Issue No. 2

Blasting Off with Zolar X
Trout

Of all the stars that shone brightly in the brief but beautiful night sky of Glam Rock in the 1970's, one of the most brilliantly luminescent was Zolar X. On any given day in Los Angeles after 1973, you could possibly have encountered this merry band of Martians walking down the street or at the grocery store or laundromat. Complete with antennae and sound effects, they never appeared anywhere dressed as earthlings, and most likely weren't anyway. Using the legendary Rodney's English Disco in downtown LA as mission control, Zolar X began their career rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jobriath, the New York Dolls, and Iggy Pop. As Glam Rock fell from favor and Punk emerged, Zolar X maintained their status in the LA new wave, performing alongside such luminaries as the Go-Gos, the Germs, and The Screamers. They also appeared on a famous segment of The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder and for one brief moment were the official spokesbeings of the American Glam movement.

While they never grew to the popularity of their stellar peers, Zolar X's influence can be heard in just about any band that crossed their paths in those early days. Now, after all that time and in spite of the European incarceration of their front man, lead singer Zory Zenith, (for assault, on appeal as we speak) they are gearing up for their first national tour in nearly 30 years. Also on the horizon is a new record (ZX2), and the formation of Deliar Spacer Corporation, a talent organization for all things interstellar.

Ygarry Ygarrist Lazor, guitarist, took time out from his busy planet hopping schedule to talk to MagnaPhone about how is he is re-forming Zolar X, their origins and more.

MP: When did space-age imagery first start speaking to you? Were you a science fiction film fan as a child?

Space age imagery started with me when was seven or eight when my dad made me and my sister Zoann a panel with lights and toggle switches and we would fly our spaceship to other worlds. I was about 10-12 when I saw my first science fiction movie. I don't remember the title but it was about Mars! My favorite movies from the 50's and 60's are "Forbidden Planet" and "The Day The Earth Stood Still" to name a few. I also love mythology movies like "Jason and the Argonauts". I was sick a lot when I was young. At eight I had Hepatitis A and got tutored at home, so I had plenty of time to myself to dream. My parents got my sister piano and then violin lessons and I would play the piano or violin after her lessons. My parents thought it was not good for a boy to play those instruments so they never got me lessons. Too bad, I always loved music! But my mom finally bought me a guitar in 1965 I was on my way.

MP: Were the bands you were in prior to Zolar X Glam or sci-fi inspired?

From about 1965 to 1968 I was in my first band The Hedge. I wanted to call the band Answer Back as an American reply to England but was out voted. This is when I first started writing my own songs. I wrote "I Wonder", "It's a Beautiful Day", and "Dreams of Living Twice" in 1969. Ed Dorn wanted to change the name to Bosca so we did. Our influences were The Beatles, Yardbirds, Kinks, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Moby Grape, The Who, The Nazz, basically any band with a Les Paul sound. We dressed like the English bands.

MP: What came first, the look or the band? Was one a vehicle for the other?

First came the movie A Clockwork Orange. After seeing it I wrote "Moonbeam" and the music to "Space Age Love". Bosca was breaking up and I needed to have my appendix removed as I had chronic pain. After the operation I went in search of a bass player and found Bruce Courtios. This was a very talented man in music and art! I knew I wanted a space theme for the band and so did Bruce. We were telling our ideas to a couple of female friends and they told us we had to go see this David Bowie. Well, Ziggy Stardust The Spiders from Mars sealed the deal. The next day I called my sister and told her I wanted a space age haircut. She cut my hair into the point and put streaks of blonde in it so it would take other colors, like pink or green. When I saw Bruce the next day, he did it too. One night while riding with Ed Dorn, we started talking about the name of our band. I knew I wanted an X in it and came up with Solar X. Bruce suggested Zolar so Zolar X was born. This had to be late 1972 or early 1973. We were still Bruce (Booty) and Stephen. To answer your question the look and music is simultaneous.

MP: What are some of your favorite reactions to your outfits? Did you ever have any interesting celebrity encounters while dressed as Zolar X?

One time on Sunset Boulevard we were crossing the street and we caused a four-car pile up - no one was hurt. Another time, three of us were crossing Hollywood Boulevard and a policeman stopped us informing us that we had jaywalked. Then he proceeded to flip a coin to see which one of us would get the ticket. The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder filmed at Rodney's English Disco really stands out because as soon as we walked in all the cameras were aimed at us! Peter Frampton's smile at the Rainbow, drinking rum with Keith Moon, hanging with Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop…the list goes on and on. There were a lot of movie stars I would see in the audience at our show in Hollywood.

MP: Would Zolar X have existed without Glam Rock or Bowie's Ziggy Stardust?

When we formed Zolar X, I had never heard of Glam Rock and I had never considered us Glam, just Rocket Rollers. Bowie influenced us for sure!

MP: According to legend, you met Zory at the English Disco and a conversation was sparked due to similar haircuts. Is that how it went down?

That's exactly how it happened. Bruce and I went to Rodney's, and after a few minutes Bruce got my attention and pointed out this guy with our hair cut so I immediately went over to him and asked, 'What are you doing with our haircut?' I was wearing my Clockwork Orange derby and swinging my cane. We went outside to talk. We told him about Zolar X and he told us about Shady Lady and that he was looking for a new band! We wanted a new drummer and asked him if he would like to come to our rehearsal the next day. He agreed to come. The next day at the studio, we played "Space Age Love" with just one verse of lyrics and "Parallel Galaxy". He was quite impressed. He told us he didn't want to play drums anymore but wanted to be a lead singer. I told him if he could finish the lyrics to "Space Age Love" and sing it he was in. He did and the rest is history.

MP: Tell me about the importance of Rodney's English Disco to Zolar X.

Besides meeting Zory there, it was our home away from home; [we had] many good times and memories. It's also where I met Jet Starr, Zolar X's new bass player. He was the sound man and fell in love with our music.

MP: Your bio says you were 'raised on classical music.' Please elaborate.

I loved the music in cartoons and soundtracks to movies, then I started buying Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, and Bernard Herrman. The counterpoint and massive sounds of the orchestra and the variety of the instruments pulled me in. I felt like I was a part of that music. So I've been combining classical and Rocket Roll in my melodies forever. It's real hard to complete that sound in an 8 track studio; maybe one day!

MP: You opened for the New York Dolls, GTOS, Iggy Pop, and Jobriath during your career. What was your impression of them? Any good stories?

The Dolls were really one of the first Glam bands with a Punk edge before Punk! Iggy was [and still] is a great front man. His energy is what you see and hear. Jobriath was very talented but let's face it, David Bowie beat him to the punch. Two things stand out in my mind about the Dolls. One time we went to the Zolar X apartment to jam, and Johnny brought along a sax player and he just couldn't play soft. So I ended up slamming my 1959 Les Paul Sunburst on the kitchen floor to gain their attention and then I threw them out! Another night at Rodney's some of the Dolls, Silverhead and me had a great jam session.

MP: Legend has it you used to fish items from the Paramount studios' dumpsters. Ever find anything really spectacular or something recognizable from a film?

I don't recall fishing for props at Paramount, but Zory did find a lot of things we converted to props from department stores in the early days. Zory and Ufoian did make the computer amp props we used from 1977 till the break up in 1980. In 1974, a guy we called Zobby gave me an original Star Trek phaser from the prop room of Paramount.

MP: Was there any significance to hair color, set designs etc. in the Zolar X mythology?

The significance was we wanted to look different from everyone else! Our vision was to take the audience to another world and then return them home to Earth. Because of money we were never able to do the show we had in our minds.

MP: Another part of the Zolar X mythology was that the members of the band actually saw a UFO. Is that so?

We really saw something in the skies that night. It looked like the classic cigar shaped ship hovering like a blimp only to disappear the second after we both saw it!

MP: You became friends in the mid-70's with Ace Frehley, who held the extraterrestrial role in KISS. Do you still talk to him? Was KISS an influence visually or musically?

Ace Frehley was a fan of Zolar X, no doubt. We talked and partied about five times. If anything we influenced him. The last time I talked with Ace was in 1976 or 1977. He picked us up in his limo and we went to a party; after that no more contact. Musically they have their sound and we have ours.

MP: Who will be making your uniforms when you tour this year?

I won't know his or her name until March 21st when I head back to Sacramento to buy the material and then have the suits made. The new costumes won't be made from spandex or anything with glitter, they'll be comfortable with a plutonian elf look!

MP: Your bio states you 'never stopped playing music.' What did you write after Zolar X broke up? Is it the material you will be performing this summer?

On this tour we'll be playing most of the songs from the CD, but we will introduce four new Rocket Roll songs. Later on when we record ZX2 we'll have all new songs plus some songs I wrote for the original Zolar X. I have enough music for 15 new CD's at the moment.

MP: Would you like Zolar X to tour the world, release a new record?

Of course! Japan for sure! Yes, given the chance I'd like to record and release until I die. My life is music.

MP: Talk a little about Zory's current plight.

He's looking at seven more years if we can't get his appeal to work. I'm so upset with him I haven't the words to express it. He's like my brother or should I say Bot'er.

MP: What was the last CD you bought?

I'm not a prude but I've never bought a CD.

MP: What was the last record you listened to?

Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

MP: What do you want to say to the world about Zolar X?

My music is all about hope and at this time in the world that is one thing it lacks. Given the chance I'm sure my melodies will comfort the lonely, inspire the heart, bring joy to the soul, and put back the love of mankind to every living being on Earth. I know it's like a fairy tale but light must win out over darkness. I'm truly the ultimate romantic.

Zolar X are gearing up for a tour and new record. Keep checking here for updates and keep an eye out for the release of ZX2, coming soon!!!

Buy and hear Zolar X's Timeless directly from Alternative Tentacles

NEW! Click Here to see the flyer for Zolar X's first show on the ZX2 tour!