The Effigies

The Effigies are one of Chicago's oldest and longest-running punk bands. 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. They released their first album in over 20 years in 2007. In 2010, it was announced that original line-up was to play a show at the Double Door to coincide with the reissue of the Busted At Oz compilation but this appearance was cancelled when original guitarist Earl Letiecq announced he had no intention of playing with his former band. After that, band activities ceased. On August 26, 2023, vocalist John Kezdy died from injuries he sustained after he collided with a parked Amazon delivery vehicle while he was bicycling. After his death, it was revealed that the band was in the process of planning new activity. In 2024, it was announced that the band would be releasing a new album along with a reissue of their first LP, "For Ever Ground". The band also announced a return to the stage, with the original rhythm section of Paul Zamost and Steve Economou joined by guitarist Andy Gerber and guitarist/vocalist Geoff Sabin

Current Lineup

• Paul Zamost - Bass
• Steve Economou - Drums
• Andy Gerber - Guitar
• Geoff Sabin - Vocals, Guitar

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)
  • Remixed and reissued on CD and LP as the "40th Anniversary Edition" in 2024.
• Fly On A Wire LP (Fever Records, 1985)
• Ink LP(Fever Records, 1986)
• Reside CD (Criminal IQ Records, 2007)
• ...on the move or in danger (stop) This will have been my life (stop) EP (Criminal IQ Records, 2009)
• Est. 1980 * Chicago 12" EP (BFD, 2024)
  • Features two songs from the "Burned" LP and two remixed songs from "For Ever Grounded" LP
  • Limited to 500 copies
• Burned CD/LP (BFD, 2024)
  • Guitars by Andy Gerber and Keith Shitega
  • Vocals completed by John before his death.

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 or 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."

History

Band Formation

Though a few sites list The Effigies starting in 1979 [1] [2], 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.

Previous Lineups

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

2004 - 2010

• John Kezdy - vocals
• Paul Zamost - bass
• Steve Economou - drums
• Robert McNaughton - guitars

References

• Effigies.com, lineups discography and just about everything else. Direct sentences taken are put in double-quotes.

External Links

• Official Homepage - Very informative
• Official Facebook Page
• Dementlieu Effigies page - Lots of detail
• MySpace page, run by Paul
• KFTH's Effigies page
• mp3.com Bio
• Wikipedia page
• Article in Perfect Sound Magazine - Good reference for early dates
• 2024 Interview with Paul and Steve on Jughead's Basement