by Peter Pedrocco
In 1996 Marilyn Manson fans were let down with the news that guitar player Daisy Berkowitz was leaving the band.Some wondered if Manson would ever be the same again.Enter a bright young guitar guitar player from Chicago Zim Zum.
Upon entering Marilyn Manson he brought a slightly new guitar sound to the band and brought a whole new legion of fans towards Marilyn Manson and especialy towards himself.
After the completion of the Anitchrist Superstar tour Zim entered the studio with Marilyn Manson to record Mechanical Animals.Upon completion of the album Zim felt it was time to pack his bags and search for newer oppurtunities.
Now in 1999 Zim has returned with a new band entitled "The Ultra Fags."Consisting of Zim and 3 other members,Zim plans on showing fans what he's truly all about.
I recently caught up with Zim and asked him about his newer project as well as Marilyn Manson
1.At what age did you start playing guitar?
ZZ: 13
2.What type of guitars do you prefer to play?
ZZ: I play alot of different kinds of guitars, for alot of different
reasons.I have custom fender, fernandes, gibson,roland and a couple I made
myself.
3.Are you a collector of diff types of guitars?
ZZ: Yes I do. I like vintage guitars as well as newer ones.Each has a
different feel and tone ..I think I have around 50 of them.
4.What kind of music did you listen to growing up as a kid?
ZZ: All kinds really. My mom had a really good collection of albums so I just
sifted through them.The Beatles,The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Queen, David
Bowie,Led Zeppelin and John Lennon.
5.Who are your guitar influences?
ZZ:Brian May and Queen, Brian Eno,Robert Fripp and King Crimson,Mick Ronson
and David Bowie,Frank Zappa,Marc Bolan and TREX, Alex Lifeson and Rush, Eddie
Van Halen as well as new players like Steve Vai.
6.Are you aware of all the webpages dedicated to your new band and do you
apreciate the support the fans give you?
ZZ: Yes I am aware..there have always been alot of "Zim Zum" sites during and
after MM.But it's nice to see the pages adapting to the new things i'm doing,
like Ultra Fag.I do appreciate all of the support from the different sites
and I communicate with them directly, telling them how much I appreciate them.
7.Before Marilyn Manson what bands did you play in?
ZZ:LSD.
9.When is the Ultra Fag Cd coming out?
ZZ: Towards the end of the year.
10.Is there an address where fans can send mail too?
ZZ: Yes, the fan club address is: ZZ/UF 1658 N. Millwaukee Ave. PBM 430
Chicago,Il 60647.
11.How did Ultra Fag form?
ZZ: It was an idea i've had for a while and after doing some different
recordings with different people after MM I went back to Chicago to start
recording new material.I recorded 63 songs while auditioning musicians to
fill out the live band.
12.What are your fav. Ultra Fag songs?
ZZ: All of them.
13.What are your fav. songs on Mechanical Animals?
ZZ: The ones I played on.
14.Did you write any matirial on Mechanical Animals?
ZZ: All but four of them.
15.Do you like bumping into fans and sighning autographs?
ZZ: Sure, I''m never so busy that I wont take the time to talk or sign things
for fans.
16.Have you performed any live shows with Ultra Fag?
ZZ: Not yet.
17.If you had one thing you could say to the fans what would it be?
ZZ: Thank you!
18.A lot of kids today get judged and picked on by the way they dress and
feel they have to dress like you or Manson to listen to your music.Do you
have any advice for those kids?
ZZ: Noone has to look like me to listen to or enjoy my music...you dont have
to walk around with a Zim Zum shirt on to be a part of what I do...I would
encourage everyone to just be themselves and sometimes it's through
experimenting with different looks that brings you to who you really are. I
am a fan of music myself, but i've learned that by enjoying the music for
what it is and not trying to copy it or to jump on a bandwagon or resort to
something i've already done..I get more out of it and it comes off alot more
original. I am fascinated with the idea of re-invention.
19.Any Hobbies besides music such as sports,collecting,etc?
ZZ: It seems i like to collect cats and star wars toys....lol
20.Did you enjoy working with Leif Gerret?How did the oppurtinity come about?
ZZ: At first ..yes. We met while I was living in LA and after I left MM I was
interested and excited about playing with alot of different artists so I
could break out of the MM stereotype. I re-wrote a song leif had sitting
around that was, a little dated, and we went into the studio to record it. I
was looking forward to having alot more control in the studio as far as
production. we ended up doing 2 songs ( a cover of the kinks lola also) and a
VH1 "Behind the music" special. It was obvious there were some issues leif
was working out that caused a bit of instability in the recording of his
vocals. I really had no idea what leif had done in the past so it was just
something that I did to help out a friend. Just around the time I finished
recording both songs, the "problem" was very obvious (as it is to almost
everyone now) and it was putting a strain on my relationship with Leif. As it
turns out some of my equipment was missing from the studio as was leif, on
the final recordings I was completely mis-credited, Leif seemed to have
forgotten who produced the tracks and played the majority of instruments, so
I chalk that experience up to " Live and learn, but dont forget".
21.Are you currently working with a record label?
ZZ: We (UF) just finished recording the majority of 63 songs. So now that
we have pressed 2 limited ep/cd's and will release it on our own.It will give
me some time to discuss details with a couple labels in more detail.
22.What can we expect from Ultra Fag in 2000?
23.Will you be touring on a natl. level?
ZZ: Well 2000 will be very interesting for myself and UF. The EP's Will come
out in early dec. Then there will be live shows.I would like to focus on
doing some shows with a major act early next year.There WILL BE a major label
debut from myself and UF next year.
24.Will the new band sound anything like Marilyn Manson?
ZZ: No, not at all.Some of the same influences are there but I take them from
a different angle. I have played with quite a few different artists and have
always brought my own sound and style to the bands.This will be different ,in
that, it's me playing everything and writing all of the music not just
contributing ideas. I've taken everything i've learned from playing with
different people and twisted it into something entirely new and exciting.
25.What made you want to apply for a position with Marilyn Manson?
ZZ: It was a good gig at the time. I spent alot of time recording in a home
studio and really wanted to bring it to the next level. I know anyone can be
talented, but bringing it to the next level is never easy. I knew that by
playing with MM it would work as well for me as it would them. I went into MM
with 100% but knew all along it would not be the last band I would be in and
it was one "Hell" of a step up.
26.Were you nervous playing your first show with them in Irving Plaza in 1996?
ZZ: Not really, it was intimidating ,opening the first show I played with
them, for NIN. Other than that it wasnt a nervous situation because we
rehearsed everything until it was perfect. It was always OUR stage once we
were on it.
27.A lot of fans want to see you do a guitar solo.Will you give them one?
ZZ: If that is what they want i will be more than happy to do so. i want to
bring the guitar back to where it was when guitar solos were tasteful and
melodic compositions played by rock stars.