John McSweeney, commonly known by his stage name John Zewizz, is a British-born American
industrial music
Industrial music is a genre of music that draws on harsh, mechanical, transgressive or provocative sounds and themes. AllMusic defines industrial music as the "most abrasive and aggressive fusion of rock and electronic music" that was "initiall ...
performer. Since the late 1970s, Zewizz has recorded hundreds of cassettes, LPs, vinyl, and CD releases. He has also worked as a video director, magazine publisher, and record label owner (
Inner-X-Musick).
Early life
John McSweeney was born in Essex, England on August 15, 1955. His family moved to the United States when McSweeney was an infant. McSweeney's love and knowledge of music grew through his high school years. Friends remember him as "the definitive rock and roll Impresario. If John didn't have the record, you didn't need to hear it.",
During the 1970s McSweeney was the president of a Rolling Stone fan club called "Smooth". It was in the late 1970s McSweeney began listening to bands like
Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle were an English music and visual arts group formed in 1975 in Kingston upon Hull by Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter Christopherson, and Chris Carter (British musician), Chris Carter. They are widely regarded as pi ...
. This was a huge influence on his musical direction.
McSweeney began his musical career in the late 1970s performing as "John Cage" in various bands. In 1978, he recorded under the alias "Green Sex". The output was limited and by 1981 "Green Sex" ceased to exist. During this time John began going by the name John Zewizz (or John Ze'Wizz), and even briefly fronted a band called Ze Wizz Kidz in 1979 with friends Aero Cixal and Robert Catalono.
Career
John Zewizz is the sole permanent member of the band
Sleep Chamber
Sleep Chamber is an American industrial band fronted by John Zewizz. The band is known for using S&M, bondage and magic imagery on their artwork, during their performances, and within their lyrics. Formed in 1981 by high school friends Zewizz, ...
. He has also recorded under the name "Green Sex", "Ze Wizz Kidz", "Hidious in Strength", "Women of the SS", "Noizeclot", "Cult Ov The Womb" as well as recording under his own name "John Zewizz". He has produced recordings by "Sleep Chamber", "Dokument", "The Product", "Daze OF Trance" and "Women of Sodom".
Between 1981 and 2000, Zewizz released close to 100 recordings as the driving force behind Sleep Chamber. Sleep Chamber fell silent in 2000 as a result of Zewizz's drug addiction, but in 2007
Sleep Chamber
Sleep Chamber is an American industrial band fronted by John Zewizz. The band is known for using S&M, bondage and magic imagery on their artwork, during their performances, and within their lyrics. Formed in 1981 by high school friends Zewizz, ...
reformed (now known as SLEEPCHAMBER) and began recording again.
During the early to mid-1980s Zewizz published a magazine called "The Other Sound". The magazine was used primarily as a propaganda vehicle for Inner-X-Musick artists, and music that was for sale in Zewizz 's record shop "Innersleeve Records". The magazine ran from late 1983 through 1986. Only 8 issues were made before the zine stopped production. A 9th issue was to be produced, but Zewizz could not finance the printing. The material was given to a third party who published them under the magazine name "Issue #9".
Zewizz has released 2 solo recordings during his career. In 1987 he released a solo cassette on
Inner-X-Musick titled ''Passion Ov Pan'', and in 2010 on the
Old Europa Cafe
Old Europa Cafe is an Italian independent record label and mail order service specializing in ambient music, noise music, electronic music, and industrial music. It is based in Pordenone. Originating in the early 1980s Old Europa Cafe began ...
label he released the CD ''2012''.
Drug addiction
Zewizz admits that drugs played a large role in his life from the age of 14. During the 1990s he was addicted to heroin and by 2001 his music career had all but stopped because of this addiction. According to himself he was able to get clean in 2004 through use of "magick". Zewizz claims, "I had to use magick to break the bonds that drugs had on me. It waz part ov my being. Drugs became my world and everything in it. Only magick waz strong enough to focus my will and to direct my will into power."
Murder investigation
In 1996, Zewizz was questioned for the murder of Karina Holmer, a Swedish
au pair
An au pair (; plural: au pairs) is a helper from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a monet ...
living in Boston. Karina's body was found in a dumpster not far from Zewizz's home. The police considered John a suspect, but no charges were ever brought. The accusation, coupled with a growing heroin addiction, quickly began to destroy the band and to lead Zewizz away from band mates and friends.
Discography
As John Zewizz
As a member Of Sleep Chamber (See
Sleep Chamber
Sleep Chamber is an American industrial band fronted by John Zewizz. The band is known for using S&M, bondage and magic imagery on their artwork, during their performances, and within their lyrics. Formed in 1981 by high school friends Zewizz, ...
)
As Hidious in Strength
As Women of the SS
As Noiseclot''
As Cult Ov Womb
References
External links
*
The John Zewizz Appreciation Society – official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zewiss, John
1955 births
Living people
American industrial musicians
Musicians from Essex