javierescovedo
Javier Escovedo
The Zeros True Believers Sacred Hearts City Lights Kicked Out Of Eden
About
Javier Escovedo speaks with an air of cool that could never be faked. As the founding member of The Zeros and The True Believers, he has encountered several obstacles in his life, but emerged as a pioneer of the ‘70s West Coast punk movement. He continues his journey with the 2016 release of his second solo recording Kicked Out of Eden.
Escovedo’s love affair with music started at a very young age. Growing up in Huntington Beach, Rosarito Beach, and then Chula Vista, California, his family was bursting at the seams with musical talent, most notably older brothers Pete and Coke Escovedo who have played with Santana and Malo, neice Sheila E., who has played with Prince, among others. With such a strong foundation in music, it was just a matter of time before the young Escovedo started his own band. After being introduced to the guitar by a sister’s boyfriend, he picked up his father’s Spanish guitar and learned any songs he could master; from Freddy Fender’s “Rancho Grande” to the Standell's “Dirty Water.” After that, he lived and breathed the guitar; there was nothing he’d rather do. Baseball and mini bikes took the back seat and it was all guitar, guitar, guitar.
Life, however, threw him some curveballs. As a teenager, Escovedo was heading down a self-destructive path, which was exacerbated by the age difference between he and his parents (father age 55, mother age 40 at the time of his birth), which left him with little to no supervision or guidance. Sensing he needed a geographical change, his parents gave him the choice to move to Mexico and live in their beach house or finish high school in Orange County, an enticing proposition for a kid. Naturally, he chose the beach. With all of that free time, he developed his lifelong devotion to songwriting, spending days and weeks alone on the beach or in his room with the guitar writing. He then convinced his parents that he should go back and finish high school, which would turn out to be a pivotal move in his life.
At Chula Vista High School, he met his future wife Rhoda Lopez, whose brother just happened to play the guitar. Robert Lopez, Robert's cousin, drummer Baba Chenelle, and bassist Hector Penalosa became The Zeros.
Influenced by artists like Lou Reed, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, T. Rex, Roxy Music, and especially New York Dolls, it led Escovedo to believe he should start a band.
“I knew I would never play like Mick Ronson or Jeff Beck, but I thought I might be able to play like Johnny Thunders,” Escovdeo says.
In 1977, The Zeros played their first major gig in Los Angeles at the Orpheum Theater with The Germs and The Weirdos. The group’s first album, however, wouldn’t come until 1991, when they released Don’t Push Me Around (Bomp Records), a collection of rare and live tracks. Back then, punk bands would be lucky to release a single much less a full-length. A meeting at the Orpheum with Greg Show's Bomp label led to the release of two ground breaking singles. Fast-forward to 2005 and The Zeros “Wild Weekend” was named one of 50 top punk songs of all time by MOJO Magazine. The group was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Diego Music Awards, further validation of The Zeros’ contribution to punk music.
In the ‘80s, Escovedo relocated to Austin, Texas, where he joined his brother Alejandro in the True Believers, but he eventually decided to branch out on his own.
In 2000, Escovedo had a stint in rehab to finally kick his demons once and for all. The 28-day program stuck and he’s been on the straight-and-narrow ever since. An incredible 12 years would pass before his first solo album would surface. Nonetheless, City Lights was released in 2012 and was a welcome return from the elusive artist. From the sarcastic musings of “See You Around” to the beautifully composed “The Music Keeps on Playin,” the album swells with classic pop sensibilities, flawless guitar riffs and Escovedo’s soothing vocals.
In February 2016, Escovedo unleashes Kicked Out of Eden. The undeniable energy of album opener “Downtown” and the honky-tonk style of “It Ain’t Easy” usher in the nine track effort like a punch in the throat. Songs like “Searchin’ For You” and “Drivin’ Around” provide the perfect balance with their downtempo pace, making Kicked Out of Eden Escovedo’s most heartfelt and honest release to date.
“I’m proud of the songs and proud of making a record that is different from the last one,” he says. “This is a rock-n-roll record, not a pop record. Mostly I am proud that I have all of these people in my life that are great musicians; record label, photographers, and graphic artists that have been friends of mine for years. They all pitched in to help me make this record and that feels good.”
Escovedo’s love affair with music started at a very young age. Growing up in Huntington Beach, Rosarito Beach, and then Chula Vista, California, his family was bursting at the seams with musical talent, most notably older brothers Pete and Coke Escovedo who have played with Santana and Malo, neice Sheila E., who has played with Prince, among others. With such a strong foundation in music, it was just a matter of time before the young Escovedo started his own band. After being introduced to the guitar by a sister’s boyfriend, he picked up his father’s Spanish guitar and learned any songs he could master; from Freddy Fender’s “Rancho Grande” to the Standell's “Dirty Water.” After that, he lived and breathed the guitar; there was nothing he’d rather do. Baseball and mini bikes took the back seat and it was all guitar, guitar, guitar.
Life, however, threw him some curveballs. As a teenager, Escovedo was heading down a self-destructive path, which was exacerbated by the age difference between he and his parents (father age 55, mother age 40 at the time of his birth), which left him with little to no supervision or guidance. Sensing he needed a geographical change, his parents gave him the choice to move to Mexico and live in their beach house or finish high school in Orange County, an enticing proposition for a kid. Naturally, he chose the beach. With all of that free time, he developed his lifelong devotion to songwriting, spending days and weeks alone on the beach or in his room with the guitar writing. He then convinced his parents that he should go back and finish high school, which would turn out to be a pivotal move in his life.
At Chula Vista High School, he met his future wife Rhoda Lopez, whose brother just happened to play the guitar. Robert Lopez, Robert's cousin, drummer Baba Chenelle, and bassist Hector Penalosa became The Zeros.
Influenced by artists like Lou Reed, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, T. Rex, Roxy Music, and especially New York Dolls, it led Escovedo to believe he should start a band.
“I knew I would never play like Mick Ronson or Jeff Beck, but I thought I might be able to play like Johnny Thunders,” Escovdeo says.
In 1977, The Zeros played their first major gig in Los Angeles at the Orpheum Theater with The Germs and The Weirdos. The group’s first album, however, wouldn’t come until 1991, when they released Don’t Push Me Around (Bomp Records), a collection of rare and live tracks. Back then, punk bands would be lucky to release a single much less a full-length. A meeting at the Orpheum with Greg Show's Bomp label led to the release of two ground breaking singles. Fast-forward to 2005 and The Zeros “Wild Weekend” was named one of 50 top punk songs of all time by MOJO Magazine. The group was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Diego Music Awards, further validation of The Zeros’ contribution to punk music.
In the ‘80s, Escovedo relocated to Austin, Texas, where he joined his brother Alejandro in the True Believers, but he eventually decided to branch out on his own.
In 2000, Escovedo had a stint in rehab to finally kick his demons once and for all. The 28-day program stuck and he’s been on the straight-and-narrow ever since. An incredible 12 years would pass before his first solo album would surface. Nonetheless, City Lights was released in 2012 and was a welcome return from the elusive artist. From the sarcastic musings of “See You Around” to the beautifully composed “The Music Keeps on Playin,” the album swells with classic pop sensibilities, flawless guitar riffs and Escovedo’s soothing vocals.
In February 2016, Escovedo unleashes Kicked Out of Eden. The undeniable energy of album opener “Downtown” and the honky-tonk style of “It Ain’t Easy” usher in the nine track effort like a punch in the throat. Songs like “Searchin’ For You” and “Drivin’ Around” provide the perfect balance with their downtempo pace, making Kicked Out of Eden Escovedo’s most heartfelt and honest release to date.
“I’m proud of the songs and proud of making a record that is different from the last one,” he says. “This is a rock-n-roll record, not a pop record. Mostly I am proud that I have all of these people in my life that are great musicians; record label, photographers, and graphic artists that have been friends of mine for years. They all pitched in to help me make this record and that feels good.”
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