ORIGINAL LINEUP: Mark Lee Townsend, Guitar & Vocals, Rick May, Drums & Vocals, Jason Halbert, Keys, Moog & Vocals, and Otto Price, Bass & Vocals
CURRENT LINEUP: Mark Lee Townsend, Guitar, Keys & Vocals, Dan Gartley, Bass and whoever else we choose to play Zilch music.
Influences
The Who, Ben Folds Five, Todd Rundgren, Third Eye Blind, Utopia, 10cc, The Beatles, The Monkees, and probably many bands who wrote cheesy lyrics...
Zilch was arranged in the fall of 1996 from members of dcTalk's backing band while on tour of Europe in support of Jesus Freak. We use the word "arranged" because none of the members had much in common as far as musical taste or background, which is not the optimal way to form a band. Guitarist and frontman, Mark Lee Townsend found influences in everything from 60's pop to alternative (think somewhere between Matthew Sweet and The Zombies). Keyboardist Jason Halbert was synth pop from Cars to Madonna. Bassist Otto Price was everything R & B but loved The Smiths. Drummer Rick May was into Dave Weckl but had roots in power pop. In any case, the four locked themselves in the studio after the New Year and wrote the material which would make up the songs on the 1997 release "Platinum" (Gotee Records). The name Zilch was suggested by Mark, possibly to indicate what kind of impact the band would have on the world, which was a somewhat harsh assessment. Probably closer to the truth is the name was taken from a cut on The Monkees 1967 album, "Headquarters" (ironically, another band that was "arranged"). The original line up was a strong one musically, but with such disparate tastes, the band struggled on the road and ultimately retired when dcTalk resumed touring in 1998. Fast forward to the present where Mark Lee Townsend, the principle visonary in original Zilch, is back to writing new Zilch music. Mark is joined in the studio by Dan Gartley on bass to finish a new Zilch album, some 10 years after the original release. In keeping with tradition, the new Zilch promises quirky power pop guaranteed to bring a smile...
Thanks so much for accepting our friend request! Keep checking our page for new video updates and new music! And if you have time please check out our music and let us know what you think!
I can't wait to hear some new music from you. its like a small blessing to me. I just downloaded you songs on itunes. loved your music back in 97 and still do. well hope that all goes well you you.
Thanks for the add, I've been a HUGE fan since "Platinum" Too bad you don't have the old gang back together, either way I can't wait to hear some new tunes. Good luck with the new record - God Bless
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