Four decades running, NAKED RAYGUN is one of the most important bands in the history of Chicago punk rock. The band has also been credited with creating “the Chicago sound.” Naked Raygun was formed in 1980 by Santiago Durango (guitar), Marko Pezzati (bass) and, soon thereafter, Jeff Pezatti (vocals). Jeff Pezzati has been the sole constant member through multiple personnel changes.
The band was initially active, and prolifically so, from 1980-1992, releasing five studio albums: Throb Throb (1985), All Rise (1986), Jettison (1988), Understand? (1989), and Raygun… Naked Raygun (1990).
Following disbandment in 1991, Naked Raygun played a reunion show in 1997, and then reunited “for good” in 2006, starting with a performance at Chicago’s Riot Fest.
And now, 15 years into their resurrection, Over The Overlords has been released on Wax Trax! Records.
The album is the band’s sixth, and their first in 31 years. Sadly, it is also the final record to feature longtime bassist, Pierre Kezdy, who passed away from cancer late 2020 following the completion of recording the new album.
Over The Overlords LP consists of 11 new songs with the CD format containing two bonus tracks: A remix of “Living In The Good Times” by Paul Barker and an unreleased live version of “Knock Me Down”.
The current lineup consists of members Jeff Pezzati, Eric Spicer, and Bill Stephens, with Fritz Doreza stepping in to take Pierre’s place.
“We are so happy to be bringing you the first full length album from Naked Raygun in over 30 years,” the band writes. “The band has so much history with Wax Trax!”
“Besides being an amazing record, the thing that makes us so happy about this album is the fact that Pierre’s first release was on Wax Trax! in 1981, and the last album he recorded before his passing is this current Naked Raygun release,” says Wax Trax! owner Julia Nash. “We are honored to be a part of Pierre’s first and last release on the label.
“We’ve had a very special history with Naked Raygun for decades and this felt right on so many levels.”
“This is an album built around solid, long-standing foundations yet one which is not afraid to try something new in places.”- Razorcake
“The band has developed a cult following since their formation in the early Eighties, and they’ve been cited as a favorite of Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, Steve Albini (who played with Naked Raygun’s Santiago Durango and Jeff Pezzati in Big Black), Fall Out Boy, and Blink-182/Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba.”- Rolling Stone
