The Godz

F

ormed in 1976 The Godz did not have a recording contract when they hit the road with Cheap Trick in 1977 only to discover their moniker was already taken by a band from New York City; a monetary settlement allowed them to keep their name.

The band released its debut self-titled album, The Godz, the next year on 'Millennium Records' and supported it with a tour with Angel and a follow-up in the form of Under the Table (1978).

In 1979, the band's original label, 'Millennium Records', now owned by 'Casablanca', was folded and after a brief distribution deal with 'RCA Records', 'Casablanca' picked up the band to complete their contractual obligation with the idea to promote them as the next big thing since Kiss who had just hit it big on the charts as the label's first signed act. But the third album, Nothing is Sacred (1978) ended that fantasy with the label loosing interest being washed in its own problems. Despite label intentions, the band toured again with Blue Oyster Cult, Kansas, Iggy Pop and Judas Priest.

By late 1980, suffering from lack of label support and general exhaustion, the original The Godz split up, with Eric Moore (vocals/bass; founder) remaining as the only original member, although Mark Chatfield (guitar/vocals; founding member) returning at various points. Vinyl Ecstasy (1981), a compilation would be released posthumously by Columbus, Ohio radio station WLVQ-FM96.

As 1982 came to a close, The Godz were all but reforming; and were fully ramped-up and back on the road the next year.

The Godz 1985 album, I'll Get You Rockin', a European release on the 'Heavy Metal America' label did quite well, spawning a hit video of the title track in the UK. This activity was followed by Mongolians in 1987, a domestic release on 'Grudge Records', featuring revamped versions of several tunes from the previous record. It turned out to be one of the best-selling independent albums of the year.

In 1995, The Godz recorded a live show and released it as Greatest Hits Live. In 2003, some new material surfaced on the compilation 25 Moore Years. Several more compilations followed.

In 2019, Mark Chatfield decided to "resurrect" the band based upon its original concept by contacting Bob Hill who politely declined but was glad to learn of fans still having interest in The Godz. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was shelved. Then, in 2022, Chatfield contacted previous members Eric Mauk (guitar and vocals) and Keith Pickens (drums), and long time friend of Eric Moore (a.k.a. Doug "Sav" Ramey; vocals and bass), along with Julie Neal (backup vocals) to complete the resurrected The Godz and subsequent album, Resurrected (2023). As it turns out, this line-up would be short lived because Glen Cataline, nicknamed "Animal" and drummer on the first two albums, died on April 14, 2019, at age 67. Eric Moore died on May 17, 2019, after a long battle with bladder cancer also aged 67. Terry Evans, who was the drummer on the album, Last of the Outlaws, released in April 2012, died unexpectedly in May 2019 at the age of 55. The band split in 2023.