Zeros to Heroes: It seems that the punk-loving public’s interest in the pioneers of the various geographical scenes is eternal. Here in L.A., that of course means X and the Germs, the Dils and the Weirdos, the Bags and Geza X. But people also loves to dig a little deeper, scratch a little harder, and pull names off of Dangerhouse compilations like Eyes and Black Randy.

Somewhere between all of that sit the Zeros. Formed in 1976 in Chula Vista, the original band featured vocalist/guitarist Javier Escovedo, Robert Lopez (aka El Vez) on guitar, Hector Penalosa on bass and Baba Chenelle on drums. The first ever Zeros show was also the first ever Germs show, with the Weirdos also on the bill.

The Zeros lineup has changed a little bit over the years, but the core is still in place and Escovedo is still at the mic. It’s been 24 years since their last full studio album (Right Now!), but Escovedo says that will be changing soon.

“We’re recording a new record,” he says. “We’re not doing it very quickly, unfortunately. But we have a bunch of stuff recorded already. We’ve just got to go in and mix it, and master it. I mean, we’ve got like 11 songs done, but I want to go over it with a fine tooth comb, because it’s got to be really good. So we’re in the middle of making a record, but we haven’t made the record yet.”

Nowadays, Escovedo and Chenelle are joined by Jesse Rodriguez (son of Dragons man Steve Rodriguez), and bassist  Victor Penalosa. They play out when they can, record when they can, but the important thing is that the Zeros is still a going concern.

“(Jesse’s) father toured with us a little bit,” Escovedo says. “We did a European tour with him. He was there for us when we were stuck for bass player couple of times. The Dragons is my brother’s fan (Mario Escovedo is also a member of the Dragons), so it’s still in the family. I like it like that. Makes it really easy.”

Escovedo agrees that his band, and other L.A. punk originators, are continually discovered by younger audiences.

“Since the internet, it just kind of exploded for newer and younger fans,” he says. “I mean, we definitely have our original fans. We played in Reno, I don’t know, four or five months ago, and it seemed to be an older crowd. But we definitely have young kids coming up, having records for us to sign and stuff. And it’s really, truly great for us. I mean, it’s really flattering.”

Escovedo, who also records as a solo artist, says that he doesn’t listen to much in the way of newer bands, punk or otherwise. He’s too focused on his own work. He has a couple of solo albums out – City Lights and Kicked Out of Eden. And he has another on the way.

“So I’m working on that, like all the time, and I’m getting close to being finished,” he says. “I’m excited about that.”

The fact that the Zeros was a Latino punk band may mean a lot to a lot of people – representation is always important. But Escovedo says that it’s not something he ever considered as important.

“We didn’t really put any kind of thought behind being Chicano or not, you know, or what it meant,” he says. “We were kids when we started. I started writing songs, wanted to be in a band, and met somebody else. We never really ever really talked about it or anything. We just did it. I mean, there were a couple instances where people could have been nicer. But it wasn’t a big thing. And punk rock – when we started, it was very inclusive. You know, there are a lot of gays. Everybody was welcomed. And that’s what I really loved about the punk clubs. I was just a New York Dolls fan, Lou Reed, Bowie, Modern Lovers and stuff like that. So that’s all I was thinking about at the time.”

There is another band called the Zeros in L.A. – a purple-haired glitter rock ‘n’ roll troupe formed in the ‘80s. Escovedo says that it has caused some confusion in the past.

“Somebody bought tickets for them at the Whisky, thinking it was us,” he says. “They were really disappointed. And so she wrote to me and so I said, ‘Come to any Zeros show and you’re on the list.’ So I’ll have to remind myself to call her. Yeah, it’s annoying. But, you know, there’s a bunch of bands called the Zeros. There’s one in the Midwest, like in Chicago. They kind of get a lot of attention. In ’77. There was an English band called the Zeros. And actually, when we finally toured England a few years ago, the guy wrote to me and said he was gonna come on his show, but I don’t think he made it. He said, ‘We’ve been sharing your name for a long time.’”

On Dec. 30, the day before New Year’s Eve, there aren’t too many shows to choose from, but the Zeros are playing what should be a riotous affair at Zebulon.

“We’re practicing hard and getting ready,” Escovedo says. “We’re excited. You know, there seems to be a lot of excitement about this show, a lot of stuff online that has surprised me.”

When that show’s over and 2024 has been rung in, Escovedo has plenty to keep him busy.

“I’m just working on my records,” he says “I don’t know what I’m gonna do first. It might be that this solo album is finished first. But you know, I want to put out another Zeros record, and tour it.”

Zeros to Heroes: The Zeros play with the Uni Boys plus Cretin Hop DJs at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30, at Zebulon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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