Inspired by a variety of British Invasion groups, from the omnipresent Beat… Read Full Bio ↴Inspired by a variety of British Invasion groups, from the omnipresent Beatles to cult favorites the Move, Todd Rundgren and his Woody's Truck Stop colleague Carson Van Osten formed Nazz in 1967. Taking their name from an obscure Yardbirds song, Nazz were arguably the first Anglophiles in rock history. There had been many groups that drew inspiration from the Beatles and the Stones, but none had been so self-consciously reverent as Nazz. One of their first singles, "Open My Eyes," twisted the riff from the Who's "I Can't Explain," and much of their music felt like homages to Brit rock from the Kinks to Cream, thereby setting a precedent that was followed by scores of North American guitar pop bands from the Raspberries to Sloan.
Playing lead guitar and bass, respectively, Rundgren and Van Osten were joined by drummer Thom Mooney (formerly of the Munchkins) and lead vocalist/keyboardist Stewkey (born Robert Antoni). Nazz had their first gig in July 1967, landing an opening slot at a Doors concert. By September, the group received some financial support from the local record store Bartoff & Warfield, who also put them in touch with John Kurland, a record promoter who was looking for a guitar pop band. Kurland took a shine to Nazz and signed on as their manager. Throughout the fall, they practiced in their new home base of Great Neck, New York. Kurland and his associate, Michael Friedman, prevented the band from gigging regularly, believing that a lack of performances would increase demand for the group. The managers were convinced that Nazz could be marketed as a sharp, stylish boy band for the teenybopper audience, and helped the quartet members to refashion themselves in that mode.
With a wardrobe of clothes and an album's worth of material ready, Kurland and Friedman had Nazz sign with SGC Records -- an offshoot of Atlantic Records and Columbia-Screen Gems -- in the summer of 1968. Their debut album, Nazz, appeared in October, supported by the single "Hello It's Me." Although the song would later become a major hit for Rundgren as a solo artist, the dirgey original version barely scraped the national charts, largely due to mismanagement. The managers wanted that Nazz played only large halls, which was virtually impossible for an unknown, unproven band with a newly released debut album. As a result, most of the group's publicity was limited to glamour shots and puff pieces in teen mags. Ironically, many of the articles emphasized the band's "electrifying" live performances.
"Hello It's Me" managed to reach number 71 on the charts, and the record -- particularly the Nazz's self-production of "Open My Eyes" and "Hello It's Me" -- attracted some good notices. Taking this as a cue, Nazz headed to England to cut their second album, but they became embroiled in work visa problems. Undaunted, they returned to America and began work on an ambitious self-produced double album named Fungo Bat. By the time it was released in April 1969, it was trimmed to a single album and titled Nazz Nazz. Although the project's scale was diminished, the music remained dizzyingly diverse, as the record ran the gamut from psychedelic rockers to pop ballads. One problem emerged, however. In the process of editing, much of Rundgren's newer, Laura Nyro-influenced material -- which he had sung himself -- was left on the shelves. Neither the management nor his bandmates gave Rundgren much encouragement to sing, nor was his new introspective direction warmly received by his colleagues. Faced with a no-win situation, Rundgren left the group not long after their summer 1969 tour; by that time, Van Osten had already departed the band.
Stewkey took control of the Nazz, erased Rundgren's vocals from the album sitting in the vaults, and replaced them with his own. The result was released as Nazz III in 1970, but it stiffed. Mooney departed the group, later to play with such bands as the Curtis Brothers, Tattoo, and Paris. Stewkey joined Fuse, an Anglophile power pop group featuring future Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen. Mooney also played with Fuse, but left before Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson joined and the group became Sick Man of Europe.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Playing lead guitar and bass, respectively, Rundgren and Van Osten were joined by drummer Thom Mooney (formerly of the Munchkins) and lead vocalist/keyboardist Stewkey (born Robert Antoni). Nazz had their first gig in July 1967, landing an opening slot at a Doors concert. By September, the group received some financial support from the local record store Bartoff & Warfield, who also put them in touch with John Kurland, a record promoter who was looking for a guitar pop band. Kurland took a shine to Nazz and signed on as their manager. Throughout the fall, they practiced in their new home base of Great Neck, New York. Kurland and his associate, Michael Friedman, prevented the band from gigging regularly, believing that a lack of performances would increase demand for the group. The managers were convinced that Nazz could be marketed as a sharp, stylish boy band for the teenybopper audience, and helped the quartet members to refashion themselves in that mode.
With a wardrobe of clothes and an album's worth of material ready, Kurland and Friedman had Nazz sign with SGC Records -- an offshoot of Atlantic Records and Columbia-Screen Gems -- in the summer of 1968. Their debut album, Nazz, appeared in October, supported by the single "Hello It's Me." Although the song would later become a major hit for Rundgren as a solo artist, the dirgey original version barely scraped the national charts, largely due to mismanagement. The managers wanted that Nazz played only large halls, which was virtually impossible for an unknown, unproven band with a newly released debut album. As a result, most of the group's publicity was limited to glamour shots and puff pieces in teen mags. Ironically, many of the articles emphasized the band's "electrifying" live performances.
"Hello It's Me" managed to reach number 71 on the charts, and the record -- particularly the Nazz's self-production of "Open My Eyes" and "Hello It's Me" -- attracted some good notices. Taking this as a cue, Nazz headed to England to cut their second album, but they became embroiled in work visa problems. Undaunted, they returned to America and began work on an ambitious self-produced double album named Fungo Bat. By the time it was released in April 1969, it was trimmed to a single album and titled Nazz Nazz. Although the project's scale was diminished, the music remained dizzyingly diverse, as the record ran the gamut from psychedelic rockers to pop ballads. One problem emerged, however. In the process of editing, much of Rundgren's newer, Laura Nyro-influenced material -- which he had sung himself -- was left on the shelves. Neither the management nor his bandmates gave Rundgren much encouragement to sing, nor was his new introspective direction warmly received by his colleagues. Faced with a no-win situation, Rundgren left the group not long after their summer 1969 tour; by that time, Van Osten had already departed the band.
Stewkey took control of the Nazz, erased Rundgren's vocals from the album sitting in the vaults, and replaced them with his own. The result was released as Nazz III in 1970, but it stiffed. Mooney departed the group, later to play with such bands as the Curtis Brothers, Tattoo, and Paris. Stewkey joined Fuse, an Anglophile power pop group featuring future Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen. Mooney also played with Fuse, but left before Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson joined and the group became Sick Man of Europe.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
World Blues
Nazz Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Nazz:
A Beautiful Song I wanted to write you a beautiful, beautiful song I wanted…
Agar Main Hota Bhagwan आए यो वो हेस्ट थे मुझपे कल और उनके साथ हस्ता…
Back of Your Mind You know you don't have to tell me What it is…
Bakasur दिमाग़ में मेरा तू नाम च्चपवाले तू नज़्ज़ बोल मुझे और…
Christopher Columbus Once upon a time, I got this idea That the world…
Crowded Crowded, my life's so crowded Not enough time to do the…
Featherbedding Lover Ain't it nice to find somebody waiting at home Ain't it…
Forget All About It Everyone's got to have a cause or two No one's changing…
Gonna Cry Today You know as long as I can remember I wasn't ever…
HEAVY DRIVER This is 28 हाथो पे थग लाइफ रहेगी मेरे जलने तक हाथो…
Hello It's Crazy Me Hello it's me, I've thought about us for a long, long…
How Can You Call That Beautiful Believe me I would rather say nothing than lie But have…
If That's The Way You Feel If that's the way you feel, don't change your mind Be…
It's Not That Easy I know you think I've done something wrong I'm only trying…
Kicks Girl, you thought you found the answer on that magic…
Kiddie Boy Kiddie boy, kiddie boy, don't kid around with me …
Lemming Song I was thinking 'bout my troubles this morning Trying to…
Letter Don't Count Ever since the last time I saw you, you tried to…
Letters Don't Count Ever since the last time I saw you, you tried to…
Loosen up Hi everybody, we're the Nazz from Philadelphia, home of tuna…
Love Everywhere It's here, tapping on my window, knocking on my door It's…
Magic Me Innocent angel with your evil mind But not around to see…
Maut Ka Kuan सामने ख़ौफ़ हाथ में नोट ज़िंदगी मौत का कुआँ हैं आँखें खोल…
Meridian Leeward I'm a human being now but I used to be…
Not Wrong Long Baby doll, you've been caught again Telling tales about…
Old Time Love Making One for the money, one for the lady Two is the…
Only One Winner There is only one winner There is only one prize Whoever get…
Open My Eyes Underneath your gaze I was found in The haze I'm wandering…
Plenty Of Lovin I've got plenty of love for you Golden rings for your…
Rain Rider Some men sail the waters, some men live on the…
Resolution Think of something I can send her while I'm thinking Can't…
See What You Can Be Let's talk about the things you wonder Things that you're tr…
She's Goin' Down About time you took a stand But please don't misunderstand I…
Sing A Song We just want to sing you a song That's all we…
Some People Some people think they were born out of wisdom Some people…
Take the Hand There's a hand that reaches Reaches from a heart One that is…
Train Kept A-Rollin' On a train, I met a dame She was so handsome,…
Under The Ice Ice, it forms in sheets from your eyes Your tears are…
When I Get My Plane One of my friends went flying by He at first didn't…
Wildwood Blues Got them old, Wildwood blues Got them old, Wildwood blues Wi…
You Are My Window You are my window You cast my shadow All in the light…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found