[riptorn]

40

Artist: Zooster
Release: Demo
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Country: USA (Detroit, Michigan)
Bitrate: 320 kbps
►Hidden Link
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ZOOSTER - Demo (1979) USA
Promotional Cassette

320 kbps



Tommy Farless - Vocals (TEARS OF FIRE, CURTIS HYFLASH, SCANDAL, MUGSY, AZ.U.R, GUITAR JOEY & THE BEST)
Mike Forsyth - Guitar
Denny Finney - Bass (OFF THE CUFF)
Mark Trupkovich - Drums (DUFFY KING, AJ KISH BAND, OFF THE CUFF)
or
John Sarkisian - Drums (THE LOOK, ROADHOUSE, TANTRUM, TALLDOGS, THE ROMEO FLYNNS)

ZOOSTER were a four piece Heavy Rock band formed by talented guitarist Mike Forsyth in Michigan in the mid-1970's, initially as a covers band, performing songs by the likes of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, QUEEN etc.
The group had a heavy gigging schedule almost from the start & as time went on they began introducing their own self-penned material into their sets.
Zooster's touring became so widespread that they were regularly playing as far south as Florida & heading up north for shows up in Canada too.
The grind of the band's hectic live work took it's toll however, causing original singer Neil Hopkins to leave due to burnout around 1977.
He was replaced by former SCANDAL vocalist Tommy Farless and this version of the band would become regarded as the 'classic' line-up thanks to their incendiary live shows.
The band eventually demoed some of their road-tested original songs in '78 or '79, in an attempt to stir up some record label interest.
I'm unsure if these recordings feature John Sarkisian on drums, (later of THE LOOK, ROADHOUSE, TANTRUM, TALLDOGS etc.), or his replacement Mark Trupkovich, but the impressively powerful double-bass drumming on the demo is years ahead of it's time.
Likewise, Forsyth's distinctive pyrotechnic guitarwork often eerily predicts the sonic directions Heavy Metal six-stringers would explore in the 1980's.
Unfortunately, around this time the band began to implode, with the aforementioned shuffle of drummers then followed by the defection of singer Tommy Farless to Hard Rockers MUGSY.
The group looked around for a replacement for Farless but his shoes ultimately proved too big to fill, with Zooster eventually fizzling out before the new decade began.
With Farless on vocals, MUGSY would go on to become a much-loved Detroit live band in the early 80's, headlining in the clubs & supporting national acts in larger venues, as well as releasing a lone 45 'Mama's Calling'.
In 1992 Farless recorded the album 'Rock Like Pigz' with his next band AZ.U.R, before going on to front GUITAR JOEY & THE BEST in the late 90's. Sadly, Tommy Farless passed away in the autumn of 2014.
Zooster's bassist Denny Finney & drummer Mark Trupkovich would reunite in a band called OFF THE CUFF who still seem to be active.
John Sarkisian is also still playing & in recent years has played reunion shows with The Look and released an album with his current band THE ROMEO FLYNNS.
For many years Zooster's main man Mike Forsyth seemed to have given up on music, but attempts were made around 2020 to put together a new incarnation of the band with Will Vonlinsowe from MOB OPERA involved.
Unfortunately, despite the stated intention of the new look Zooster line-up to record an album, ultimately this never materialized.

A Tommy Farless tribute can be viewed on Detroit Rock 'n' Roll Magazine's website:
https://www.detroitrocknrollmagazine.co ... sy-by.html

art & txt included
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1. Any Way You Choose
2. Let's Make A Deal
3. Spree Of Crime

[tygerhead]

And here's a 7-track version. I don't know where I got it (so thanks to the original uploader - but most likely motorcityrock.com), but "Running Wild" had a copy of the same rip.
It's only at 128kbs but it still sounds good. The three tracks sound like the same recording source as riptorn's 3 track version. I have this demo marked as Demo 1985(?) but of course there's no reason why it couldn't be from 1979.
Hidden Link

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