John Kezdy
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John Kezdy was the lead singer of The Effigies and one of the biggest names in the Chicago punk scene.
John passed away on August 26, 2023 from injuries he sustained after the bicycle he was riding collided with an Amazon delivery truck that was illegally parked in a bicycle lane.
Bio
- Grew up in Evanston in the same neighborhood as Effigies drummer Steve Economou.
- Brother of Naked Raygun and Pegboy's Pierre Kezdy.
- His father Ferenc J. Kezdy was a professor at the University of Chicago.
- Attended the University of Wisconsin, but dropped out in 1978.
- Subsequently re-enrolled at Northwestern in the late '80's and earned his undergraduate degree.
- Earned his law degree from DePaul (following in the footsteps of Santiago Durango).
- Formed his own band label, Ruthless Records, in 1982 with the help of Jon Babbin, who had been his friend since the second grade.
- Worked as an Illinois state prosecutor.
- Was an avid cycler. According to his bandmates, he regularly cycled from Highland Park, where he lived, to Evanston and back.
- Had two children.