Zilch

Zilch is a Japanese-American rock group formed in 1995 by Hideto "hide" Matsumoto in Los Angeles, with the aim of reaching an English-speaking audience. The core line-up brings together hide with guitarist Ray McVeigh, bassist Paul Raven, drummer Joey Castillo and I.N.A. The band is active from 1998 to 2002.

Formation and line-up

McVeigh previously plays with members of the Sex Pistols in The Professionals, while Raven comes from Killing Joke. Castillo is an American drummer who later becomes known through Queens of the Stone Age, and I.N.A. is a close friend of hide and a member of his solo project hide with Spread Beaver in Japan. The group begins to receive public mention in hide's online blog in January 1998, when the video for "Electric Cucumber" appears on Japanese music television.

Recorded work and later activity

hide says the band records "Electric Cucumber" in 1996, but the release is delayed because of the song's adult themes. He also states that the band has completed an album the previous year and that he intends to focus on live work with the group. Plans for touring with Marilyn Manson do not take place after hide dies on 2 May 1998. The album is released after his death with only post-production work added later, and the group then issues a remixed album the following year. A further original album appears in 2002 before the band disbands. In the post-hide period, the line-up expands to include musicians such as Dave Kushner, and guest performers include Duff McKagan, J from Luna Sea and Steve Jones.

Second group using the name

Another act called Zilch is a Christian pop group formed from members of dcTalk's backing band. It comes together during a European tour in support of Jesus Freak and later records Platinum for Gotee Records. That group centres on Mark Lee Townsend, with Jason Halbert on keyboards, Otto Price on bass and Rick May on drums, and it dissolves when dcTalk resumes touring in 1998.