Zed
Also known asSupra
OriginChristchurch, South Island, New Zealand
GenresRock
Years active
  • 1996 (1996)–2005 (2005)
  • 2017
  • 2019–present
LabelsUniversal
Members
Websitezedquarters.com

Zed is a New Zealand pop rock group, which formed as Supra in 1996 in Christchurch by Ben Campbell on bass guitar, Nathan King on lead vocals and guitar, and Adrian Palmer on drums. In 2000 they added a second guitarist, Andrew Lynch. Their debut album, Silencer (2000), peaked at No. 1 on the New Zealand Albums Chart; while their second album, This Little Empire (November 2003), reached No. 3. Their top 10 singles are "Glorafilia" (1999), "Renegade Fighter" (2000) and "Hard to Find Her" (2003). They toured New Zealand, Australia and United States before disbanding in 2004. They have reformed periodically including in 2017, 2019 and 2023.

History

Zed was formed in 1996 as Supra by students at Christchurch's Cashmere High School: Ben Campbell on bass guitar, Nathan King on lead vocals and guitar, and Adrian Palmer on drums.[1] Initially playing cover versions of work by "Crowded House, Supergrass, Blur and Radiohead they started getting together in each other's bedrooms to practice the kind of hook laden pop music they were listening to."[1] Campbell's father contacted talent manager, and former rock-and-roll artist, Ray Columbus.[1][2][3] Columbus had them signed to a publishing deal for their original material and booked their early recording sessions.[1] In 2000 they added Andy Lynch (Sensei Master) as second guitarist.[1]

The band worked with producer David Nicholas on their debut album, Silencer (2000). Rhythm and vocal tracks were recorded at Revolver Studios in Auckland, with final overdubbing and mixing at Mangrove Studios, north of Sydney, Australia. Released in New Zealand later that year, Silencer, debuted at No. 1 on the New Zealand Album Charts, and was certified triple platinum. It provided in six top 40 singles with "Renegade Fighter" (2000) peaked at No. 4.

The band's second album, This Little Empire, was released with two different track lists, one for the New Zealand market in 2003, and another aimed at the United States the following year. In total Zed had ten top 40 singles in New Zealand.[4]

Zed disbanded in 2004,[5] they subsequently reunited for a few live gigs (a 2008 performance at Auckland's Vector Arena,[6] and two corporate events in 2011).[7][8] Nathan King launched a solo career, then later sang with band Paper Planes. Campbell and Lynch formed a new band, Atlas, which disbanded in late 2008.[5] Lynch was working as a session musician in Auckland. In 2017 Zed reunited to perform live.[9] In 2019 they undertook a national tour to celebrate 20 years of Silencer. In 2023, they announced a comeback by releasing a live video of 'Renegade Fighter' online. They also released a new single 'Future You' which will feature on their new third album. They toured nationwide in New Zealand in November and December 2023.

Members

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ
[10]
Silencer
  • Released: 2000
  • Re-released: 2001 (with bonus disc)
  • Label: Universal Music NZ
  • Catalogue: 0140382 (bonus disc edition)
 1
This Little Empire 3

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
NZ
[10]		 AUS
[11]
1999 "Oh! Daisy" 15 — Silencer
"I'm Cold" 19 —
"Glorafilia" 9 —
2000 "Renegade Fighter" 4 82
"Come on Down" 12 —
2001 "Drivers Side" 36 84
2003 "Starlight" 15 — This Little Empire
"Hard to Find Her" 9 —
2004 "Don't Worry Baby" 16 —
"She Glows" 21 —
2005 "Firefly" — —
2023 "Future You" —[upper-alpha 1] — TBA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Future You" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 36 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Nimmervoll, Ed. "Zed". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  2. ↑ Screen, NZ On. "NZ On Screen". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Zed - New Zealand Musicians & Bands". muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  4. ↑ Hunkin, Joanna. "Don't stream it's over: Charting the rise and fall of the Kiwi hit factory". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  5. 1 2 Hunkin, Joanna (30 November 2017). "Don't Stream It's Over: What ever happened to Andy?". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  6. ↑ "What we've all been waiting for…..The Zed reunion!".
  7. ↑ "Telecom picnic may breach noise limit". 30 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "40,000 crowd forecast for Hagley". Stuff. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "First song - Zed returns". RNZ. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Discography Zed". charts.nz. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  11. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 309.
  12. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
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