The ZEROS

[luixnoise]

Robert Lopez is El Vez "The mexican Elvis" wow que morros estaban

[jkthemod]

this IS perfect!! ('cept for the glitches in the sound) the "gritty" feel/visual is perfect!!! fuckin' genius!

[Chuckjagerdiver]

This is the kind of music that makes you spontaneously fire off in your pants.

[Avon53]

"Don't Push Me Around" and "Wimp" were the B and A sides of their first single on Bomp Records.

Who knew the lead singer (Javier) was Alejandro Escovedo's little brother?

I love the way the host and Javier himself discuss what that new term "punk rock" might possibly mean! Pretty aware and poised guy for a high schooler.

[cashmoneymarvelous]

The drummer looks like he's encased in jello.

But the sound is downright modern.

[ichdenkeauch]

WOW! I love hearing the Saints get ripped off!!! (& no hipster realising!?) SAD....

[Retrocyclers]

@ichdenkeauch Yeah, reminds me of The Scavengers - Mysterex from the late 70's too.

[miguelhell71]

im a main street brat! king and main is where im at.chicanos en punk!! beat your heart out is a jem! these guys still play in l.a. every 5 years or so.

[TheSunbau]

OOOHH - they always stayed true to their fans and did´nt sold any records!!!??? It sounds a little bit sad. However - I love the sound and I love the song. Twelve years earlier, was my great favorites a relatively unknown band from Scandinavia. THE ZETTLERS. Probably the same story as The Zeros. Check up The Zettlers versions of "Skinnie Minnie" and "Beautiful Delilah". The recordings where made 1965. Unbelievable!

[1981menso]

Too bad bands like this were overlooked by AOR and top 40 radio stations.

Didn't help that local radio only played this stuff at midnight on Sundays.

If I remember right these guys are from Chula Vista?

[Zappachick22]

Thanks soooo much. I don't care how crappy it looks ....adds to the charm. I am a HUGE Zeros fan...Jav had & still has the BEST hair....so freakin' cute.

[Zappachick22]

Thanks soooo much. I don't care how crappy it looks ....adds to the charm. I am a HUGE Zeros fan...Jav had & still has the BEST hair....so freakin' cute.

[Bipolarbear13]

hahaha! his father down at the studio designed that "beautiful set, that turned out pretty super for the zeros"

....now, thats punk rock

[scottymacIII]

thanks so much, this is a jem

[guidedbythespirit]

Great band! I idolized these guys for a little bit. I'm Mexican these guys made me feel proud to be a Mexican and punk rock. Now they are just good.

[OfficialSands]

They dont look very happy of lipsinc their tunes at all]! even the drummer is about to pass out.... good stuff tho _F

[hangmehigh11]

The singer looks like the guy who sings in Jacuzzi Boys....

[celt1031]

the audience enthusiastic reaction makes it all the more enjoyable

[cliffordsville]

Wow! Amazing. I can't believe this exists. Thanks a ton for posting!

[funkaluca]

anyone thinks this is PLAYBCK ?????????????????

[moonpieyes]

this is so awesome. i love these guys. heart of la.

[Gnasher77]

The Bass player is playing it upside down, Cool.....

[Jdakota]

Thats right Uncle of Sheila E. and I believe also related to Nicole Richie.. Nicoles real dad's name is Pete Escovedo which played drums for Lionel Riche... Long line of latin purcussionist in the family. Coke Escovedo, etc.. I believe played with Santana.. Also related to the Lead singer of Tthe Dragons which is also Escovedo

[SKOTP69]

Wow! Never thought I'd get to see footage of stuff like this!

[revbookburn]

These guys just played an incredible show in Philly (10.27)

[StupidChicagoPunk]

what's the song?

[number7gracestreet]

@StupidChicagoPunk

"Don't PUSH ME AROUND"

yo?

I think ROIR records (re)issued their entire catalog in one volume

entitled, appropriately, THE ZEROS

[Hollandia777]

This is it...

[externalmenace]

great clip...I'm luvin it :) Cheers for uploading...

[Debaser86]

this is punk rock

[ellenhall]

this is punk

[The2yung2die]

somebody should sue the strokes

[dacritter]

@The2yung2die AND THE HIVES

[Jlem]

@The2yung2die I don't think this is like the strokes very much at all

[sonicsteev]

these guys rock! that guitar player is hardcore

[mozz11]

@sonicsteev the guitat player is now el vez the mexican elvis. google him.. hes good

[MrJohnledesma]

way fuck'n cool

[majorpremise]

I love the proto-punk/garage punk sound but don't really care much for punk rock itself. Long live groups like The Zeros, MC 5, The Stooges, The Seeds, Standells etc.

[jsaw200]

crap quality

[CUTEGURL1000]

They'll be playing NXNE in Toronto this year

[krazykrs1]

hellzz fuckin yeaa

[martymefurst]

Which one of these guys is El Vez?

[onitram1]

@martymefurst

The second guitar. The singer/guitarist is Javier Escovedo, brother of Alexandro of the Nuns/Rank & File, and uncle of Sheila E.

[martymefurst]

@onitram1 Thanks for that info! Amazing talent in that family.

[LeshaAnn]

@jacobladders: Maybe you're thinking of the purplehair Zeros? In the mid-to-late '80s there was a DIFFERENT band playing around L.A. using the "Zeros" moniker, and they were a pretty standard, 'Poison'-style glam-crap band.

[JohnnyFriendly]

authentic teenage punk attitude - true garage rock and roll

[macclad3]

I saw 'em in Portland in Aug. or Sept. of '78. Downstairs at a tiny club. it was 2 hrs. of the most thunderous rock I had ever seen up to that time. The walls were sweating.

Wow.

[subformeuknowuwanna]

Mexican Punk is great too :D

[dacritter]

WOW THE HIVES ARE OUT RIGHT THEVIES

[primaltwist]

so rad they played yesterday but i messed up and didnt stick around that late

[loweryeffem]

This is the best damn piece of footage I've seen in forever...THANKS...the best.

[potaluca]

posting a videotape copied a million times with the glitches left in...now that's PUNK!

I saw these guys were touring France when I was there but I wasn't in Paris when they were playing.

[MSNGR415]

@potaluca hell yeah

[ecnalubma696969]

@potaluca Well aren't you special. WANKER.

[crapple009]

@ecnalubma696969 LOL!!

[ChrisYonts]

@potaluca So what, dumbass? Who gives a fuck what you saw in FRANCE?

[moptop66]

Thanx a mil for posting this gem. This is absolutely brilliant ! One of the best 7'' from the punk era, too. Wow.

[Michiganman2cali]

Not bad for High School boys

[jacobladders]

@creepystranger007 thanks man old school punk/hardcore is where its at bro my favorite ramones is loudmouth and pinhead i just wanna sniff some glue im pretty big on the U.S. hardcore/punk & post punk different types of weird shit

[apples13able]

The Ramones were best with Tommy on drums, it seemed like they were whipping a dead horse for a while as they were "too tough to die", it must have been hell to be in the band towards the end. There's a great doc about them. I still think they are awesome even though I admit I did walk out on them once during one of their later shows. Differences between Johnny and Joey must have been difficult, maybe that's what made them so unique. I hated Reagan,Joey shouldn't have taken Johnnies shit.DD!rip!

[averagenetfool]

My memories from that time are hazy so I can't remember if I ever saw them live. Maybe once at the "Other Masque"?

Anyway, I did those tunes and appreciate your uploading them!

[fatalcoolfatalcool]

Cool Sun Up San Diego

[milkcult]

thursday 21 january 2010 live at Magnolia in Segrate Milan

[icarodeartemisa]

This Is A Punk Jewel!

[jorgeonion]

white people had the ramones, we have the zeros.

[nickothompson]

I dont think race has shit to do with it... for example... I love punk and I fucking hate the ramones, I think they suck, and they ARE NOT PUNK. But again, race doesn't have shit to do with it.

[motorcityrocker]

@nickothompson Why don't you tell us what punk IS ,nick.

[BPhire]

I agree with you.

[creepystranger007]

@nickothompson why do you hate the ramones?

how can anyone hate them..?

[jacobladders]

@creepystranger007the ramones were awesome from 75-80 afterwards they sold out and comprimised their ideas but it dosen't mean i hate them by any means its just my opinion by saying they became overated after awhile

[creepystranger007]

@jacobladders i wouldn't go as far, to say they sold out, they treated the band like a job, and their main goal was to keep the fans happy, they never sold any records.

and why do you think they compromised their own ideas? I think that they always stayed true to their fans, no matter how they sounded, the pop songs were Joey's love, maybe that's why you thought they sold out. atleast they were unique, not a product of the mainstream bullcrap.

[jacobladders]

@creepystranger007 oh yea thats awesome of joey ramone to write his own different medley of pop tunes and i ain't got nothing against him at all or any members of the band i just think and feel they stranded away from smaller venues as time went on and the same goes for alot of bands i didn't mean it in that way of selling out just by saying what i should've said in the previous comment by saying that they grew away from smaller venues and dives but outside concerts are beautiful too bro

[creepystranger007]

@jacobladders oh, i see what you mean now. Well said man, i can dig your text.

[jacobladders]

@nickothompson who's your top 10 favorite punk/hardcore groups?

[jorgeonion]

@nickothompson yeah nick, i agree with you. it's not about race. i guess what i meant to say is that the zeros were/is a band that latinos could identify with a bit more. them and the plugz. either way, all great bands in their own right.

[agirotil]

@nickothompson Ramones not punk ? lolz

[JohnnyThunderzzz]

check out the band DEATH from 1975! hree blacjk guys making pre punk rock! even with the "1234" even before the ramones!

[bluerondoo]

fuck the 70s, listen to 'hang up' by the wailers, that's early 60s!

[nickymale]

@jorgeonion you guys got the zeros, but i got the red onions!!

[spooge1234]

these guys are awesome but nobody is better then the Ramones

[jacobladders]

better than ramones and the clash zeros aren't overrated

[hikakaruy]

*O*<3

Hector is my uncle XD

[SANTIAGOCARRERA183]

punk bien

salu2ecuador

[hayastan5]

as good as the ramones or the clash at that time

1977 punk at it´s best

[TheThrashZone]

i aggre

[oiyabastard]

@hayastan5  no

[hayastan5]

@oiyabastard yes, indeed the are as good as the Ramones and the Clash although the Ramones will be my all-time-fav-punk-banf forever

[jacobladders]

all those bands were awesome during that golden era but the zeros never sold out they were always under the radar and stopped before they became a commodity new wave was always more of commercial garbage than punk or hardcore

[fallspeed]

Great stuff. I'm a San Diego native but I was too young to catch these guys back then. I do remember the host, Clark Anthony, LOL.

[andyseptik]

they rocked the Mohawk the other night!

[alifeleti]

It actually looks cool when the video distorts at the start. Great post by the by.

[teerjerk]

da da da darling!!!

[Intendeduse1]

I actually managed to record a few songs from the Portland MFNW show before my camera went dead... should be uploaded to "intendeduse1" within a few days.

[brianmars]

Saw them play last night in Portland. Awesome show.

[zombiecharm]

Friday, Oct 2. at The Mohawk- Austin, TX

The Zeros play with Lost Controls, Broken Gold, and Love Collector.

[punkazzgearhead]

I drove over an hour last night to see these guys play in their home town at the Casbah. First time I have ever seen a show in the San Diego area. They sounded great considering thier age. What trripped me out is one of the guitarists was using a Gretsch. I think thats part of the reason why they still sounded like they did back in the day. Anytime I go see an older punk these days, they just dont sound the same. I was impressed last night!

[etymos]

I was at the same show and totally agree. I love them.

[yeenman]

The first punk show I'd ever seen set the bar high. They played in a small club in San Diego with the Dils, fine in their own right and I believe the Exterminators opened. It was at some Lions Club, great show.

[rdezonia]

I was there too! It was at the Adams Ave. Theater. It was The Zeros, The Dils and The Hitmakers. The Lions club was over on Utah St. I saw a bunch of shows there back in the day.

[grind619ent]

Good times and ground breaking At Adams Ave. I can still remember all the cop cars across the street, itching to break up our fun.

[packysomerville]

Sounds like the Saints from Australia. And that's a good thing.

[karateboogaloo]

I was thinking the same thing!

[skadooodle]

Just came from a show at the Redwood, great!

[spineboy]

Yeah I was there too up in the front - great sweaty fun

[mrsticker2]

I went to the same show to see Mike Watt. Had no idea who The Zeros were, but I was blown away. Now I feel like I accidentally walked into a historical night.

[Avebury]

This is really great. I'm sure Javier now regrets making fun of 38-year-old rock 'n' rollers.

Is it just me, or does the announcer sound just like Dick Clark?

[honolululalala]

this is a gem

[gleamingspire]

Wow Flying Color! I never knew that he was in them, I have their stuff on vinyl. What a pedigree!

[gleamingspire]

Great band piss all over The Strokes and The Hives and all those wannabes. The Zeros remind me of a punk version of The Seeds, their sound didn't fluctuate that much from the original blueprint but this is crucial music from 1976/77 - why did they not get any credit?

[PAULLONDEN]

I don wanna ,and I''m not gonna.....

wonder were these wannabees ended up.

That lefty Hohner bass player could go places though.

[beatbands1966]

just watched them play here in Hollywood. They were great and rocked the house. Not too much wannabee here. It's just the Zeros.

[crapple009]

@PAULLONDEN Hofner.

[ROoooo80]

cute

[sonicrock2]

somebody knows names and what happened to those guys tho ? terrific sound

[Avebury]

They've just reunited and have been playing some shows on the West Coast. I caught a couple of them and they were amazing!

[boomstick42]

Do a search for El Vez.

[casual286]

JULY 16TH TROUBADOUR with special guest The Muffs in Los Angeles CONFIRMED

JULY 17TH ELBO ROOM with Special guests The Fleshies in San Francisco CONFIRMED

[ozruby]

Saw the Zeros open for X in the notorious basement at Barrington Hall in Berkeley, must a been in '78 or maybe '79? Truly an incredible show... dank, smoky, no stage, audience crammed in no more than 20 feet from the band. The Zeros kicked off with a great cover of "Little Latin Lupe Lu".

Goes without saying that X ruled.

Later on Hector Penalosa was in a couple of other interesting bands in the early 80's... the Wolverines and Flying Color.

[dix05069]

Punk like Rock'N'Roll was/is born American heres the proof ..... fine band

[Khultan]

You don't know rock n roll then.

[Roqvet]

Saw the zeros a few times in SD in 77 (incl the Adams show promoted in the vid). They opened for the Weirdos & for the Screamers; Also saw them at a house party. Not many people at these early shows - punk was not well known, & mainstream hated the punks. Zeros were not influenced by the Buzzcocks, the Zero's music at the time was before America had heard the Buzzcocks. It was late 77 or 78 before the Buzzcocks had any music available: just an E/P & single: Orgasm Addict - both only on import.

[JuanLeggett]

Me and Babas brother Kevin had a garage band back then and Baba would sit in and play with us when he was at home in his Dads house in National City,CA What cool times Daddio.

I Just saw a poster for them here in Berkeley and I'm really pissed I missed them.

[chasebizzy]

I wonder if these guys were Buzzcocks fans?

[JuanLeggett]

The Buzzcocks had all the Zeros records

[shrewgy]

RAD! I love these guys and had the pleasure of living and roading for Hector and Baba in their much later MCM & the Monster outfit.

[JuanLeggett]

Baba is a really cool cat and would play with me and his little brother Kevin at their house in National City. CA. circa. 1980

Themz waz the Dayz.

[unko415]

JUNE 27TH AND 28TH @ Gilman St. in Berkley ca. dont miss it!!

[Sku11face99]

I was there last night; these guys still have it!

[JuanLeggett]

Do you know when they will be in the Bay Area again?

[PostHunk]

You mean the Strokes look like THEM

[whmxo074]

It's The ZEROS Bitches !!!

[bongopatrol]

Best fucking intro to a music video ever.

[CrummyRamone]

Are they still playing? and where?

[cp8472]

the Troubador in LA..July 16th!...all original members!!

[ericosuave1981]

Cool songs. Especially nice since I stumbled upon this vid ranomly! :-)

[CrummyRamone]

Hey, that's a PLAYBACK!!!!

Just look to the drummer how play... don't sync with the track...

[CrummyRamone]

They looks more like The Storkes than The Ramones and their music sounds like The Clash.

Whatever, they sounds great, grettings from Tijuana, Mexico

[CrummyRamone]

Looks like THE STROKES, sorry

The video remind me to "Last Nite" from The Strokes

[IdolInternational]

this is 1977 strokes are like 2000's so would the strokes look like the zeros and last night look like this?

[sonicrock2]

YOU ARE JUST RIGHT THERE DUDE

[agirotil]

@IdolInternational Who cares what the fucking Strokes would look or look like ?

[JPGR66]

the zeros are from chula vista jack ass!

[Serenberg]

How cool wa sthat 4 them.They had a nice sound.I liked "keep away from my chick"

[robodoll]

The Zeros were Mexican punks all the way. Latinos were very active in the LA punk scene from the very beginning. Afterall, it is LA we are speaking of! VIVA!!!

[horrorlovers]

just like Ratas del vaticano

[madmexart]

Hey old punks remember the Zebra club shows downtown sd

[punkazzgearhead]

77 Punk&Roll forever!

[Khultan]

Damn....damn good band.

[BigBishop1]

they are not spanish they are chula vistans

[LilacNell]

This is great. Good band...

[elmesiasadobado]

Don¨t push me arround,Grandisima cancion ....soy el orgulloso propietario de ese single.....(por cierto se volvieron a juntar a mediados de los 90 con discos incluidos )Saludos despe Madrid

[tornmask]

this is "Awesome" great songs!

[DailyBrusher]

Phil, thanks so very very much for posting this! At 40, I'd be an old punk, but I didn't start going to shows until '82!!

[Disappearingboy1039]

Damn is started listening to these guy's yesterday and i already like them. lol i used to think that Spanish people in Punk didn't exist other than early Black Flag i guess i was wrong (I'm Spanish)

[garagerockermadrid]

Spanish? You mean Hispanic?

[chocolatesoup66]

the singer looks like the karate kid, ralph macchio.

[Disappearer88]

he looks like my little brother

[huskyjerk]

Where in the "punk era" timeline does this place the Zeroes? It's like they were the forerunners......or were they not?

[madforgorky]

Not forerunners. That would be the New York Dolls, MC5, Iggy Pop, Television, Richard Hell - all inspirations for the Sex Pistols, who stole NY's punk glory. The Zeros were a terrific band who (I think) moved to SF in the mid-late 70s and were part of the scene including the Dils, Crime, Nuns, Avengers, Mutants, and others. It was a grand time for rock.

[rocknrollporn]

r u serious

i could of seen crime and the zeros in one night

[garagerockermadrid]

You could also say that 60s garage could be considered punk, and even quite many 50s trash rock&roll tunes...

[gwugluud]

He looks like Ponch Osmond.

[abscondent]

this is amazing. I lived in National City when these guys were around and didnt even know it!

[Gravedigger67]

Great Footage! Thanks for psting!

[davidgetzoff73]

Awesome video! Thanks for posting.

[badchester212]

is that a young Sammy Serious?