ZEBRA

Hard Rock • United States

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Zebra is a rock band founded in 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It features Randy Jackson (guitar and vocals), Felix Hanemann (bass, keyboards and vocals) and Guy Gelso (drums and vocals). Their mainstream debut on Atlantic Records was in 1983 with their eponymous album, highlighted by the singles "Tell Me What You Want" and "Who's Behind The Door". Zebra got their start on the US East Coast club circuit, frequently playing at clubs on Long Island, NY.

Zebra started their career by playing covers of Led Zeppelin, The Moody Blues and Rush songs; it was their early fans' reaction to their Led Zeppelin renditions that helped convince the band to bring their act to New York. They had introduced their original material into their cover sets years before they were signed to Atlantic Records, including "The La La Song", "Free" and "Bears" (originally entitled "The Bears are Hibernating").

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ZEBRA Discography

ZEBRA albums / top albums

3.69 | 4 ratings

Zebra
Hard Rock 1983

3.36 | 3 ratings

No Tellin' Lies
Hard Rock 1984

3.07 | 3 ratings

3.V
Hard Rock 1986

3.25 | 2 ratings

IV
Hard Rock 2003

ZEBRA EPs & splits

ZEBRA live albums

2.50 | 1 ratings

Live
Hard Rock 1990

ZEBRA King Biscuit Flower Hour album cover

2.50 | 1 ratings

King Biscuit Flower Hour
Hard Rock 1999

ZEBRA demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

ZEBRA re-issues & compilations

ZEBRA The Best Of Zebra: In Black And White album cover

0.00 | 0 ratings

The Best Of Zebra: In Black And White
Hard Rock 1998

ZEBRA singles (0)

ZEBRA movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

0.00 | 0 ratings

Zebra: The DVD
Hard Rock 2007

ZEBRA Reviews

ZEBRA IV

Album · 2003 · Hard Rock

siLLy puPPy

After a 17-year hiatus, ZEBRA released their fourth album which returns to the more hard rock leanings of their debut album. Their Zeppelin influence is back for the attack. The album starts off pretty strong with the fierce Middle Eastern sounding “Arabian Nights,” one of the few songs that Randy Jackson didn't exclusively write in all of Zebra's career.

The album is a return to form of sort, but despite there being some good tracks on here, they just don't compete with their debut album. The opening track is evidence that colaborative songwriting might be the key for a successful formula. I really like the sound Zebra delivers, it's just that the songwriting isn't always up to snuff. Still this is a band that I admire despite their catalogue being a rather hit-and-miss affair.

more than 2 years ago
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Report #290458

ZEBRA 3.V

Album · 1986 · Hard Rock

siLLy puPPy

Continuing down the AOR path on their third album, ZEBRA nonetheless conjures up some decent pop hooks once again. Some of these cuts like “Can't Live Without” and “Time” are excellent. Most of the rest of the album is somewhat catchy but I seem to like only parts of the songs or dislike the lyrics. If I could dissect everything here and put it on a table and repiece it together it might work better for me.

After their debut album hit the top 40 in the US, it seems they continued to strive for commercial success, but as they got poppier and poppier, they only got further away and at this point they wouldn't put out another studio album for 17 years. Overall a step further down a disappointing path after a promising debut.

more than 2 years ago
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Report #290457

ZEBRA No Tellin' Lies

Album · 1984 · Hard Rock

siLLy puPPy

Not the direction I wanted to see the band go, but after listening to this album I grew to like it. Just not as much as the debut. ZEBRA's second album sheds most of the progressive tendencies and focused on catchy pop-oriented hard rock. Gone also are the extended jams and most tracks hover near the 4-minute mark. There is definitely an AOR feel on some of this with the prime candidate going to the beautiful ballad “Lullabye.”

Despite the AOR direction, I actually got hooked by most of the tracks on this album, but some of them feel rather incomplete and I much would have preferred they had stayed on the path that they created on the debut album. Hard to listen to in a sitting but enjoyable when tracks pop up randomly on a DJ list.

more than 2 years ago
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Report #290416

ZEBRA Zebra

Album · 1983 · Hard Rock

siLLy puPPy

Starting out covering Rush and Led Zeppelin, this New Orleans band had a minor hit on MTV with “Who's Behind The Door,” a kind of philosphical Pink Floyd meets Led Zep tune. The album wears its influences prominantly on its sleeves but has an interesting sound all its own. Usually the make-or-break deal with this band is if you can tolerate mainman songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist Randy Jackson's falsetto. I personally grew to like this album a lot just by listening to it over and over at one point.

The downside to this album is that it is uneven. It ranges from the philosphical crossover prog to more pop oriented bluesy hard rock. Great muscianship, well crafted catchy songs and extended jams proved they were beyond just being imitators. Overall a decent debut from a power trio who managed to forge their own sound from the beginning.