John Zewizz
Introduction '''John McSweeney''', commonly known by his stage name '''John Zewizz''', is a British-born American industrial music 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. 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. 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 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 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 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''' Year Title Format Special Notes 1987 Passion Ov Pan Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 42 1988 Briley Zewizz Cassette (split with Jonathan Briley) released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. 2010 2012 CD released on by Old Europa Cafe Catalog no. OECD 130As a member Of '''Sleep Chamber''' (See Sleep Chamber)As '''Hidious in Strength''' Year Title Format Special Notes 1982 Soundtrack To Forever Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 07 1982 Line of Souls Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 08 1983 Industrial Suffocation Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX-C2 1983 Nun with a Gun Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX-C3 1983 As Recorded Live Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX-C5 1984 Stranger Days Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 15 1984 Eyes See To This Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. 1984 Slow & Painful Sex Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. 1984 Nun with a Gun/Gut Grip 7" Single released on by Tuff Enuff Catalog no.TE 0816 1985 Cold Dark Tales A Smell of DeathCassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. 1985 Within WiresCassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 41 1985 MahcanikCassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 32 1985 An AnthologyCassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no.As '''Women of the SS''' Year Title Format Special Notes 1984 Women of the SS Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 09 1985 Women of the SS #2 (AKA Woman Iz Beast) Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 20 1985 Possession of the Matrix 7 Inch Single released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX-SEX-1 1985 Rigor Romance Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 25 1985 Women of the SS Cassette X 2 released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 20 1986 The Call To All Women Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 43 1988 Ov Pure Blood Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick No Catalog no. 1991 SS Orgy/SS Bitch 7 Inch Single released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. U30912M 1991 Women of the SS Picture Disc released on by RRRecords Catalog no. RRR-XXX 1991 Untitled (AKA Themes) 7 Inch Single released on by RRRecords No Catalog no. 1999 John Zewizz Presents His Infamous Women of the SS CD released on by RRRecords Catalog no. RRR-CD-07/2005 released on by RRRecords No Catalog no./2009 released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no.XXX 73As '''Noiseclot''''' Year Title Format Special Notes 1984 Music For Torture, Bondage & Leather Sex Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 10 1985 Beyond Agony Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 22 1985 Bloodclot Cassette with Controlled Bleeding released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 24 1985 Death Dokument Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 31As '''Cult Ov Womb''' Year Title Format Special Notes 19846 Cult of the Womb Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 32 19856 Cult Ov The Womb Cassette released on by Inner-X-Musick Catalog no. XXX 36
References
External links * *  The John Zewizz Appreciation Society – official website