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Underground Zerø | |
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| Origin | Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Space rock, progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal |
| Years active | 1979–1994 2005–present |
| Label | Flicknife |
| Members | Judi Griggs Adrian Rix Paul Holden Sean Holden Andrew Rix Karl Dawson |
Underground Zerø is a British space rock band, based in Norfolk, UK. The band is also known as UZØ. While the band is often referred to as "Underground Zero" or "Underground Zer0" in print, the official name of the band includes the slashed zero in its name. Their sound is influenced by Hawkwind, with heavy guitar solos, and lyrics based on dystopian science fiction, fantasy and social commentary.
The band was started in 1979 by Andrew Rix (bass/vocals), Adrian Rix (keyboards), Judi Griggs (vocals), Brian Savage (drums) and Karl Dawson (guitar). From 1981, then known as Ground Zero, the group underwent several major changes. Brian left and was replaced by Mike (Mel) Melnyk and guitarist Paul Holden joined. In 1983 Mel left and was replaced by Sean Holden. The band featured on the UKs Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show on Radio 1 and during 1983-85 developed a large following in the new Psychedelic scene. At this point the name became Underground Zerø to avoid confusion with a R & B group in the London Area. They performed at the large open-air concert Anglia for Africa in Norwich in 1985, which also featured Hawkwind, Magnum, Amazulu, Eek-A-Mouse and Dean Friedman. Underground Zerø also performed at the last Stonehenge festival with Hawkwind and has featured on Hawkwind, Friends and Relations albums. Although UZØ never split up they stopped performing live in 1994.
In 2005, they resumed live performances, doing 3 gigs in the UK and released a CD, Powerplay, featuring remixed versions of the studio tracks from their two vinyl LPs plus one bonus track. At about the same time an unofficial CD entitled Never Reach the Stars appeared, containing the original mixes of all the tracks from their vinyl albums and single. Although this release was not officially sanctioned it does include three live and one studio tracks that are not on the official CD and is acknowledged on the band's website.
Performances include the 2006 Eastern Haze Festival in Somerleyton Hall, UK. 2008 saw them perform alongside Hawkwind at Hawkfest, at Honiton in Devon. They regularly feature at Space Rock festivals such as "On Board The Craft" and "Jackdaw".
In November 2014, founder keyboardist Adrian Rix left the band, and their planned 2015 appearances at HawkEaster and Sonic Rock Solstice were cancelled.
In 2016, Robert Fielder joined the band as keyboardist.
In 2017, the band released Hunting Dogs on March 15 and made an appearance at Hawkwind's Hawkeaster festival. Some of the songs on Hunting Dogs date from the 1980s and may have been recorded then but not previously released.
In 2026, 47 years after the conception of the band, Underground Zerø are still together today with the same original members from the early years. Although UZØ are no longer performing live, the band are still recording together.[citation needed]