Pierre Kezdy
{{Short description|American bass player (1962–2020)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Pierre Kezdy
| image = Pierre Kezdy.jpg
| caption = Kezdy performing in 2007
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1962|01|04}}
| birth_name =
| alias =
| origin = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2020|10|09|1962|01|04}}
| death_place = Glenview, Illinois, U.S.
| genre = Punk rock
| occupation = Musician
| years_active = 1980–2020
| instrument = Bass
| past_member_of = Naked Raygun, Pegboy, Strike Under, Arsenal, Trial By Fire
| label = Caroline, Quarterstick, Wax Trax!, Riot Fest
}}
Pierre Kezdy (January 4, 1962 – October 9, 2020) was an American bass player, known for playing with various Chicago punk bands, including Naked Raygun, Pegboy, Strike Under, Arsenal, and Trial By Fire. He was also the younger brother of Effigies frontman John Kezdy.
Biography
Kezdy started with the band Strike Under in either 1979 or 1980. When Steve Bjorklund, the band's lead singer, left the band in 1981, the remaining members, including Kezdy, formed a new band called Trial By Fire. When that band folded in 1982, Kezdy went on to replace Camilo Gonzalez in Naked Raygun, joining them in time for their second album All Rise. Naked Raygun ceased performing in 1992. In 1994 Kezdy replaced Steve Saylors in Pegboy, the band started by former Naked Raygun bandmate John Haggerty. When Naked Raygun started playing again in 2007, Kezdy was replaced in Pegboy by Mike Thompson. Kezdy suffered a stroke in 2010 and was unable to perform live with Naked Raygun, so Sensitive Pete, who was already part of Jeff Pezzati's band, the Bomb, played bass for their live shows. Kezdy did re-join Naked Raygun for live shows in 2013, playing baritone guitar with Fritz Doreza playing bass.
Other bands that Kezdy has played with include the Rainbow Girls (with his brother John Kezdy, of the Effigies), the Interceptors and Arsenal (both with Santiago Durango). Kezdy played a Gibson G3 bass guitar.
Kezdy was interviewed for the film You Weren't There and two of his bands (Naked Raygun and Strike Under) were profiled.
Death
Partial discography
=Strike Under=
=Naked Raygun=
- All Rise (1986)
- Jettison (1988)
- Understand? (1989)
- Raygun...Naked Raygun (1990)
- Last of the Demo Hicans (1997)
- Free Shit (2001)
- What Poor Gods We Do Make DVD (2007)
=Pegboy=
- Earwig (1994)
- Cha Cha Damore (1997)
Reception
- "Ex-Raygun bassist Pierre Kezdy's steely edge is further ferocious: even his old favorite J.J. Burnel of the Stranglers would karate-kick for such a ripping, trebly sharpness." (Jack Rabid, Allmusic)
- "Pierre Kezdy's bass gurgles blood on one track, and is swampy on the next." (Bob Gendron, Allmusic)
- "Pierre Kezdy's bass sounds like a power tool" (Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune)
References
{{Reflist|refs =
| last = Kot
| first = Greg
| date = November 8, 1990
| title = Made in Chicago Naked Raygun's 5th, Pegboy's 1st top the good stuff from local talent
| publisher = Chicago Tribune
| url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28772039.html?dids=28772039:28772039&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+08%2C+1990&author=Greg+Kot%2C+Rock+music+critic&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Made+in+Chicago+Naked+Raygun%27s+5th%2C+Pegboy%27s+1st+top+the+good+stuff+from+local+talent&pqatl=google
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130411162400/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28772039.html?dids=28772039:28772039&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+08,+1990&author=Greg+Kot,+Rock+music+critic&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Made+in+Chicago+Naked+Raygun's+5th,+Pegboy's+1st+top+the+good+stuff+from+local+talent&pqatl=google
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = April 11, 2013
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| last = Gubbins
| first = Teresa
| date = February 6, 1998
| title = Pegboy
| publisher = The Dallas Morning News
| url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3DA8CBA5256E1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| last = Carlton
| first = Chris
| date = August 12, 2011
| title = Interview With Neutron Bombs/Naked Raygun/The Bomb Bass Player
| publisher = Critical Mass
| url = http://critical-mass-music.blogspot.com/2011/08/interview-with-neutron-bombsnaked.html
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| last = Raymer
| first = Miles
| date = November 22, 2007
| title = Chicago Punk, Vol. 1
| publisher = Chicago Reader
| url = http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chicago-punk-vol-1-you-werent-there-documentary/Content?oid=1219508
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| last = Stegall
| first = Tim
| date = 2020-07-21
| title = These 15 Punk Albums from 1985 are the Roots of Alternative Rock
| publisher = Alt Press
| url = https://www.altpress.com/features/best-punk-albums-of-1985/
| accessdate = 2020-09-17}}
| last = Roach
| first = Cal
| date = 2015-12-05
| title = Reunited Naked Raygun has strong Turner Hall showing
| publisher = The Milwaukee Record
| url = https://milwaukeerecord.com/music/naked-raygun-turner-hall/
| accessdate = 2020-09-17}}
| last = Kot
| first = Greg
| date = 2015-08-27
| title = Naked Raygun gets some payback from longtime fan Dave Grohl
| publisher = Chicago Tribune
| url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/greg-kot/ct-naked-raygun-foo-fighters-dave-grohl-wrigley-field-20150827-column.html
| accessdate = 2020-09-17}}
| last = O'Donnell
| first = Maureen
| title = Pierre Kezdy, bass player for influential punk rockers Naked Raygun, other Chicago bands, dead at 58
| date = 2020-10-09
| website = Chicago Sun-Times
| url = https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/10/9/21438089/pierre-kezdy-naked-raygun-punk-rock-bands-chicago-bass-obituary
| accessdate = 2020-10-09}}
| date = December 11, 2007
| title = Naked Raygun - What Poor Gods We Do Make: Story and Music Behind Naked Raygun DVD (2007)
| publisher = Punknews.org
| url = http://www.punknews.org/review/6891/naked-raygun-what-poor-gods-we-do-make-story-and-music-behind-naked-raygun-dvd
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = artist
| id = p311813
| tab = overview
| label = Strike Under
| first = Peter
| last = Schaefer
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = artist
| id = p4989
| tab = overview
| label = Naked Raygun
| first = Greg
| last = Prato
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = artist
| id = p13922
| tab = overview
| label = Pegboy
| first = Steve
| last = Huey
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = release
| id = r13686
| tab = overview
| label = Naked Raygun - All Rise
| first = Mike
| last = DaRonco
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = release
| id = r13683
| tab = overview
| label = Naked Raygun - Understand?
| first = Bob
| last = Gendron
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = release
| id = r2050273
| tab = overview
| label = Naked Raygun - Jettison
| first = Bob
| last = Gendron
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = release
| id = r13681
| tab = overview
| label = Naked Raygun - Raygun...Naked Raygun
| first = Bob
| last = Gendron
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = release
| id = r206757
| tab = overview
| label = Pegboy - Earwig
| first = Richard
| last = Foss
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
| class = release
| id = r317391
| tab = overview
| label = Pegboy - Cha Cha Damore
| first = Jack
| last = Rabid
| accessdate = February 10, 2013}}
{{Discogs artist |Trial By Fire (3)|Trial By Fire}}
{{Discogs release |615818|Naked Raygun - Free Shit}}
{{Discogs release |1760307|Naked Raygun - Last Of The Demo Hicans}}
}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist |Pierre Kezdy|Pierre Kezdy}}
- [http://punkdatabase.com/wiki/Pierre_Kezdy Pierre Kezdy profile @ punkdatabase.com]
- [http://punkdatabase.com/wiki/Trial_By_Fire Trial By Fire profile @ punkdatabase.com]
{{Naked Raygun}}
{{Pegboy}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kezdy, Pierre}}
Category:Musicians from Chicago