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The Godz (Ohio band)

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The Godz
The Godz backstage in 2023 (L–R): Steve Mitchell, Sav Ramey, Mark Chatfield, Julie Neal, Keith Pickens
The Godz backstage in 2023
(L–R): Steve Mitchell, Sav Ramey, Mark Chatfield, Julie Neal, Keith Pickens
Background information
OriginColumbus, Ohio, U.S.
GenresHard rock, classic rock
Years active1976–2023[1]
LabelsFHS Records, F-N-A Records, Garddog Records, Ridgeline studios, Casablanca, Grudge, Cobra
MembersMark Chatfield
Doug "Sav" Ramey
Steve Mitchell
Keith Pickens
Julie Neal
Past membersEric Moore (d. 2019)[2]
Bob Goodwin
Robert Gibson "Bob" Hill
Glen Cataline (d. 2019)[3]
Matt Mees
Ty Beebe
Eric Mauk
Terry Evans (d. 2019)
Websitewww.TheGodzUSA.com

The Godz are an American hard rock band from Columbus, Ohio, that formed in 1976.

History

[edit]

Formed in 1976, the band conceived their moniker only to later learn of a band from New York City already known as the Godz. A monetary settlement allowed them to keep their name. The Godz did not have a recording contract when they hit the road with Cheap Trick in 1977. The band released its debut album, The Godz, the next year on Millennium Records. They played on the road with Angel. "Godz are macho, mean biker boys," wrote Sylvie Simmons in 1978. "Their songs are about dope and bikes and rock and sex. They're loud, brash, crude, but a bloody good rock band."[4]

In 1979, band's original label, Millennium Records, changed its distribution from Casablanca Records to RCA Records and the Millennium label was subsequently folded altogether. Millennium's parent label, Casablanca Records, picked up the Godz to fulfill their contractual obligation with the band but had no particular enthusiasm for them when their second album, Nothing is Sacred, was released the same year.

Whatever the group's merits, the Godz went unappreciated by rock critics; the 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide described them as a "Miserable hard-rock quartet from Columbus/Deavertown, Ohio, epitomiz[ing] the most wretched excesses of Seventies rock."[5] With little label support, the band toured again with Blue Öyster Cult, Kansas, Iggy Pop, and Judas Priest.

By late 1980, suffering from lack of label support and general exhaustion, the original Godz split up, with Eric Moore – a rocker who "makes wildman Nugent look like Andy Williams"[4] – remaining as the only original member, although Mark Chatfield returned at various points. For a few brief times in-and-between the years since 1981, Moore attempted to do away with the "Godz" moniker, calling it among other things, The Eric Moore Band. As 1982 came to a close, The Godz were all but reforming; and were fully ramped-up and back on the road the next year.

The Godz 1985 album, I'll Get You Rockin', a European release on the Heavy Metal America label did quite well, spawning a hit video of the title track in the UK. This activity was followed by Mongolians in 1987, a domestic release on Grudge Records, featuring revamped versions of several tunes from the previous record. It turned out to be one of the best-selling independent albums of the year.[6]

In 1995, The Godz recorded a live show and released it as Greatest Hits Live. In 2003, some new Godz material surfaced on the compilation 25 Moore Years.[7]

In 2019, Mark Chatfield decided to "resurrect" the band based upon its original concept. Mark contacted Bob Hill who politely declined but was glad to learn of fans still having interest in The Godz. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was shelved. Then, in 2022, Chatfield contacted previous members Eric Mauk (guitar and vocals) and Keith Pickens (drums) and long time friend of Eric Moore - Doug "Sav" Ramey (vocals and bass), and along with Julie Neal (backup vocals) to complete the resurrected The Godz.[8]

On 22 November 2022, The Godz performed in Columbus, Ohio and have mentioned on the website, social media, and in interviews of a new album being in the works.

In July 2023, The Godz released their latest CD and vinyl Resurrected that consisted of new material and a live version of Chest Fever, along with announcing new member, Steve Mitchell, to replace the departure of Eric Mauk.[9]

Glen Cataline, nicknamed "Animal"[4] and drummer on the first two Godz albums, died on April 14, 2019, at age 67.[10]

Eric Moore died on May 17, 2019, after a long battle with bladder cancer.[11] He was 67.

Terry Evans, who was the drummer on the album, Last of the Outlaws, released in April 2012, died unexpectedly in May 2019 at the age of 55.[12][13]

Discography

[edit]
Eric Moore in 2008
  • The Godz [1978], US No. 191[14]
  • "Under the Table" [1978], NLD No. 50[15] (Non-album single release)
  • Nothing is Sacred [1979], US No. 189[14]
  • Vinyl Ecstasy [1981] (Columbus, Ohio radio station WLVQ-FM96 compilation album featuring the Eric Moore single "I Won't Be Lonely Tonight")
  • I'll Get You Rockin' [1985]
  • Mongolians [1987]
  • Greatest Hits Live [1995]
  • Power Rock from USA [1997] (Compilation album consisting of the entire first album, plus eight of the ten songs from Nothing Is Sacred. "I Don't Wanna Go Home" is not listed on the CD but plays as the hidden 15th track)
  • Eric Moore and The Godz: 25 Moore Years [2003] (2-CD Compilation)
  • Last of the Outlaws [2012] (Godz)
  • Wasted: Live '93 Bootleg [2013] (Officially released bootleg recording from a 1993 concert)
  • Last Rites [2014]
  • Resurrected [2023]

Members

[edit]
Bob Hill at home in Texas
  • Eric Moore - (original member) – lead vocals, bass guitar, May 7, 1952 — May 17, 2019[2]
  • Mark Chatfield - (original member) - lead guitar, vocals
  • Glen Cataline - (original member) - vocals, drums
  • Bob Hill - vocals, guitar
  • Matt Mees - vocals, drums
  • Eric Mauk - lead guitar
  • Steve Mitchell - guitar
  • Nikki Storm - guitar
  • Tyrus Beebe - guitar
  • Mark Carlisle - vocals, guitar, bass guitar
  • Bub Adams - bass
  • Jeff Boggs - guitar
  • Bruce Collins - harmonica
  • Julie Neal - vocals
  • Vinnie Salvatore - guitar
  • Bob Goodwin - guitar
  • Freddie Salem - guitar
  • Scott A. Martin - guitar
  • Kevin Valentine - drums
  • Heidi Helser - drums
  • Terry Evans - drums
  • Keith Pickens - drums
  • Jeff Westlake - guitar, vocals
  • Charlie Bonnet III - guitar, vocals
  • Ryan Stepp - bass, vocals
  • Rikki Soga - guitar
  • Danny Boyd - drums
  • Eric C. Wetzel - keyboards, vocals

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bruner, Bethany (May 19, 2019). "Eric Moore | 1952-2019: Lead singer of The Godz, hard-rock band with '70s success - News - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH". Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Rock, Fraser Lewry2019-05-19T09:59:20Z Classic (May 19, 2019). "Godz frontman Eric Moore dead at 67". Classic Rock Magazine.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Rock, Sleazegrinder2016-12-09T19:00:00 343Z Classic (December 9, 2016). "Cult Heroes: The Godz - the crazed story of America's great lost biker band". Classic Rock Magazine.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c Simmons, Sylvie (June 3, 1978). "The Godz: The Smell Of Burning Leather". Sounds. Retrieved September 17, 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
  5. ^ "Eric Moore, Singer Of Biker Rock Legends The Godz, Dead At 67 — Kerrang!". Kerrang!. May 19, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  6. ^ EvilG (October 10, 2012). "What the f**k are Mongolians and who are the Godz?". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  7. ^ McDonald, Mick; Heemsoth, Erik (November 24, 2014). "Eric Moore of The Godz – Rock and Roll Ain't Dead". National Rock Review. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  8. ^ "The Godz | Interview | New Album in the Works". It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine. November 16, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  9. ^ BraveWords. "THE GODZ Announce New Album And New Band Member". bravewords.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Glen Cataline obituary". Schoedinger.com. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  11. ^ Lewry, Fraser (May 18, 2019). "Godz frontman Eric Moore dead at 67". Classic Rock. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  12. ^ "Terry Allen Evans Obituary". Schoedinger.com. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  13. ^ "THE GODZ Release Last Of The Outlaws CD". Bravewords.com. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Godz Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  15. ^ "The Godz – Under The Table". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Retrieved May 22, 2019.
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