Biography
Among the Midwest’s most impactful punk acts to emerge during the 1980s, Naked Raygun originated in Chicago and blended soaring melodies, serrated guitar textures, communal choruses, driving percussion, and lyrics that merged intimate concerns with broader social commentary. Locally, the group stood out as the scene’s leading and most significant outfit while melodic punk hardened into hardcore; although their sound grew leaner across the years, the music’s drive and intensity remained undiminished. Their debut long-player, the 1985 album Throb Throb, confirmed their stature, while the 1988 release Jettison earned recognition as their strongest work, and Over the Overlords arrived in 2021 as their first studio effort in more than three decades following a 1992 breakup and a 2006 return to the stage.
The band took shape in February 1980 when bassist Marko Pezzati and guitarist Santiago Durango, both punk enthusiasts enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago, began the project. Drummer Jim Colao, a Durango acquaintance, joined at the outset, and vocalist duties went to Marko’s brother Jeff Pezzati, who had previously fronted a cover band. Their first performance occurred the next June, yet Colao soon departed and Bobby Strange assumed the drum chair. Strange exited by December; Jon Lundin briefly handled drums before Colao rejoined for a New Year’s Eve concert, after which Lundin shifted to keyboards and left permanently in 1981.
Regular appearances followed at Oz, the Chicago bar that served as a hub for the city’s punk community. Their first vinyl appearance came on the live compilation Busted at Oz, a collection featuring several local bands—including the Effigies, Strike Under, and the Subverts—captured at the venue in March 1981. Shortly afterward Marko Pezzati stepped away, and Camilo Gonzalez, previously in Silver Abuse alongside Durango, took over on bass. Friend John Haggerty began adding saxophone and second guitar in performance, then supplied both instruments plus backing vocals on the 1983 EP Basement Screams, Naked Raygun’s initial studio recording. Haggerty soon became a full member, creating a twin-guitar configuration that lasted until mid-1983, when Durango exited to focus on his studies and on Big Black, the band started by vocal Naked Raygun supporter Steve Albini. Jeff Pezzati also spent time in Big Black. With Haggerty established as lead guitarist, the group tracked an album during summer 1983, though money issues delayed its release. After finishing his parts, Jim Colao departed, and Eric Spicer, ex of DV8, took the drum position in summer 1984. West Coast touring and steady Midwest dates generated strong interest; Homestead Records finally issued Throb Throb in early 1985, tightening the band’s earlier experimental edges into a more direct and forceful attack. The record drew enthusiastic underground coverage and solid sales, enabling Naked Raygun to fill major Chicago clubs.
Following the Throb Throb tour, Camilo Gonzalez left and Pierre Kezdy joined on bass for the sessions that yielded All Rise, released in early 1986. Positive notices again greeted the album. The band then moved to Caroline Records through a deal arranged by former Minor Threat guitarist Lyle Preslar, now employed by the label, and began work on their next LP in 1987. Jettison appeared in early 1988 and featured a live cover of Stiff Little Fingers’ “Suspect Device” captured at Chicago’s 2,500-capacity Riviera in November 1987, a venue that hosted many subsequent hometown shows. East and West Coast tours succeeded, and a second Caroline album, Understand, arrived in 1989. Overseas dates in Europe and the United Kingdom followed. Despite peak popularity, John Haggerty grew unhappy; while his bandmates retained day jobs, he sought full-time commitment and questioned financial management. Unable to resolve the differences, he exited in August 1989. With an East Coast tour approaching, Bill Stephens, formerly of Product 19, was recruited on guitar. The first album with Stephens, Raygun … Naked Raygun, appeared in October 1990, yet both the band and listeners found it disappointing and momentum faded. After demoing fresh material in mid-1992 and playing another Riviera show, Naked Raygun disbanded without announcement. Haggerty later formed Pegboy, while Jeff Pezzati became lead singer of the Bomb.
The final lineup briefly reconvened in 1997 to re-record the 1992 demos for the album Last of the Demohicans and to play three concerts at Chicago’s Metro; those performances supplied the 2001 live release Free Shit. By then Quarterstick Records, an imprint of the longstanding Chicago punk label Touch & Go, had reissued the back catalog, adding unreleased material to every title except Raygun … Naked Raygun. After years of inactivity, Naked Raygun were scheduled for a reunion performance at the 2006 Riot Fest. The lineup again consisted of Jeff Pezzati, Bill Stephens, Pierre Kezdy, and Eric Spicer. Local coverage was extensive, the response favorable, and the band made the reunion ongoing. Periodic tours ensued, and Riot Fest Records issued the 2009 single “Mein Iron Maiden” b/w “Out of Your Mind.” That year also brought the DVD documentary What Poor Gods We Do Make: The Story and Music Behind Naked Raygun. Two further singles followed on the same label: “Growing Away” b/w “Just for Me” in 2010 and “Burning Red” b/w “Black Eyed Blue” in 2011. Also in 2011, Pete Mittler, known as Sensitive Pete, replaced Pierre Kezdy on bass for live dates after Kezdy suffered a stroke. Fritz Doreza succeeded Mittler in 2015, allowing Naked Raygun to open a large Foo Fighters concert at Wrigley Field alongside fellow Chicago acts Cheap Trick and Urge Overkill. Pierre Kezdy died of cancer on October 9, 2020, at age 58; his last studio recordings with the band surfaced on Over the Overlords, issued in 2021 by Wax Trax! Records as the group’s first studio album since 1990.
The band took shape in February 1980 when bassist Marko Pezzati and guitarist Santiago Durango, both punk enthusiasts enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago, began the project. Drummer Jim Colao, a Durango acquaintance, joined at the outset, and vocalist duties went to Marko’s brother Jeff Pezzati, who had previously fronted a cover band. Their first performance occurred the next June, yet Colao soon departed and Bobby Strange assumed the drum chair. Strange exited by December; Jon Lundin briefly handled drums before Colao rejoined for a New Year’s Eve concert, after which Lundin shifted to keyboards and left permanently in 1981.
Regular appearances followed at Oz, the Chicago bar that served as a hub for the city’s punk community. Their first vinyl appearance came on the live compilation Busted at Oz, a collection featuring several local bands—including the Effigies, Strike Under, and the Subverts—captured at the venue in March 1981. Shortly afterward Marko Pezzati stepped away, and Camilo Gonzalez, previously in Silver Abuse alongside Durango, took over on bass. Friend John Haggerty began adding saxophone and second guitar in performance, then supplied both instruments plus backing vocals on the 1983 EP Basement Screams, Naked Raygun’s initial studio recording. Haggerty soon became a full member, creating a twin-guitar configuration that lasted until mid-1983, when Durango exited to focus on his studies and on Big Black, the band started by vocal Naked Raygun supporter Steve Albini. Jeff Pezzati also spent time in Big Black. With Haggerty established as lead guitarist, the group tracked an album during summer 1983, though money issues delayed its release. After finishing his parts, Jim Colao departed, and Eric Spicer, ex of DV8, took the drum position in summer 1984. West Coast touring and steady Midwest dates generated strong interest; Homestead Records finally issued Throb Throb in early 1985, tightening the band’s earlier experimental edges into a more direct and forceful attack. The record drew enthusiastic underground coverage and solid sales, enabling Naked Raygun to fill major Chicago clubs.
Following the Throb Throb tour, Camilo Gonzalez left and Pierre Kezdy joined on bass for the sessions that yielded All Rise, released in early 1986. Positive notices again greeted the album. The band then moved to Caroline Records through a deal arranged by former Minor Threat guitarist Lyle Preslar, now employed by the label, and began work on their next LP in 1987. Jettison appeared in early 1988 and featured a live cover of Stiff Little Fingers’ “Suspect Device” captured at Chicago’s 2,500-capacity Riviera in November 1987, a venue that hosted many subsequent hometown shows. East and West Coast tours succeeded, and a second Caroline album, Understand, arrived in 1989. Overseas dates in Europe and the United Kingdom followed. Despite peak popularity, John Haggerty grew unhappy; while his bandmates retained day jobs, he sought full-time commitment and questioned financial management. Unable to resolve the differences, he exited in August 1989. With an East Coast tour approaching, Bill Stephens, formerly of Product 19, was recruited on guitar. The first album with Stephens, Raygun … Naked Raygun, appeared in October 1990, yet both the band and listeners found it disappointing and momentum faded. After demoing fresh material in mid-1992 and playing another Riviera show, Naked Raygun disbanded without announcement. Haggerty later formed Pegboy, while Jeff Pezzati became lead singer of the Bomb.
The final lineup briefly reconvened in 1997 to re-record the 1992 demos for the album Last of the Demohicans and to play three concerts at Chicago’s Metro; those performances supplied the 2001 live release Free Shit. By then Quarterstick Records, an imprint of the longstanding Chicago punk label Touch & Go, had reissued the back catalog, adding unreleased material to every title except Raygun … Naked Raygun. After years of inactivity, Naked Raygun were scheduled for a reunion performance at the 2006 Riot Fest. The lineup again consisted of Jeff Pezzati, Bill Stephens, Pierre Kezdy, and Eric Spicer. Local coverage was extensive, the response favorable, and the band made the reunion ongoing. Periodic tours ensued, and Riot Fest Records issued the 2009 single “Mein Iron Maiden” b/w “Out of Your Mind.” That year also brought the DVD documentary What Poor Gods We Do Make: The Story and Music Behind Naked Raygun. Two further singles followed on the same label: “Growing Away” b/w “Just for Me” in 2010 and “Burning Red” b/w “Black Eyed Blue” in 2011. Also in 2011, Pete Mittler, known as Sensitive Pete, replaced Pierre Kezdy on bass for live dates after Kezdy suffered a stroke. Fritz Doreza succeeded Mittler in 2015, allowing Naked Raygun to open a large Foo Fighters concert at Wrigley Field alongside fellow Chicago acts Cheap Trick and Urge Overkill. Pierre Kezdy died of cancer on October 9, 2020, at age 58; his last studio recordings with the band surfaced on Over the Overlords, issued in 2021 by Wax Trax! Records as the group’s first studio album since 1990.
Albums
