The Effigies

The Effigies are one of Chicago's oldest and longest-running punk bands. The Effigies and Naked Raygun are the only bands out of the Big Four that are still currently active and playing. The band formed in early 1980 and consistently played and recorded throughout the 1980s.

In 2004, The Effigies returned with 3 of the 4 original members and frequently plays shows throughout Chicago and the Midwest. They continue to play regularly and release their first album in over 20 years in 2007.

Current Lineup

 * John Kezdy - Vocals, Lyrics
 * Robert McNaughton - Guitar
 * Paul Zamost - Bass
 * Steve Economou - Drums

Releases

 * Haunted Town EP (Autumn Records, October or November 1981).
 * Re-released (Ruthless Records, 1984), with "Security" as added track.


 * Bodybag / Security 7" (Ruthless Records, 1982)
 * We're Da Machine EP (Ruthless Records, 1983)
 * For Ever Grounded LP (Ruthless Records, 1984)
 * Fly On A Wire LP (Fever Records, 1985)
 * Ink LP(Fever Records, 1986)
 * Reside CD (Criminal IQ Records, 2007)

Collections

 * Remains Nonviewable LP (Roadkill Records, 1989) - "Collection of almost all early material up to, and including part of, For Ever Grounded. It is thought that 2,000 copies were actually distributed. Remains Nonviewable was re-released on C.D. in late 1995 by Touch & Go Records"

Compilations

 * Busted at Oz (Autumn Records, 1981) - Live versions of "Guns of Ballots" and "Quota".
 * The Middle of America Compilation (HID, 1984) - A re-mixed version of "Security"
 * The Enigma Variations (Enigma, 1985) - "Blue Funk"

Live Albums

 * V.M.L. Live Presents the Effigies 12/16/95 (V.M.L. Records, 1996) - "Livetracks from the first reunion show of original members since 1992. Recordedlive 12/16/1995, at the Lounge Ax, Chicago, Illinois. 1,000 pressed."

Band Formation
Though a few sites list The Effigies starting in 1979, this is not the case. In 1978, John Kezdy dropped out of the University of Wisconsin and began to learn the guitar. He and his good friend Steve Economou decided to look into into starting a band. In a 1981 interview in Noise 6, Kezdy stated he met Paul Zamost at Neo, and along with a mysterious singer named Norman, teamed up with Economou and started practicing. Norman was unceremoniously canned after a few practices, and John took over on vocals and guitar, although by his own admission he was an inadequate guitarist. By this point (which must have been around summer of 1980) John, Paul and Steve were regulars at the Oz. Knowing their need for a 4th member, Oz owner Dem Hopkins (though Paul said in a 2007 conversation that they met at a house party) introduced them to Earl Letiecq, who had recently arrived from upstate New York. Letiecq had previously played guitar in a band called Wreck'n'Crew. With Letiecq on board, Kezdy was able to shift full-time to vocals. After a couple months working together they had a set list and on November 9th, 1980 they played their first gig at Oz, opening up for Strike Under. The band quickly became known as one of the best punk groups in the city, and within a month or so, scored a high profile gig opening for Black Flag at Stages.

1981
The Effigies played regularly in Chicago, appearing frequently at OZ and Space Place, including another gig opening for Black Flag on March 23. The band appeared on Busted at Oz, also recorded in March, and later that year would record their first EP, Haunted Town, which would be released in November. A minor controversy erupted in October, when the Effigies refused to play a benefit show for O'Banions, claiming the owners cared more about money than the punk scene. Nevertheless, the band did play O'Banions in December, shortly before embarking on a West Coast tour. This tour made the Effigies the first Chicago punk band to tour nationally.

1982
The band went on a tour of the East Coast towards the end of the year.

1980-1984

 * Steve Economou - drums
 * John Kezdy - vocals, lyrics
 * Earl Letiecq - guitars
 * Paul Zamost - bass

1985-1986

 * Steve Economou - drums
 * John Kezdy - vocals
 * Robert O'Connor - guitars
 * Paul Zamost - bass

1987 - 1988

 * Chris Bjorklund - bass
 * Joe Haggerty - drums
 * John Kezdy - vocals
 * Earl Letiecq - guitars

1988 - 1990

 * Chris Bjorklund - guitars
 * Joe Haggerty - drums
 * John Kezdy - vocals
 * Tom Woods - bass

1991 - 2003

 * On hiatus, outside a couple reunion shows