Legendary Californain punk rockers THE ZEROS will play their first ever dates in the UK next month!

The band they called ‘the Mexican Ramones’ came outta Southern California in 1976. Originally a four-piece line-up that featured guitarist Javier Escovedo who also handled vocals – the middle of the three Escovedo brothers – and Robert Lopez also on guitar. The band signed a record deal to kings of the underground labels Bomp! wh released the single ‘Wimp’ – which was later covered by the Hoodoo Gurus – on the flip was ‘Don’t Push Me Around’(shown below) The band called it quits in 1980, but regrouped for another go and new album in ’95 and have been active once again since 2007. Still featuring Escovedo and drummer Baba Chenelle, RPM caught up with Javier before they hit the UK for a brief word…Photo courtesy of Jacqueline Ramirez

The band is Javier Escovedo guitar/vocals, Baba Chenelle drums, Victor Penalosa Bass/vocals

Good question. Bomber Booking was the only agency that offered us to play there. We are glad he did. We are excited to finally play there.

We recently started recording again. We will put out a 7″ single soon.

This is the first I’ve heard about that. We would love to play there.

Our influences were the velvet underground, Lou Reed, Iggy and the Stooges, David Bowie, Roxy music, Doctor Feelgood, The Modern Lovers, The New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, T Rex and many more.

Don’t really have influences in the same way we did as teenagers. We just want to make the best music we can.

The future is not up to us. Hopefully, we will release another full-length l.p. and play some more shows. I’d like for us to play more countries we haven’t been to yet.