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John Zewizz | |
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Birth name | John McSweeney |
Also known as | Green Sex, Ze Wizz Kidz, Hidious in Strength, Women of the SS, Noizeclot, Cult Ov The Womb |
Born | Essex, England, UK | August 15, 1955
Genres | Industrial |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, violin, keyboards |
Years active | 1979–present |
Labels |
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Member of | |
Website | www |
John McSweeney, commonly known by his stage name John Zewizz, is a British-born American industrial music performer. Since the late 1970s, Zewizz has recorded hundreds of cassettes, LPs, vinyl, and CD releases. He has also worked as a video director, magazine publisher, and record label owner (Inner-X-Musick).
John McSweeney was born in Essex, England on August 15, 1955. His family moved to the United States when McSweeney was an infant. McSweeney's love and knowledge of music grew through his high school years. Friends remember him as "the definitive rock and roll Impresario. If John didn't have the record, you didn't need to hear it.", [1] [ non-primary source needed ] [2] During the 1970s McSweeney was the president of a Rolling Stone fan club called "Smooth". It was in the late 1970s McSweeney began listening to bands like Throbbing Gristle. This was a huge influence on his musical direction.
McSweeney began his musical career in the late 1970s performing as "John Cage" in various bands. In 1978, he recorded under the alias "Green Sex". The output was limited and by 1981 "Green Sex" ceased to exist. During this time John began going by the name John Zewizz (or John Ze'Wizz), and even briefly fronted a band called Ze Wizz Kidz in 1979 with friends Aero Cixal and Robert Catalono.
John Zewizz is the sole permanent member of the band Sleep Chamber. He has also recorded under the name "Green Sex", "Ze Wizz Kidz", "Hidious in Strength", "Women of the SS", "Noizeclot", "Cult Ov The Womb" as well as recording under his own name "John Zewizz". He has produced recordings by "Sleep Chamber", "Dokument", "The Product", "Daze OF Trance" and "Women of Sodom". [3] [ unreliable source? ] Between 1981 and 2000, Zewizz released close to 100 recordings as the driving force behind Sleep Chamber. Sleep Chamber fell silent in 2000 as a result of Zewizz's drug addiction, but in 2007 Sleep Chamber reformed (now known as SLEEPCHAMBER) and began recording again. [1]
During the early to mid-1980s Zewizz published a magazine called "The Other Sound". The magazine was used primarily as a propaganda vehicle for Inner-X-Musick artists, and music that was for sale in Zewizz 's record shop "Innersleeve Records". The magazine ran from late 1983 through 1986. Only 8 issues were made before the zine stopped production. A 9th issue was to be produced, but Zewizz could not finance the printing. The material was given to a third party who published them under the magazine name "Issue #9". [4]
Zewizz has released 2 solo recordings during his career. In 1987 he released a solo cassette on Inner-X-Musick titled Passion Ov Pan, and in 2010 on the Old Europa Cafe label he released the CD 2012.
Zewizz admits that drugs played a large role in his life from the age of 14. During the 1990s he was addicted to heroin and by 2001 his music career had all but stopped because of this addiction. According to himself he was able to get clean in 2004 through use of "magick". Zewizz claims, "I had to use magick to break the bonds that drugs had on me. It waz part ov my being. Drugs became my world and everything in it. Only magick waz strong enough to focus my will and to direct my will into power." [4]
In 1996, Zewizz was questioned for the murder of Karina Holmer, a Swedish au pair living in Boston. Karina's body was found in a dumpster not far from Zewizz's home. The police considered John a suspect, but no charges were ever brought. The accusation, coupled with a growing heroin addiction, quickly began to destroy the band and to lead Zewizz away from band mates and friends. [4]
As John Zewizz
Year | Title | Format Special Notes |
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1987 | Passion Ov Pan | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 42 |
1988 | Briley Zewizz | Cassette (split with Jonathan Briley) released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. |
2010 | 2012 | CD released on by Old Europa Cafe Catalog no. OECD 130 |
As a member Of Sleep Chamber (See Sleep Chamber)
As Hidious in Strength
Year | Title | Format Special Notes |
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1982 | Soundtrack To Forever | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 07 |
1982 | Line of Souls | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 08 |
1983 | Industrial Suffocation | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX-C2 |
1983 | Nun with a Gun | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX-C3 |
1983 | As Recorded Live | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX-C5 |
1984 | Stranger Days | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 15 |
1984 | Eyes See To This | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. |
1984 | Slow & Painful Sex | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. |
1984 | Nun with a Gun/Gut Grip | 7" Single released on by Tuff Enuff Catalog no.TE 0816 |
1985 | Cold Dark Tales A Smell of Death | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. |
1985 | Within Wires | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 41 |
1985 | Mahcanik | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 32 |
1985 | An Anthology | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. |
As Women of the SS
Year | Title | Format Special Notes |
---|---|---|
1984 | Women of the SS | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 09 |
1985 | Women of the SS #2 (AKA Woman Iz Beast) | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 20 |
1985 | Possession of the Matrix | 7 Inch Single released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX-SEX-1 |
1985 | Rigor Romance | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 25 |
1985 | Women of the SS | Cassette X 2 released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 20 |
1986 | The Call To All Women | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 43 |
1988 | Ov Pure Blood | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. |
1991 | SS Orgy/SS Bitch | 7 Inch Single released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. U30912M |
1991 | Women of the SS | Picture Disc released on by RRRecords Catalog no. RRR-XXX |
1991 | Untitled (AKA Themes) | 7 Inch Single released on by RRRecords No Catalog no. |
1999 | John Zewizz Presents His Infamous Women of the SS | CD released on by RRRecords Catalog no. RRR-CD-07/2005 released on by RRRecords No Catalog no./2009 released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no.XXX 73 |
As Noiseclot
Year | Title | Format Special Notes |
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1984 | Music For Torture, Bondage & Leather Sex | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 10 |
1985 | Beyond Agony | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 22 |
1985 | Bloodclot | Cassette with Controlled Bleeding released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 24 |
1985 | Death Dokument | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 31 |
As Cult Ov Womb
Year | Title | Format Special Notes |
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19846 | Cult of the Womb | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 32 |
19856 | Cult Ov The Womb | Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 36 |
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Sleep Chamber is an American industrial band fronted by John Zewizz. The band is known for using S&M, bondage and magic imagery on their artwork, during their performances, and within their lyrics. Formed in 1981 by high school friends Zewizz, Eugene Difrancisco, and Phil Brosseau, over the years the Sleep Chamber lineup has changed many times with Zewizz being the sole permanent member. Previous members of Sleep Chamber have included Thomas Thorn, Michael Moynihan, Jonathan Briley and Elaine Walker. Since the beginning, Zewizz has stated that the constant lineup changes are because Sleep Chamber is not a "band", but rather a "concept".
Submit to Desire was the second full-length LP by Sleep Chamber. The lineup on this recording was John Zewizz, Darline Victor, Michael Moynihan, Richard Geller, and Chris Means.
Sleep, or Forever Hold Your Piece was the fifth full-length LP by Sleep Chamber. The lineup on this recording was John Zewizz, Arthur PW, Jonathan Briley, Eugene Difrancisco, Lawrence Van Horn, Tione, Ashley Swanson, and Dan Walker.
Spellbondage was the fourth full-length LP by Sleep Chamber. The lineup on this recording was John Zewizz, Jacqueline Briley, Jonathan Briley, and Lawrence Van Horn. The recording was produced by Paul Arnold at Newbury Sound in Boston.
Sexmagick Ritual was the third full-length LP by Sleep Chamber. The lineup on this recording was John Zewizz, Richard Geller, Lawrence Van Horn, Darlene Victor, Malcolm Smith, Jonathan Briley, and Richard Geller. The recording included material recorded between 1983 and 1986.
Satanic Sanction was an EP by Sleep Chamber, featuring the lineup of John Zewizz and Jonathan Briley, with help from Larry Van Horn and Laura Chopelas.
Stolen Sleep, issued in 2009 on Inner-X-Musick, was SLEEPCHAMBER's first studio release featuring all new music in over 15 years. The album featured the lineup of John Zewizz, Bob Avakian and Gimmie Sparks, with help from Zora and Tick. It was recorded at Zewizz's home studio and Copperhead Studios in Boston. The cover art was done by San Francisco-based artist KayTwo.
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SixSixSix is a box set released in 2010 by Vinyl on Demand. It chronicled the music of Sleep Chamber from 1979 to 1988, but focused on the first six years of the band. It also included rare Zewizz Kidz tracks, a previously unreleased Sleep Chamber album called Seremony and a booklet. Layout and design were done by Steve Hartman