The Godz

There are at least two bands who have used the name The Godz:
1) A New York City-based garage rock band formed in 1966
2) A 1970s American hard rock group from Columbus, Ohio

1) The Godz were a NYC-based garage rock band that existed from 1966 to 1973. Their style varied from early noise rock to avant-garde and psychedelic rock.

The Godz were part of the Lower East Side, Manhattan scene that produced Allen Ginsberg, The Fugs and The Holy Modal Rounders. Consisting of guitarist Jim McCarthy, bassist Larry Kessler, autoharpist Jay Dillon, and drummer Paul Thornton.

Working on the Esp-Disk label, the first recording, 1966's Contact High with the Godz, was an attempt to rise above the limitations and accepted norm for popular music at the time. 1967 produced Godz 2, a bolder, more adventurous soundscape which is, in some people'sopinion, the group's masterpiece. The Third Testament, in 1968, saw the quartet become a trio. In 1973, a fourth and last group LP Godzundheit was recorded.

Rock Critic Lester Bangs in a 1971 issue of Cream magazine referred to the Godz as "...a pure test of one of the supreme traditions of rock & roll: the process by which a musical band can evolve from beginnings of almost insulting illiteracy to wind up several albums later romping and stomping deft as champs."

By 1973 the Godz had split up, with McCarthy going on to pursue a solo career, eventually settling as a photographer. Kessler became a record dealer, Thornton an actor, and Dillon moved to the wilds of New Jersey.

Unfortunately, in July 2005, Jay Dillon's niece posted a message on the Hummingbird Mountain website, explaining that a showing of his art was to take place and that he had passed on several years before. The news of Jay's death reconnected the rest of the members in 2006, leading to the discussion of possibly collaborating again.

2) The Godz were an obscure hard rock/arena rock outfit of the late '70s and '80s. This band was formed in the Midwest in 1976, when bassist/producer Eric Moore got together with lead guitarist Mark Chatfield, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Bob Hill, and drummer Glen Cataline. All four of them contributed lead vocals. The Godz signed with Casablanca in 1977, which was also the year in which they had an opening spot on Kiss' Love Gun Tour. (Cheap Trick was the other opening act on that tour.) On their selftitled album are at least two tracks you might want to listen to: "Gotta Keep A Runnin'" and "Candy's Going Bad", which is a cover of Golden Earring. It originally appeared on their 1973's Moontan album.


The Full Story of Eric Moore & The Godz is located right here: http://www.thegodz.net/

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