Naked Raygun

Naked Raygun was one of the first, one of the longest running and one of the best Chicago punk bands. They are considered by a large majority to be the most important band in the history of Chicago punk.

Members

 * Santiago Durango (1980-1983)
 * Marko Pezzati (1980-1981)
 * Jeff Pezzati (1980-1992)
 * Jim Colao (1980-1984)
 * Camilo Gonzalez (1981?-1985)
 * John Haggerty (1983-1989?)
 * Eric Spicer (1984-1992)
 * Pierre Kezdy (1985-1992)
 * Bill Stephens (1989?-1992)

Short Term Members

 * Bobby Strange (1980)
 * Jon Lundine (1980-1981)
 * Dave Riley ("for about 3 weeks")

Records

 * Basement Screams EP (1983, Ruthless Records)
 * Flammable Solid 7" (1983, Ruthless Records)
 * Throb Throb LP (1985, Homestead Records)
 * All Rise LP (1986, Homestead Records)
 * Vanilla Blue 7" (1987, Sandpounder Records)
 * Jettison LP (1988, Caroline Records
 * Treason 12" (1989, Caroline Records)
 * Understand? LP (1989, Caroline Records)
 * Home 7" (1990, Caroline Records)
 * Raygun...Naked Raygun LP (1990, Caroline Records)
 * Last of the Demohicans CD (1997, Dyslexic Records)
 * Free Shit (Live) CD/LP (2001, Haunted Town Records)

1980
Naked Raygun began in February of 1980 when Marko Pezzati and Santiago Durango decided to form a band. Jim Colao joined the band briefly, but left almost immediately after joining. Jeff Pezzati started practing with Marko and Santiago at 222 S. Morgan St., playing their first gig shortly thereafter in June. At this point they used the name Negro Commando. Shortly thereafter Bobby Strange signs up on drums and they a record demo, which get included on the Basement Screams CD reissue. First gig as Naked Raygun was in August at the original Oz. In October, they played their third gig in Detroit, where the audience walked out on them. Strange leaves in December, and the band tries out various replacements. One short-term replacement was John Lundine, who quickly switched over to keyboards. For their New Years Eve gig at Oz, Jim Colao rejoins as a full-time drummer.

Interviews

 * Coolest Retard #13, 1981
 * MRR #19, 1984
 * Flipside #46, 1985
 * Bum Leg #2, 1985
 * Ink Disease #14, 1988
 * THIS fanzine, 1989
 * Ink Disease #17, 1990
 * Tour story about a broken van