Denton Young (lead vocals)
Roddi Chappell (guitar)
Howard Helm (keyboards, vocals)
Pat McQuire (drums)
Jim Samson (bass)
Brian Miller (guitar, vocals; replaces Chappell)
Kim Hunt (drums, percussion; replaced McQuire)
Toronto progressive rock band Zon formed in the mid-70's and soon came to the attention of CBS Records A & R chief Bob Gallo. They released two albums for Epic (distributed by CBS) and gained a foothold in the Canadian prog rock sweepstakes next to the likes of Saga, Klaatu, FM and Rhinegold.
The Don V. Lorusso produced 'Astral Projector', released on blue vinyl, became an FM radio staple in the late '70's. The album garnered the band a 'Best New Group' Juno nomination. The band would find themselves opening up gigs for the likes of The Tubes at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, and Styx at CNE Stadium getting opening slot encores on both occasions!
1979's 'Back Down To Earth' was produced by Don V. Lorusso and the late Vancouver keyboard whiz Dale Jacobs. The band played Toronto as headliners where a hometown crowd swelled to 17,800 people. A reporter for the Globe & Mail, who had only stayed to see the opening act, wrote a scathing review thinking he had seen Zon. The negative review was the headline of the entertainment page, nationally in Canada. CBS demanded compensation for the impact on Zon's popularity but neither the band, nor the label, ever recovered.
Zon was dropped from CBS after a thorough corporate housecleaning of the A & R Department despite Zon already having their contract picked up for a third album.
The ensuing legal battle took much of the heart out of the band, but they did manage one more album for Falcon Records called 'I'm Worried About The Boys' produced by then former CBS A & R man Bob Gallo. The record featured a cover version of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane".
As part of the 1980 tour to support the album, Zon did an ill-fated opening slot for Alice Cooper at Toronto's CNE Stadium. When Cooper failed to appear minutes before showtime due to an apparent throat infection, Denton Young was given the onerous task of telling the audience. A riot ensued and police had to be called out. Audience members threw chairs and garbage onstage and Zon barely got away unharmed. The band broke-up shortly after despite the 1981 single "For You" reaching #2 on CKOC in Hamilton (higher than any of the previous singles on CBS Records).
Singer Denton Young most recently popped up on Rik Emmett's solo work; Kim Hunt would go on to join Hanover, Urgent and is currently in Moxy; Jim Samson is now with Moxy; Roddi Chappell is in long running AOR band Lightspeed who released two CDs on Pacemaker in the '90s; Brian Miller works at Toronto's famed 12th Fret guitar store; Howard Helm joined Michael Fury which mutated into Refugee. In 1988 Helm was offered a job as touring keyboardist for Mick Ronson and Ian Hunter. He took the job and spent 4 years on the road touring the world. That band released one live CD for the BBC on Windsong Records; Helm eventually settled in Tampa, Florida (whilst touring with Hunter/Ronson) ave a music production company based in Tampa and I has been writing music for film, commercials and television for several years. He is currently writing for TBS television in Atlanta and Universal Studios in Orlando. He continues to play keyboards in-studio for the likes of bands like Seven Mary Three on their 'Orange Ave. CD among others.
At the moment Helm and his former Zon bandmates are contemplating a new studio album to coincide with the re-issues of that band's back catalogue on CD.
with notes from Denton Young, Howard Helm, Rick Wharton, Rod Chappell and Jef Leeson.
Singles
1978 Melody [Stereo]/Melody [Mono] (Epic/CBS) DJE4-4177
1978 Melody/On The Road (Epic/CBS) E4-4711
1979 Gods And Kings/Take It From Me (Epic/CBS) E4-4226
1980 Sweet Jane / Takin' The Easy Way Out (Falcon/A & M) FAS-1005
1980 For You/Just The Other Side (Falcon/A & M) FAS-1006
1981 Better Get Up (Falcon/A & M)
Albums
1978 Astral Projector (Epic/CBS) PEC-90442
1979 Back Down To Earth (Epic/CBS) PEC-80026
1979 Back Down To Earth - Special Edition [6-song EP] (Epic/CBS) 12E4X-4217
1980 I'm Worried About The Boys (Falcon/A & M) FAL-80003
Video
Compilation Tracks
1979 "Circus" on 'Chocolate Hits' (CBS Special Products)
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