John Zewizz Appreciation Society

Finally the long awaited "SOUNDTRAX" release by SLEEPCHAMBER awakes.  The material ranges over the time period of 1989 to 2007.  It fills  in the missing link crossover periods left unreleased and overlooked.

The material iz quite unique.  "Sanatorium" iz remixed and edited down to 20 minutes from a video soundtrak ov 1989 that stands on its own.  "Succubi Sister" iz an unreleased track from the "SIAMESE SUCCUBI" sessions.  It features Laura Graff on spoken words (to whom this release iz "in loving memory ov").  Another "Succubi" track iz "Psychosexual" = left off because Zewizz felt there were already too many instrumentals on "SIAMESE SUCCUBI".  "No Air No Way" iz featured remixed and unedited, much better than the earlier release.  "Blackmask (Hex 23)" iz a keyboard piece done by Zewizz in 2000.  It stands outside the usual SLEEPCHAMBER style.  It's quite eerrie.  "Archangel" iz a track rejected from the movie "The Prophecy" reasons unknown.  Other tracks are from rekordings ov the 2001 era  - planned release on Musica Maxima Magnetica Italian label.  All unreleased.

The "SOUNDTRAX" CD iz the first release on Inner-X in a special series ov serious releases.  The packaging will be enclosed in a DVD box, complete with liner notes booklet & tech notes.  The first issues will be individually numbered, officially stamped and for a period ov time autographed.

Az you probably already know...

USA $20 . All others $25.

Orders accepted soon!

Also coming soon...

"SECOND INITIATION", all new material from SLEEPCHAMBER 

A release of "SPELLBONDAGE" on DVD should be imminent as well.  Coming out on Inner-X-Musick will include ZBC visit, interviews & Bonus "Site Ov Pain" (LIVE)!! 

Sleep Chamber plans on releasing  "BRIAN JONES #2" which should be a two CD set.

Hardcore SLEEPCHAMBER fans.... Very Limited Edition (23 copies) of rare SLEEPCHAMBER performances will be released on CDR...more information coming soon. 

Ze Wizz Kidz

Originally released on the short lived label Innersleeve Music (a predecessor to XXX and Inner-X-Musick) as Wizz1,  Ze Wizz Kidz was a short lived band that featured Zewizz as well as Aero Cixal and Robert Catalono.  Eventually Ze Wizz Kidz was re-released on XXX as XXX 12.

Perhaps not as focused on most SLEEPCHAMBER material, Ze Wizz Kidz is "Industrial" with a taste of "new wave".

  Free download HERE

New Stuff: I spent all day working on the site... lots of little things.  I added two new articles to the press section (labeled NEW).  I added some reviews to a few gigs in 1994.   Added a video release to the VIdeo's & Zine's section.  Did a lot of emailing to people about SLEEPCHAMBER.  

Speaking of which thanks to Ronald Lessard for the tidbit of information on the  Worcester gig (read it in the live section), and thanks Ron for answering my constant stream of pestering emails!  RRRecords RULES!!!!

Also added John Zewizz's personal diaries written during the SIAMESE SUCCUBI sessions.  You can find them in the press section or you can read them HERE.  11/15

JOHN ZEWIZZ WANT LIST: I am posting John's want list.  Check it out HERE. John is interested in quality, it does not have to be an original copy.  QUALITY 11/10

New Video Posted: "Isis" from the Inner-X-Video release "Sirkle Zero" has been added to the Video section. 11/6

New Gallery:  A new gallery of very personal drawings/sigils of John Zewizz has opened in the Gallery section.  It is titled "Blood Diaries & Sigils".  However, before going there, I high recommend that you go to the "Blood Diaries & Sigils" section in John's diaries HERE to better understand the beauty and importance of these very personal works. 11/1

New Video Posted:  "Dream Ov Life"  from the Inner-X-Video release "Sirkle Zero" has been added to the Video section. 10/24

or you can also access the page by going to http://sleepchamber.info/

Thanks to "Rodolfo of Team Kali (www.teamkali.com)" for setting up the mirror site!!!

theebradmiller@yahoo.com

John Zewizz (real name John McSweeney) began his musical career in the late 1970's performing as “John Cage” as the leader of the band "Green Sex". Their output was limited at first.  From 1978 to 1981 Green Sex produced only two releases;  A 7" single (SaveMe/Telephoney) and a 20 minute cassette release (Effort To Effect).  The sales for the single topped out at around 300, with 200 copies given away free to people "with open ears".  The cassette only saw a total sale of 41 copies.  

According to a Inner-X publication, in 1981 after getting nowhere with Green Sex, Zewizz formed Ze Wizz Kidz.   Members included Aero Cixal and Robert Catalono and, of course, John Zewizz.  Zee Wizz Kidz considered themselves a Industrial band.  Due to personnel problems the band broke up after one 10 minute cassette & a 20 minute cassette.

Sometime between 1981 and 82  Sleep Chamber came into existence featuring John Zewizz, Eugene Difrancisco and somebody named Ray (?).  Very early works were experimental in nature and electronic industrial.  Early reviewer misinterpreted the early recordings of Sleep Chamber and often accused them of being Satanic, or Devil worshipers.  Zewizz, over the years, has denied this accusation. Also around this time John opened Innersleeve Records  on Brighton Ave in Allston, Massachusetts. Releases put out by John were sold at Innersleeve and  were called  XXX records releases,  or Inner-X-Musick releases.

Rapidly other members began to join in what was becoming a revolving door for musicians.  Early Sleep Chamber members included; Jonathan Briley, Darlene Victor, Lawerence Van Horn, Malcom Smith, Michael Moynihan, and Richard Geller.  The early years of Sleep Chamber were very productive for Zewizz and fellow members.  Along with dozens of cassette releases from 82-85 by Sleep Chamber, this time period also saw Zewizz recording under the names Cult Ov The Womb, Mahcanik, Hideous In Strength, and Women OF The SS.  Other Sleep Chamber members were also busy with their own projects.  Difrancisco released recordings under the name Daze Of Trance, Jonathan Briley released several solo releases, Michael Moynihan released several cassettes as Coup De Grace, Lawerence Van Horn released under the name 7 From Life, Malcom Smith released recordings under the name Dokument and Massman, and Darlene Victor released music under the name Flagellants.  All these various groups released their music under the ever growing cassette culture through the Inner-X-Musick label.

1985 saw Sleep Chamber release two full length studio releases.  The self titled "Sleep Chamber" and the classic "Submit To Desire" set the stage for Sleep Chambers musical directions.  

As the 1980’s drew to a close and through out the 1990's, Sleep Chamber saw new members join the line up. Elaine Walker, Arthur PW,  Ashley Swanson, Tione, Andrew Woolf, Craig Wein, and Zewizz's new girlfriend Laura Graff.  These new players performed live through the 1990’s and performed (in various forms) on the bands recordings.

The popularity of Sleep Chamber's live shows grew and in the early 1990s they were selling out mid to large size rooms in Boston such as Man Ray Club, Axis, and The Middle East. A pioneer in the field of ritual/dark ambient and industrial music the public's eagerness to see their provocative stage shows allowed them to tour extensively throughout the US and Europe. Their stage show was renown for a troupe of scantily clad female dancers called the Barbitchuettes. Popular with the gothic and fetish subculture, the Barbitchuettes would perform B&D and S&M scenes for the audience.

1995 saw the last recording of a Sleep Chamber studio release with “Some Godz Die Young”.   Drug addiction and constant touring slowed Sleep Chamber’s steady flow “new” musick.  However, with a huge back catalog of unreleased tracks Sleep Chamber was able to continue releasing CD’s.  “Sopor”, “Sacrosanct”, “Sirkus”, and a CD versions of “Some Godz Die Young”  and “Sonorous Invokations Ov Brian Jones” were all released between 1995 and 1998 but recorded before 1995.

Sleep Chambers demise began on June 21st of 1996 when Swedish nanny Karina Holmer was found sawed in two in a dumpster down the street from John's home.  Her torso was left in two separate bags... her lower portion has never been discovered.  Although no charges were ever brought against John, he was brought in as a suspect and questioned.

The final blow came on November 2 of 2001, when Zewizz girlfriend, and former band-mate, Laura Graff died from a Heroin overdose. Zewizz was questioned by police in the suspicious death before it was ruled an accidental heroin overdose.

Since then Zewizz life had been a mystery with rumors of a regretful downward spiral of drug addiction.  Thankfully John has now been clean since 2004.  Zewizz was seen at the 2007 PTV3 show in Boston where he told fans he would be back with new musick in the fall of 2008. 

SLEEP CHAMBER has become one word "SLEEPCHAMBER".  Also there are two new SLEEPCHAMBER releases in the works.  "Soundtrax" - a collection of remixes, and "Second Initiation" - an all new SLEEPCHAMBER release. 

More to come... give me feed back!