Avant Garde: Difference between revisions

'''Avant Garde''' (later known as '''Zoom''') was a progressive heavy metal band from Connecticut. Featuring technical and heavy guitar solos, a dramatic production sense, and hair metal aesthetics, the band was formed by [[Rivers Cuomo]] and his childhood friends at E.O. Smith and Rockville high schools<ref name="E.O Smith Battle of the Bands">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tfnz6sTFB8 Youtube video] entitled "E.O. Smith Battle of the Bands, May 24, 1988: Avant Garde, "Tongue of Fire"". Description reads: Avant Garde, an original progressive metal band, was comprised of E.O. Smith / Rockville High School students, all between the ages of 16 and 17 years old. From [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0MJ40q-8TJPvqQAJ5m9KAA Rakkit TV] channel.</ref>. Drawing inspiration from Judas Priest and [[Kiss]], Avant Garde's lineup consisted of Cuomo on guitar, [[Justin Fisher]] on bass, [[Kevin Ridel]] on lead vocals, his brother [[Eric Ridel]] on guitar, and [[Bryn Mutch]] on drums. The band relocated to Los Angeles from Connecticut in 1988, changed its name to '''Zoom'''<ref name="rechist1">[[Recording_History_-_Page_1|Weezer Recording History - Page 1]]</ref>, and dissolved by the spring of [[1990]]<ref name="Details">[[Details interview with Rivers Cuomo - February 1997]] by Gavin Edwards</ref>.

[[Rivers Cuomo]] and friend [[Justin Fisher]] performed in several bands throughout the 1980s, playing covers of songs by bands such as Kiss, Metallica, [[Yngwie Malmsteen]]<ref>Kandell, Steve. "Rivers Cuomo." ''Blender''. January/February 2006. ([[Blender interview with Rivers Cuomo - Jan/Feb 2006|Transcript/scans]])</ref>, and [[Fate's Warning]]<ref name="riversedge">Luerssen, John D. ''Rivers' Edge''. ECW Press, 2004</ref>, with Cuomo even taking guitar lessons from Fate's Warning guitarist Jim Matheos.<ref>Beaujour, Tom. "Man of Steel" ''Guitar World'', March 1995. ([[Guitar World interview with Rivers Cuomo - March 1995|Transcript]])</ref> Eventually, the two formed a band they dubbed "Avant Garde," though Cuomo would remark years later "[they] were anything but."<ref>Daley, David. "Happy [cancelled] Days" ''Alternative Press'', January 1997. ([[Alternative Press interview with Weezer - January 1997|Transcript]])</ref><ref name="hartford">Daley, David. "Cuomo's band one of three to evolve from Avant Garde" ''The Hartford Courant'', 4 December 1996. ([[Hartford Courant article - December 4, 1996#Cuomo's band one of three to evolve from Avant Garde|Transcript/scans]])</ref> Cuomo and Fisher recruited fellow E.O. Smith attendee on drums, as well as brothers [[Kevin Ridel|Kevin]] and [[Eric Ridel]] (of nearby Rockville High School) on lead vocals and guitar, respectively, after meeting Kevin Ridel at a "Battle of the Bands" competition.<ref name="riversedge" />

In 1987, Avant Garde recorded their first, untitled, demo tape, consisting of the songs "[[Tongue of Fire]]", "[[I Must Be Dreaming]]" and "[[Black Rose]]." Later dubbed ''[[The Blue Demo]]'' for its light blue sticker label, the demo on cassette in limited quantities.

On [[December 12]], [[December 13|13]] and [[December 18|18]] of [[1987]], Avant Garde recorded six new songs at Trod Nossel studios in Wallingford, Connecticut<ref name="rechist1" />. This demo, later dubbed ''[[The Purple Demo]]'' for it's purple label, featured the songs "[[You Were Just Using Me]]", "[[Renaissance]]", "[[Standing in the Paris Rain]]", "[[Father Time]]", "[[Never Forget]]", and "[[Free Fall]]". Fewer than fifty cassette copies are believed to have been produced.<ref name="rechist1" /> In a matter of weeks, the demo received heavy rotation on WHUS 91.7, University of Connecticut's campus radio station, appearing in the #11 slot (above [[Jane's Addiction]]'s debut).<ref name="riversedge" /> Avant Garde would go on to headline shows throughout [[1988]]. That same year, [[Michael Stanton]] officially joined the band, driving across the country from Texas to Connecticut.

Avant Garde was extremely impressed with Michael's devotion to move to Connecticut. After his arrival, the band re-entered the studio in July of 1988 to record a third demo they called ''[[Somethin' Different!]]''. The new demo included "[[Judge and Jury]]", "[[Bite the Bullet]]", "[[21st Century Shogun]]", "You Were Just Using Me", "Never Forget," and a revisited "Renaissance." For the most part, the songs were collaborations between Cuomo and Ridel exclusively{{citation needed}}. Stanton contributed parts to "21st Century Shogun" and some lyrics to "Judge and Jury".{{citation needed}}

 

According to a chronology of his early years, Cuomo performed with the band on [[List of Rivers Cuomo concerts|a handful of occasions]]<ref>[https://weezerpedia.com/catalogofriffs.html Riverscuomo.com archive]</ref> On the day of a particular show in the winter of 1988{{citation needed}}, the band found out that the club they had been booked to perform in had gone out of business. According to Fisher, this event was a factor in the band's decision to move to L.A.{{citation needed}}

===Move to Los Angeles, renaming, disbanding===

While in LA, the band had an extremely difficult time making it. They settled into a shared apartment on Cherokee Avenue, a space they would later be evicted from, according to Cuomo<ref>[[Riverpedia_archive_-_09/04/2020#Lisa|Riverpedia entry from September 2020]]</ref>. Cuomo would later reference Cherokee in the lyrics to "[[Troublemaker]]." The band could only procure stage time via 'Pay for Play' shows, which made it difficult to make rent and perform and record. In 1989{{citation needed}}, the band decided they would have to redo their image and change their name, considering both "Prong" and "Power Chicken" before settling on "Zoom."{{citation needed}}

 

The band was broken up by the spring of 1990, according to Koch<ref name="rechist1" />. According to [[Details interview with Rivers Cuomo - February 1997|a 1997 interview]], two of the band members decided to return home to Connecticut after playing "a few shows."<ref name="Details" />

[[Justin Fisher]] would later perform in [[Shufflepuck]], [[Homie]], [[Nerf Herder]], and [[Psoma]]. Ridel would lead [[AM Radio]] and a number of other bands. Mutch still plays live in the Connecticut music community<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0MJ40q-8TJPvqQAJ5m9KAA/search?query=bryn%20mutch Youtube search] on the RakkitTV channel for Bryn Mutch's name</ref>.