snake at undercurrents '97 - photo by barb

JERRY ‘SNAKE’ BAZIL

Jerry 'Snake' Bazil began studying guitar in Detroit at age 8 and then drums at age 9. He played snare drum in his high school marching band and tympani in the concert band. Early influences were Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, Bill Bruford and Carl Palmer. He studied jazz influences Billy Cobham, Lenny White and Tony Williams. He moved to Austin, TX in the mid 70's to become part of the fusion scene lead by the Electromagnets. He was lucky to jam with Eric Johnson. He toured the southwest with rock and jazz bands, notably recording with Shiva's Headband. He returned to Detroit in 1979 and joined RUR in the emerging Detroit punk scene centered around Bookie's Club 870 . In the early 80s he formed Natasha incorporating synthesizers and drum machines, and performed and recorded with Ron Asheton (Stooges) in Dark Carnival. He later formed and fronted the techno band Snake and the Charmers playing guitar, keyboards and electronic percussion. In the 90s Snake returned to his main passion and joined the original high powered funk trio the Wooden Boogers on drums. 2003-2016, he performed in many rock, funk, jazz, big band and country bands in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. He has had group and 1:1 instruction with mentors Tommy Igoe, Dave Weckl, Jojo Meyer, Peter Erskine, Thomas Lang and David Garibaldi. Currently living in Michigan, he is performing jazz fusion with shortFUZE, big band with Rare Form, and rocking blues with the Smokin' 45s.

Snake's kit (pictured) is a 6 pc Pearl Masters Studio, black mist finish w/ gold hardware. One of 22 made for Guitar Center's 31st anniversary.  He currently collects and plays vintage Rogers and DW drums,  Zildjian and Paiste cymbals, Roland V-drums,  and Vater and Vic Firth sticks.  

DISCOGRAPHY

LP SHIVA'S HEADBAND - PSYCHEDELIC YESTERDAY
APE 1001-1 hippybilly from Austin, TX 1978

(CD remastered as Kaleidescoptic YesterDaze)  (available)

45 NATASHA - SLIP OF THE LIP/CROCODILE
TREMOR TR 012 Detroit new wave 1981

LP NATASHA - MANDATORY MUSIC (compilation) (available)
TREMOR TR LP-103 Detroit new wave 1981

LP NATASHA - UNITY GAIN (compilation)
RECORDING WORKSHOP various Chillicothe, OH 1982

LP NATASHA - MOTOR CITY ROCKS (compilation)
WLLZ/STARSTREAM Detroit rock and wave 1982

LP NATASHA - MOTOR CITY ROCKS II (compilation)
WLLZ/STARSTREAM RTR8324 more Detroit rock and wave 1983

CASS 52 DEVIL BABIES BORN WITH TAILS
TV show theme songs, pulled for bad duplication 1986

LP 52 DEVIL BABIES BORN WITH TAILS - IT CAME FROM THE GARAGE
Detroit various strange (compilation)
WANGHEAD/METRO AMERICA MA 1021 1986

LP 52 DEVIL BABIES BORN WITH TAILS - IT CAME FROM THE GARAGE II
more Detroit various strange (compilation)
WANGHEAD 0005 1987

LP DARK CARNIVAL LIVE - WELCOME TO SHOW BUSINESS
Raw rock, Ron Asheton, Cheetah Chrome, Niagara REVENGE MIG 38LP 1990 

CD SNAKE AND THE CHARMERS - PARTY STORE
UNCLASSIFIED UC 1001 1992 techno dance (available) 

CD/CASS THE WOODEN BOOGERS - DEBUT (4 songs)
UNCLASSIFIED UC 1002 1997 Detroit delta nitro viking funk (available)

Home  >  Gigs  >  Discography  >  Music  >  The Collection  >  Sold  >  For Sale  > Contact