Artist description Godzookie's sound is the result of a painstaking process that involved constant battles between Merrill's '60s garage aesthetic and Tom Ellington's affinity for punk. Merrill, the pretty-boy front man, had more pedals than God and wasn't afraid to play his guitar through all of them at once. Ellington provided stability, playing bass through a clear channel. When the combination worked it was because of the steady hand and cool head of drummer Che Arthur.The studio tracks here were recorded in May 1996 at Robert Huffman's studio in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and were produced by Che Arthur. The live songs here were recorded on an off-brand cassette recorder at a performance in Montgomery, Ala., on June 1, 1996. "Play Something ..." is simply some between-songs nonsense from a Tuscaloosa performance later that month. CD cover design by Merrill.

Music Style Punk/garage

Musical Influences Ramones, Black Flag, Lou Reed, Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth, Nomeansno, J Church, Roky Erickson, Bikini Kill, Dead Kennedys, Ventures, Minutemen

Similar Artists Ramones, Black Flag, Velvet Underground, Jesus and Mary Chain, Bikini Kill, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Nuisance, Minor Threat, Iodine, Universal Life and Accident, People's Army

Artist History Godzookie had a short but dazzling life, rather like the meteor that hit a Sylacauga, Ala., woman in the 1950s. She was left with a big bruise on the thigh, but she sustained no lasting damage. Likewise, no one was seriously hurt by Godzookie's brief appearance on the scene, but the band did make an impression.Godzookie began in late 1993 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as a collaboration between guitarist-vocalist Merrill and bass player Tom Ellington. Dave Pessoney, the original drummer, signed on a day or two before the band's first gig. Che Arthur replaced Pessoney in fall 1995. Godzookie recorded nine songs in the studio in May 1996. The first tornado of the season appeared in Tuscaloosa County that day but only caused a brief disruption in the session. With Arthur moving to Chicago, Ellington to suburban Washington, D.C., and Merrill to Montgomery, Ala., the band broke up in June 1996, after deciding that meeting in Ohio to practice would not be feasible.Today Arthur lives in Chicago, where he plays guitar and sings for Universal Life and Accident. Ellington lives outside Washington, D.C., where he plays bass for the People's Army. Merrill lives in Chicago and is working on mysterious solo projects.

Group Members Che Arthur, Tom Ellington, Merrill

Instruments guitar, drums, bass

Albums Greatest Hits Volume Two

Location Tuscaloosa, Ala. - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).