SLEEPCHAMBER “A KISS AWAY” by Thomas Whitney

LEEPCHAMBER started in 1982. Members being JOHN ZEWIZZ, EUGENE DIFRANCISCO & PHIL BROSEAU.

The first performance was on Halloween at THE RED LOFT. Their style was always dark but kept evolving because of the constant changing of members in the line up You never knew who you would see on stage at live shows. And who would be on their releases.It mattered not. ZEWIZZ was the show. It was his band. It was his concept. He was the Performer. It did not seem to matter what ZEWIZZ did. The shows were great and always packed to the limit. But as far as the radio, press and record shops went…they hated them. I mean they really were spooked by their image and musical conception. They were either banned or ignored. I mean…how can you Sell Out performances and be ignored ?? Possibly because of their live antics ? Heavy narcotic incense…too much Fog pointed at the audience ?..super low sub bass ?..at one show a dead Python was thrown into the audience..when it was thrown back it burst open with dead baby Pythons splattering on the Band and the audience..!! Another show a rusty exhust pipe system was thrown around the stage only to end up hitting people in the front row causing some in the audience to be injured…..and these were the “early days”. ZEWIZZ started his collection of Femme Fatale’s and called them BARBITCHUETTES…a collection of wild strippers who would set the temperature to overload. They were complete with all the best Fetish gear…from rubber to latex to leather…all in black. The performances put anything in this catalyst to shame. I mean how did he get eight to fifteen strippers to perform throughout the show ?…kissing. stripping..and even using strap ons to penetrate each other !! One show in Boston two of the BARBITCHUETTES pissed on people in the front row !!..I asked ZEWIZZ why the name BARBITCHUETTE and the sly spelling ??..he replyed…”Barbiturates..the drug are to induce sleep…so My BARBITCHUETTES are to induce SLEEPCHAMBER on stage..and most all places we play are Bars..” Quite clever…but just before 1990 when he started the BARBITCHUETTES there was a period of about five years he drafted a member JONATHAN BRILEY…around 1986 till 1990. The word was ZEWIZZ was crazy..but BRILEY was insane !..an ex-Marine,body bilder that had a fifth degree black belt…!!! There was no question ZEWIZZ knew how to employ new additions to his SLEEPCHAMBER concept. ZEWIZZ always was the singer and head man…but he gave BRILEY the stage to sing his own songs “SITE OV PAIN,SITE OV PLEASURE” & “THATS ROMANCE”…(usually in the middle of the live set)..these shows rare and few with both of them always were violent or over the top…using hammers,pipes and glass for percussion on the stage…constantly throwing things into the audience to antagonize the crowd…in 1986 at Mass College of Art ZEWIZZ accidently hit BRILEY in the balls with a large motor cycle chain..which caused him to wildly throw a complete car exaust pipe into the audience injuring people in the front row…everyone was covered in filthy rust and dirt…not to mention blood. Well the RCA record deal was taken off the table..and after some of the shows next with sexual performances with his BARBITCHUETTES another major label passed on SLEEPCHAMBER…so RCA passed on “SPELLBONDAGE” and the same went for the release “SLEEP OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PIECE”…if you go through ZEWIZZ’s catalog of music he has some really great classics…”KISS THE WHIP”..”BABES OV BABYLON…”RED PANTIES”..”THE LIGHT POURS OUT OV ME”…”NO ONES HEART BEATS HARDER”…”JUSTIFY MY LOVE”…”FLESH ON FLESH”…”SILVERMOON”…and I know most of you have a favorite..Here is a band that started in 1982 and is still pumping out music 30 odd years later..not to mention the overflow of videos…maybe too sexual for mainstream…but shit…ZEWIZZ has paid some dues. He has dragged SLEEPCHAMBER to Germany,Texas,California New York City..they played the LIMELIGHT 3 fucking times !!… one of the best clubs in America..!! So, what gives ??… at 60 years old ZEWIZZ is still making music. They plan on a new CD this year..and a special show in Israel this May !!…at this point they are just a kiss away from retiring ….. THOMAS WHITNEY 1/24/15