n 1998, a mere two years after they came together as musicians, the members of the Orange County-based band Zebrahead found themselves releasing their first groundbreaking record, Waste of Mind, through Columbia Records. Now, five years later, Zebrahead has released its third studio album, MFZB, and has earned a spot as the No. 1 band in Japan. The guys are most definitely proud of their overseas achievement, as vocalist/guitarist Justin Mauriello enthusiastically revealed this information during the band’s recent concert at Brick’s this past Monday.

	The members of Zebrahead make a point to point or grab their crotches.

According to guitarist Greg Bergdorf, the band’s decision to begin its third album was largely because the band members “were running out of money. I didn’t want to have to work a shitty job again,” he says, referring to how a fear of working in the real world originally inspired the formation of Zebrahead.

Zebrahead is a quintet whose music has been classified by many as a cross between hip hop and punk, but Bergdorf says that he would not at all consider Zebrahead to be punk. Bergdorf said that the band’s music would be the end result “if Rage Against the Machine, Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers got into a car wreck.”

The band’s sophomore effort, Playmate of the Year, is really more rock/pop than anything else. It features more of Mauriello’s singing than it does of rapper Ali Tabatabee’s stream of forceful words. Though this album did earn a place on many radio station’s play lists, it strayed from the strength that initially led to the band’s rapid success. Bergdorf revealed that the band was aware of this change and has considered it over the nearly three years of not playing. Bergdorf said that the band did evolve over the years, mostly in the way that the members decided to write their songs.

The production of their new album has given the band members increased control over their music. They acquired a new producer, one who they could “push around” a bit, who wasn’t so eager to use instruments such as keyboards on their records. Bergdorf said, “We had more than 50 songs that we worked with. We would send a song to the label and they would reject it. Then we would start over again.”

The band’s hard work resulted in a 15-song album that possesses the old force of Waste of Mind, but also exhibits a new-found edge. MFZB automatically brings the same question to many people’s minds: “What the hell is MFZB?” Bergdorf humorously answered the question: “We were at Lollapalooza a few years ago and Ice-T was there. He was walking around saying, ‘I am not just the Motha Fuckin’ Ice-T. I am the Motha Fuckin’ Ice-T Bitch!’ Justin ran over and was like, ‘Guys, we are now Mother Fuckin’ Zebrahead Bitch.”

The band members have often joked around with their fans during past shows, revealing themselves to be MFZB. However, they never satisfied their fans’ curiosities by really explaining the reason behind their self-imposed classification. Bergdorf laughingly said that the band chose MFZB as the name because, “It was the only name that no one rejected.”

Though the band has evolved into an edgier, harder sound, they are still the fun-loving, sarcastic group of guys who give fans as much of a comedy show as they do a musical performance. Regarding the band’s shows, Bergdorf says that unlike other musicians such as Linkin Park, “you don’t leave our concerts feeling depressed.”

This is because the band truly knows how to rock out and have fun at the same time. Band members joke around about the audience members, asking names and then dedicating made-up-on-the-spot songs to them, usually mocking the individual. Their energy is immense and they never appear to be anything other than happy. This connection allows Zebrahead to continue such successful tours. The band has most definitely confirmed its own proclamation that is found in the lyrics of the ’98 hit, “Get Back”—“Just listen up ’cuz this is the Zebrahead season.” It most certainly is.
autumn@red-mag.com