last December when Terry Brock (who has worked with Johnny Van Zant in the past) introduced Johnny to Randy and Johnny said that he remembered meeting Randy one other time before. Randy replied, "1979, at The Warehouse in New Orleans". Johnny said that it was great that at least one of them remembered. Very nice guy, Johnny Van Zant.

Don

[nolatom]

Ole'ManRivers 1980. Fake ID, drunk, mom's car, great night!!!!!!!!They did Spirit of Radio, lots of Led, whole set of ZZ. WOW.

[chinarain62]

Wow - such great memories to think about...

Let's see...for me it was when I saw the video for Who's Behind the Door back in 1982 on MTV and when MTV rocked. From the first time I saw that video, I was hooked and made sure that I saw every live show they did in the tri-state area because when they played locally it was usually after them not playing in the area for a while. Quite the treat.

It is so great to see them still playing today and I totally agree that they never got the noterity they deserved especially when you see and hear all the garbage that's out there today. Its amazing what the preception of "talent" is today - scary even!!

And as time has evolved, years have passed and through certain circles and musical connections, I never thought in a million years that I would have had some of the opportunities that I have had in dealing with Randy and I'm honored that I can call him my friend.

That's MY Zebra story.

[OU812]

My first time seeing Zebra was back in 1980 at the PALACE SALOON in west end . I remember how much better thay sounded then other bands that were out at the time. I thought that the LaLa song was a song by YES. Anyway that was the start of it .

[rushhakeem]

It started for me in January of 1976 when I dropped by "Hammerheads " in Levitown, N.Y. WOW!!!! Only 15 people in the bar and Zebra was playing all these Zep tunes, originals which included Fingers, La La (The long and awesome version), As I said Before, My life has changed, To find a good dream, Bears, You Fool no one by Deep Purple, ZZ Tops "Tush" which Guy sang, Moody Blues, Rush's Farewell to kings and Passage to Bangkok, Bowies Suferget City (Which Felix sang as Id like to **** on your titty), Creams "The Badge", To name a few. I returned the next night as well (Sat) and have been hooked ever since. Mad Hatter every Sunday, Speaks every Wed, Cheeks every Thurs, and where ever they played on the weekend which obviously switched around I was there. As far as Mon and Tues went, Tuesday I usually watched Twisted Sister at the Hatter and Monday I was recooperating.
I cant wait for the new CD and I will remain Patient. I am still very hooked On Rush's "Vapor Trails" but it would be nice to segue that into new Zebra.
Hang in there Zebra Fans as I am knowing that Randy is doing everything correctly.
Have faith! It will be here!

Rushhakeem

[ryank]

Is "to find a good dream" an original? Never heard of it. Never heard zebra do rush or the moody blues either. dang.

[rushhakeem]

Yes,
To find a good Dream was one of their first songs, Not bad but probably should not have been on an album

[OU812]

I remember felix saying find your dreams.

[GreggCo]

had heard Tell Me What You Want and liked it. Saw they were performing at 6Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ. Only cost me an extra $3!!! back then cause I had a Gold Season's Pass (it was 1986 I think)....got there early....stood upfront...excellent show!!!

[OU812]

I remember back in 80 81 82 zebra would be playing and the thing that stood out for me was the line of people standing out doors to get in . Im talking 2 to 3 hundred in line .

[nolatom]

You know what, I remember those lines too. Standing in 'em. Forgot The Palace, but now I remember that place, West End near the lake. Also saw 'em around '80 at the Quarter Note in Fat City, what a dive! Great memories. They need to tour more. Period!

[billy h]

Got to meet Johnny Van Zant a couple months back, my singer and him are first cousins. Saw them at the Biloxi Grand Casino, put on a great show. He invited me and my daughter up to his room where we spent the next 2 hrs. talking about everything from music to deep-sea fishing! He really is a nice guy, real down to earth. Hoping to see some "Zebra" around here soon!

[J.B.]

The correct name of the song is "To Find Your Dreams". It is an original, and fortunately, has been recorded for posterity.

[OU812]

jb wait untill you here direction and find your dreams i sent you.

[st.james major]

was at st.james major cyo(hence the user name)
a friend said there was a local band that played zepplin songs and rocked!! i seem to remember a zebra skin and a couple of lights for the stage set-up. been enjoying their music ever since. also saw them alot at guess what's coming(between kaleb's and the last stop in fat city)
st j.m.

[LessPaull]

Oh Man...Sundance was Rediculous to get in ...In Bayshore, Long Island...Frank had all the Top Bands There !! Man, when ZEBRA played...there was no way of getting drunk cause the bar was 10-fold & you were lucky you got in !!It probably held 300...But they'd fit 500 in the door !!Or...ZEBRA at Speaks in Island Park...Again,A Packed House...800 people?? These are local bars !
But then DWI's came along w/drinkin age from 18 to 19 to 21 ..
But One of the Most Rememorable Nights of My Life..........
ZEBRA & BLUE OYSTER CULT At RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL !!
............"****IN' PHENOMINAL"!!!
don't ask me dates..............what day is this ????

[OU812]

st.james major I remember KALIB'S ever night a fight broke out side the bar and it was always a one hit and who ever was the most drunk took a cement nap remember. They later changed the name of the bar to SLUGGO'S. kalibs!!! beer and more beer bad sound system but it got better as the night went on 6am walk out side and head down the street to KENNYS KEY WEST to eat that crap on the grill thay called chicken go in side and the ****ing club was packed like it was mid night . Walk back out side and the SUN is blazing your eyes you look at your watch and say SHIT im late for work .

[banterman]

What?! Zebra played shows w/Oreo Station Wagon and Survivor? Talk about bands who are unworthy of such company! And man am I jealous that I never got to hear them play any Rush tunes. As for Felix' version of "Suffragette City," I wonder how he explains his ad-libbing to his daughter now. Probably just, "Well, I'm a rocker, hon."

Well I was in jr. high when "TMWYW" came out and was on the radio in NY a decent amount. I liked it well enough, but for whatever reason didn't run out and buy the record. Then, in the late 80s I was going to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY and the station there, WPDH played a bit o' Zebra and I finally heard "WBTD." This song was kickass, and when I went to the record store and saw that this and TMWYW were on the same album, I went for it. I turned myself and my friend Pothead onto the whole album. For Thanksgiving we were both going home to Long Island and caught wind of the Zebra show at Sundance which happened to be where Zebra Live was recorded. We patiently awaited the 'bra as we sat through 3 ridiculous opening acts for about 4 hours before Zebra hit the stage and performed their historical show.

Years went by and I never heard about Zebra, having moved from Long Island. For some reason within the last year I searched them on the web, found TheDoor.com and realized they'd been playing all along, bought their other 2 albums and went to see a show at the Downtown on LI. Last week I got to see them there again after checking out Yes at Jones Beach. A damn good night, and I even caught one of the WBAB T shirts!