The year is 1975. In a smokey pub called The Boot in New Orleans 3 men are drinking and pondering their futures as they toil over what to call the band they have formed. Going through each list that the individuals had brought to the table more frustration grew as more liquor poured. After dozens of choices are shot down and dozens of others create laughter they decide tonight may not be the night they find their moniker. However as they are about to leave one noticed a decoupaged picture on the wall...

It is a 1926 Vogue magazine cover. A stoic woman in a long green dress and veiled hat attempts to ride a zebra. (André E. Marty's safari scene appeared on the January 15, 1926, cover of Vogue and is available as a print at HYPERLINK "http://www.condenaststore.com/"www.condenaststore.com) One of them says hey why don't we just call ourselves Zebra. And the rest as they say is history.

In the roughly 35 years years that have past since Randy Jackson made that suggestion Zebra has rocked millions with their amazing musicianship, exemplary song writing and totally approachable candor. The recent sold-out Patchogue Theatre show only re-enforces the strength of their songs and general popularity that has galvanized them with their tireless audience.

Randy and Felix Hanemann met in the band Shepherds Bush where Felix played guitar, sang and wrote the songs. The demise of that band in 1974 brought a new frontier, Maelstrom. Randy had by now met up with Guy Gelso a native Californian who had transplanted to New Orleans looking for love and found a life long gig. These three along with a keyboardist named Tim Thorson play as Maelstrom. Two interesting and important things happen in Maelstrom; one Felix starts playing bass and two, Tim leaves. Leaving the core that is to become Zebra.

So when the hell did Zebra get to Long Island? I'm glad you asked. It was New Years Eve 1976 into '77 and they opened up for another great Long Island band Rat Race Choir at The 1890's Club in Baldwin which would later become Hammerheads. By the end of the '70s they had been embraced by WBAB's then program director Bob Buchmann (the man who gave me my shot at radio by the way) who took to playing Zebra's demo tapes on air. It was around this time that I first met the guys at a place called SPEAKS (badadumdaumdada the biggest... lol) where I was performing roadie and light man duties for Long Island rockers Whitefire who incidentally gave me my name but thats another story. For the most part I just remember Randy running around trying to hook into the house system because the PA blew up or something and that we were opening for Zebra.

To the best of Randy's recollection the first song written was either My Life Has Changed or As I Said Before but the first ones played on the radio were One More Chance, Take Your Fingers From My Hair and Who's Behind The Door. But it was the later that was included on WBAB's first Homegrown album that proved to be the catalyst for the future. Two years later in 1983 Atlantic records released Zebra's debut the same year I started Fingers Metal Shop of course I had to play Take Your Fingers and I loved The La La Song. High points for me as a fan...Hearing Who's Behind the Door on the radio in California and see them open for Aerosmith at the Coliseum, being asked to help out with the live album and doing a storytellers type thing with them at the Downtown. I asked Randy what is different from now and back then he said “gray hair and memory loss” chuckled and said “the fact that it has lasted and that the fans still come is some thing you don't expect when ya start but here we are”

With four studio albums, a live, a best of and a King Biscuit Flower Hour recording coupled with some solo stuff the guys have given us many great songs and even more fun filled amazingly memorable nights out in the clubs leaving us staggering to our cars going Lalalalalalalalalala honest officer its a song lol.

The Patchogue Theatre gig was no different people rocking and singing along and throwing up in the bathroom. After the show the boys came out and signed autographs and shook hands and answered questions with grace and gratitude. I have too tell you what you what you may already know Zebra has always given back. Both collectively and individually. Whether its Katrina or local charity they step up. And on a personal note I want to thank them for signing a guitar I got from Sam Ash for my daughters competition dance team to raffle off at the Patchogue show. Also thanks to the audience who contributed to a success for the girls. They were electrified and juiced to get on that stage and say thank you and not have to dance lol.

In closing I will direct you to wbab.com/fingers for a short interview Randy and I did a week before the April 11th Patchogue gig where he says Zebra would like to do a new record a harder record three piece stripped down to the roots essentially. Also you can catch Zebra next at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale on August 14th and Sundance in Rocky Point on August 15th and as a special for fans you can buy both shows for twenty bucks. For more things Zebra visit thedoor.com. Alright I'll get out of your hair now.