Zakary Thaks: From The Habit 1966 - 1969

 

One of the best garage bands of the '60s, and one of the best teenage rock groups of all time, Zakary

Thaks released a half-dozen regionally distributed singles in 1966 and 1967. Some were hits in their hometown of Corpus Christi, TX, but none were heard elsewhere until they achieved renown among '60s collectors. Heavily indebted (as were so many bands) to R&B-influenced British heavyweights like the Stones, the Kinks, and the Yardbirds, the group added a thick dollop of Texas raunch to their fuzzy, distorted guitars and hell-bent energy.
                                                           

The band developed out of the Marauders, a teen group which included Chris Gerniottis (vocals), Pete Stinson (guitar), and Rex Gregory (bass), and who then became the Riptides, adding lead guitarist John Lopez. By 1966, they had acquired a new drummer, Stan Moore, and had become the Zakary Thaks – the name being a mutated version of one seen in a magazine.
                                               

Most importantly, they were first-rate songwriters, with the breakneck "Bad Girl" (later compiled on Pebbles, Vol. 2), "Won't Come Back," the smoking "Face to Face," "Can't You Hear Your Daddy's Footsteps," and the folk-rock/Merseybeat hybrid "Please" ranking among the top echelon of American

'60s garage rock. Influenced by blues guitarists as well as British and American groups of the period, the band soon gained local popularity. Their first record, for the local J-Beck label, combined an original composition, "Bad Girl", with a Kinks song, "I Need You". Released in mid-1966, it became a regional hit and was picked up nationally by Mercury Records. Its success won the band a spot supporting their heroes The Yardbirds.
                                                   

Their 1967 singles found the group moving into psychedelic territory; some songs betrayed a Moby Grape influence, and some good melodic numbers were diluted by poppy arrangements that recalled the Buckinghams and Grass Roots. Lead singer Chris Gerniottis, only 15 when Zakary Thaks began

making records, joined another interesting Corpus Christi garage/psychedelic group, the Liberty Bell. A second single, "Face To Face" was less successful, but the band continued to tour, supporting acts including Jefferson Airplane and the 13th Floor Elevators. Later singles showed the band taking a more pop-focused approach. By 1968, Gerniottis had left the band for a while to join another group, the Liberty Bell,[1] but returned later. However, the band did not repeat its early success, splitting up in the early 1970s.
                               

In 1979, "Bad Girl" was included on the Volume 2 of the Pebbles anthology of mid-1960s garage bands, and has maintained its renown among collectors of the genre. The song was also included on disc four of the 1998 four-disc Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968

box set. A compilation of the band's singles was issued in May 2001. In 2015, a compilation called It's the End: The Definitive Collection was released and contained all of the group's master recordings from all six singles for the first time. Drummer Stan Moore died in 2000. In 2004 and 2005, remaining members of the band reformed to perform at festivals. Bassist Rex Gregory died on January 18, 2008.
                                                       

[By Richie Unterberger]
Both sides of all six of Zakary Thaks' singles are on this last-word compilation, along with three instrumental versions of tracks from the 45s. All of this material has been reissued before on Eva's

J-Beck Story 2, with the exception of instrumental versions of "Face to Face" and "Green Crystal Ties." Still, this marks the first time everything's been available in this fidelity in the U.S., bolstered by the inclusion of a lengthy interview with lead singer Chris Gerniottis in the liner notes. It takes its place as one of the very best single-artist '60s garage reissues, the songwriting and musicianship at a far higher level than most '60s garage bands could boast, with just as much insouciant youthful energy.
                                                     

From the punk of "Bad Girl" and the mind-blowing fuzz guitar of "Face to Face" to the Beatlesque pop of "Please," the folk-rock/pop of "Mirror of Yesterday," and the San Francisco-like psychedelia of their

final releases (at times even sounding like early Moby Grape), it's all good-to-great stuff. Note, however, that different mixes are used than were heard on some of the original singles, which is particularly noticeable on "Mirror of Yesterday" (where the high mariachi horn parts in the break have been erased) and "Please" (which adds some poppy backup vocals to the bridge).

It's Psychedelic Baby magazine: Zakary Thaks interview with Chris Gerniottis

Interview:
Thanks for taking your time to talk about your music. Let’s start at the beginning. Where did you grow up and what are some memories from your childhood?
                                          

I was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. I had a fairly unique upbringing due to the fact my father managed a restaurant as well as a night club and my mother was involved with a lot of activities

e.g. lifeguard instructor, water ballet, etc., so I had more “freedom” than most kids my age. However, that didn’t stop me from playing Little League baseball or being in the Cub Scouts. The most enduring memory I have when I was a child is that I stuttered and was made fun of at school. The way I dealt with this was by being the class comic. That worked for the most part but the taunting still continued a little. Then I discovered that I didn’t stutter when I sang; so by the time I was 8-years-old, I was singing in front of the entire school for several talent shows. I had found my calling!
                                           

It all started in 1964, when you were just a teenager and began playing instruments. You picked the name The Marauders and later you were called the Riptides. Tell me, how did line-up changed in this period and where all did you play?
                                  

I didn’t pick either of those names – it was the main guitarist, Pete Stinson, who chose those. The Marauders had basically the same members as the Riptides, except Rex Gregory played drums for the Marauders and then switched to bass for the Riptides. We played in Corpus and the surrounding areas at teen clubs, church youth group parties, and a few private parties. (Read all the interview on Psychedelic Baby Magazine)

                                                           

Zakary Thaks – Form The Habit
Label: BeatRocket – BRCD 131
Format:    CD, Compilation, Sundaze Reissue
Country: US
Released: 2001
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRAXS

                                                        

01. Bad Girl   2:07
02. I Need You   2:27
03. Face To Face   2:57
04. Won't Come Back   2:32
05. Please   2:10
06. Mirror Of Yesterday   3:06
07. Weekday Blues   2:54
08. Face To Face (Instrumental)   3:07
09. Can You Hear Your Daddys Footsteps   2:37
10. Green Crystal Ties   3:42
11. My Door   3:31
12. Outprint   2:13
13. Everybody Wants To Be Somebody   2:55
14. Footsteps Jam   2:34
15. Green Crystal Ties (Alt. Instrumental)   3:45

MP3 @ 320 Size: 100 MB
Flac  Size: 150 MB