Besides the passion and love we have for intelligent lyrics
combined with high energy kick ass rock... it was the lure of
sleazy motel rooms, fast groupies and a free continental
breakfast that inspired us to become and continue
being musicians (Okay, we like the music too).
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The burgeoning Los Angeles club scene has witnessed the birth of dozens of quality rock bands from the Doors to Guns 'N' Roses, but none quite so humorously defiant as ZAK DANIELS AND THE ONE EYED SNAKES. Take the band's name for instance. "When you play music for a living, sometimes you take almost any job that comes along," says Zak, the tall, trim lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist who fronts the four piece outfit. "A few years ago we were literally existing from gig to gig, when an odd looking gentleman approached us after a show and asked if we'd like to score and play on the soundtrack for a film he was producing. Imagine our surprise when a few days later, we arrived at a Hollywood Hills mansion that featured a home studio and was also the location for the film, a Triple X rated one at that."
"After completing the soundtrack later that week, we were asked to select a fictitious name for the credits. As a lark, we selected "THE ONE EYED SNAKES." Now, we didn't make this choice to offend women or anything like that, we were just having fun with the new, ugh, genre in which we were working. And guess what, the producers rejected the name because they thought it was too raunchy (Say What? It's a porn flick!). I don't recall what name was used for the music credits, but we decided then and there that the "One Eyed Snakes" moniker would be resurrected." And with their eponymous debut CD on independent "BIG WATER RECORDS," Zak and his mates did just that.
Long known on the local club circuit as a no nonsense hard rock band, the group has matured considerably since they were hailed as "the next big thing" by local radio and press in the mid nineties. Zak has maintained a philosophical outlook about such hyperbole. "It's been said many times by many people, but there is some truth in the phrase: "Nothing is an overnight sensation," he noted appropriately. After a couple of line-up changes the Snakes have become a permanent musical family. JIMMY (KAT) KATSIKIDES, who co-produced the album with Daniels, brandishes one of the meanest lead guitars in all of rock. The rhythm section consists of DOUG LAVERY on drums and ORION LINDEMAN on bass. Together they anchor a sound that can overwhelm the casual listener or tenderly seduce them.
The fifteen tracks on the CD reflect the poise and versatility of Daniels, who's catalog boasts over two hundred and fifty songs. Songs like "FOURTEEN DOLLARS & 57 CENTS," "TOMBSTONE HAT," "BROWN EYED BEAUTY" and "SKY-BOY," are evocative of the passion that has always been the band's trademark on stage, but so too are "WORDS," "CARTOON SAVIOR" and "FAST ONES." From their hometown of L.A. to the Big Apple and back, you can bet that wherever ZAK DANIELS AND THE ONE EYED SNAKES appear, fans will be left with a smile on their face.
By DAVID BUDGE - Red Rooster
UPDATE:
Two songs from the first CD broke into the Top-40 for a total of 39 weeks on the charts. AC radio loved the album's two ballads! "SKY-BOY" lasted 21 weeks on the charts and "TOMBSTONE HAT" lasted 18 weeks. They're now promoting their second release SNAKELAND. Look for "SILICONE" to be the first single.
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