“After hearing the album, I thought, wow, this is the missing link between Chrome and The Stooges…It wasn’t just the sound, it was the fact that the songs were really good and memorable as well.” - Jello Biafra

     Zolar X, a Los Angeles glitter rock band circa 1972 to 1981, were never out of character.  Their various costumes included antennas, wing-like shoulder pads, Brian Jones hairdos, space-boots, and skintight body suits.  They conversed ceaselessly in an alien dialect of their own invention - entertaining, but sometimes infuriating the public at large.

    Zolar X’s saga began in the late 60's/early 70's, with Ygarr Ygarrist (Steven Della Bosca) and bassist Zany Zatovian (Bruce Courtois) dreaming of a space-age concept band.  Influences included The Who, Bowie, The Beatles, Bernard Hermann and Wendy Carlos.

    In the early 70's, singer Zory Zenith (Billy McCartney) drummed in LA's first glam-rock band Shady Lady.  Inspired by Bowie, Billy cut his hair in a space-like fashion, but he soon ran into Zany and Ygarr who had similar haircuts.  Fate interviened, Shady Lady folded and Zolar X was born.

    Eon Flash/Craig Rhinehart ended up on drums and Zolar X briefly employed a keyboardist - Edward Dorn/Rogan - who was dismissedd after a few gigs.

    Rodney Bingenheimer recalls Zolar X playing at his English Disco:  “We did a TV show there, Tom Snyder of The Tomorrow Show came in and did a whole feature on the club, interviewed myself, other Rodney's acts, and Zolar X.  There's even a picture in Rock Scene magazine - Zolar X was of course one step ahead of everybody.”

    Zolar X recorded a 2 song demo in ‘74, and played elaborately staged gigs with The New York Dolls, The GTO’s, Iggy Pop, Berlin Brats and the legendary Jobriath, making the local news. Ve Neill, Billy’s girlfriend at the time, collaborated on makeup, stage design and costuming.  She would go on to be a 3 time Oscar winner.

    A few close calls with fame include a meeting with Steve Binder, who orchestrated Elvis’ ’68 TV comeback.  Wanting a new Monkees, Binder threw Zolar X out after a stoned Zany demanded the LA Philharmonic fpr one of the band’s longer numbers.  Billy was also once late to a meeting with Bill Aucoin (Kiss manager) who left, signing the band Angel instead.

        Zany quit in 1975 and was replaced with Ufoian Ufar/Tom Lee. Eon Flash quit in ‘75, due to substance abuse issues. Drummer Romm Eclipse/Ron Eismann joined until 1979, when Eon returned.

        Around 1976, Zolar X recorded at Memphis’s Ardent Studios, but the musical tide had turned toward punk rock and disco.  Zory moonlighted in a new wave band called The Aurora Pushups with Rogan/Ed Dorn, and Ygarr played in punk band Rock Bottom And The Spys  – living in the notorious rat infested Canterbury House along with The Screamers, Go-Gos, and X among others.

    In ’79, the partying began to spiral out of control, Zory Zenith was brieftly fired, and a 3 piece Zolar X recorded without him, but they reunited with Zory for a final 1980 studio hurrah.  Zolar X broke up in early 1981.  They sadly waited and waited to get "signed" to a major label, and despite their popularity on the west coast USA - their only release was the posthumous impossible to find 1982 clear vinyl called Timeless.

        In early 1981, Zory/Billy became rockabilly crooner Billy BoDay, and enjoyed a successful Vegas run in the early 80’s.  He also became a Baptist preacher, delivering hellfire and brimstone sermons.  Ygarr continues to compose music - and in August of 2004, Zolar X got their long deserved due, when Alternative Tentacles released a deluxe version of Timeless.

This brief history was excerpted from the article Moonage Daydreams, A Personality Crisis, and The Gospel of Zolar X by Chuck Nolan - 2004.