Event

Zero

Circa 1980, The Heart of Gold Band....at the time: Keith and Donna Godchaux, John Kahn and Greg Anton....were looking for a guitar player. Steve Kimock showed up at a rehearsal with a Stratocaster in one hand, a Boogie amp in the other, and the musical chemistry was palpable halfway through the first song. Tragically, Keith died in a car accident soon thereafter, the band carried on for a few years, then Greg and Steve took their musical connection into a studio and recorded the first Zero album (Absolute Zero); Steve on guitar and bass, Greg on drums and piano.

Greg Anton, Steve Kimock, John Farey, Bobby Vega
John Cipollina (1943-1989), Martin Fierro (1942-2008)

After a month in the studio, creating what would become the core of the Zero instrumental repertoire, Greg and Steve recruited other players and started doing Zero shows. They were joined by a host of Bay Area luminaries: Banana, John Cipollina, John Farey, Martin Fierro, Hadi Al-Saadoon, Liam Hanrahan, John Kahn, Chip Roland, Merl Saunders, Tony Saunders, Pete Sears, Robin Sylvester, Bobby Vega and others.

After years of performing and recording primarily instrumental music, in 1992 Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter came on board, they added vocalist Judge Murphy and the Zero horizon expanded.

Nothings like Zero.

HISTORY...

Musicians who on occasion have joined Zero on stage or in the studio include Sikiru Adepoju, Norton Buffalo, Jack Cassidy, Jessica Fierro, Jerry Garcia, Donna Godchaux, Wavy Gravy, Terry Haggerty, Mickey Hart, Nicky Hopkins, Jerry Joseph, Jorma Kaukonen, John Morgan Kimock, Miles Kimock, Bill Kreutzmann, Alex Ligertwood, Buddy Miles, Lauren Murphy, Jeff Pevar, Noel Redding, Derek Trucks, Lonnie Walters, Vince Welnick...the list goes on.

Besides headlining major festivals around the country, Zero has played double bills with artists as diverse as Blood Sweat and Tears, Ray Charles, Kenny G., Sceamin Jay Hawkins, Hot Tuna, Dr. John, Nicolette Larson, Taj Mahal, Eddie Money, The Neville Brothers, Stephen Stills, The String Cheese Incident, Alan Toussaint, Robin Trower, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Weir, Edgar Winter, and many more.