Underground Zero

Underground Zero

Underground Zero, also known as UZØ and Underground Zerø, is a space rock band based in Norfolk, UK. The band name is often written in different ways in print, but the official form includes a slashed zero. Its sound is described as similar to Hawkwind, and it develops within the British psychedelic and new psychedelic scenes.

Formation and line-up

The nucleus of the group starts in 1979 with Andrew Rix on bass and vocals, Adrian Rix on keyboards, Judi Griggs on vocals, Brian Savage on drums and Karl Dawson on guitar. From 1981, when the band is known as Ground Zero, it goes through several line-up changes. Brian Savage leaves and is replaced by Mike (Mel) Melnyk, while guitarist Paul Holden joins. In 1983 Melnyk leaves and Sean Holden takes his place.

Career and releases

Underground Zerø appears on Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio 1 and develops a substantial following in the new psychedelic scene between 1983 and 1985. The group changes its name to Underground Zerø to avoid confusion with an R&B group in the London area. It performs at the Anglia for Africa open-air concert in Norwich in 1985, alongside Hawkwind, Magnum, Amazulu, Eek-A-Mouse and Dean Friedman. The band also plays at the last Stonehenge festival with Hawkwind and appears on Hawkwind-related Friends and Relations albums.

Later activity

Although the band does not split up, it stops live performance in 1994. It returns to the stage in 2005, playing three UK dates and issuing Powerplay, a CD containing remixed versions of the studio tracks from its two vinyl LPs plus one bonus track. Around the same period, an unofficial CD called Never Reach the Stars appears, collecting the original unremastered mixes of the vinyl album tracks and single, together with three live tracks and one studio track not included on the official CD. The release is acknowledged on the band’s website.

Festival appearances

The group appears at the Eastern Haze Festival in Somerleyton Hall in 2006, and in 2008 performs with Hawkwind at Hawkfest in Honiton, Devon.