Nazz

The Nazz were formed in Philadelphia in 1967.[4] The group's original managers Jack Warfield and Jerry Bartoff owned a record store in downtown Philadelphia, and the Nazz first rehearsed in a storage room above the record store.[5] In Phoenix, Arizona, another band called Nazz was formed at about the same time that the Nazz was formed in Philadelphia. This group released only one single before moving to Los Angeles and renaming themselves Alice Cooper.[6]

The band took its name from the Yardbirds' 1966 song "The Nazz Are Blue",[7][4][8] and also from a 1952 monologue, "The Nazz", by the American Beatnik comedian Lord Buckley,[9]. The band's official name on all records and press materials is simply "Nazz", without the definite article. However, the group referred to themselves as "the Nazz". Rundgren stated that "We were formed in the late sixties, so most every band was the something. It was always 'the This' or 'the That,' so we were looking for something kind of simple and iconographic, I guess."[10] In the song "Loosen Up", a member introduces the group as "the Nazz, from Philadelphia."[11] Conversely, in a 2019 interview, Mooney and Antoni,stated that "Nazz" had always been the correct name.[12]

Nazz was marketed by new manager, publicist John Kurland and assistant Michael Friedman in a teen magazine along with bands like the Monkees. However, the band preferred the heavier rock sounds of The Who and Cream. Since they actually played in both styles there may have been some conflict among fans about their image.[13] The group signed with SGC Records, releasing Nazz in October 1968.[3]

After a brief trip to England in October 1968, cut short by visa problems, Nazz recorded their second album in Los Angeles in late 1968 and early 1969. Sources have claimed the album had the working title Fungo Bat, however, some members of the group dispute this.[14] (A fungo bat is a special baseball bat used only for practice; it is not intended to hit pitched balls.) The group discussed releasing it as a double album, but it was shortened to a single LP before being released as Nazz Nazz in May 1969.[3] Much of what was cut was piano-based Rundgren material, influenced by singer/songwriter Laura Nyro - a far cry from the group's original Beatles-Who-Yardbirds-Cream derived sound.[3] Disillusioned, Rundgren departed the group, along with Van Osten, soon after.[3] Nazz III was released in May 1971 after the break-up. It consists of re-worked material that was cut from the second album.

Todd Rundgren, mid-1970s

Rundgren had a successful career as a solo artist and with the band Utopia. His biggest solo hit was an up-tempo version of "Hello It's Me", from his 1972 Something/Anything? album, which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 22 December 1973.

Carson largely dropped out of music, and worked for decades with The Walt Disney Company producing comic books and other media.[15][16]

Stewkey and Mooney reconnected and played with Fuse for a brief period using two monikers, Fuse or Nazz, depending on where they were gigging. Mooney would leave again, and Fuse evolved into "Sick Man of Europe", and later (without Stewkey) Cheap Trick.[17][18]

Nazz proved influential on the emerging genre dubbed power pop, which featured melodic pop songwriting with a more aggressive performance style.[19] They gained wider recognition thanks to the inclusion of "Open My Eyes" on Nuggets (1972), an anthology of American 1960s garage punk and psychedelia compiled by musician Lenny Kaye. The three Nazz LPs were reissued by Rhino Records on LP in 1983 and subsequently on CD with bonus demo and outtake tracks. In 2009, Spectra Records released three albums by Nazz. They were Nazz vs. Toddzila, 13th and Pine, (compilation) and Hello It's Crazy Me. In 2011, the Bangles recorded "Open My Eyes" on their album, Sweetheart of the Sun.

• "Open My Eyes" and "Wildwood Blues" by Nazz are featured on the soundtrack of The Mad Room, a 1969 horror movie directed by Bernard Girard.[20]

• Todd Rundgren - guitar
• Carson Van Osten - bass guitar
• Robert "Stewkey" Antoni - vocals, keyboards[21]
• Thom Mooney - drums