Zoetrope

P

ronounced "e-trope", a word apparently used to identify a piece of film equipment, not to mention the name of Francis Ford Coppola's studio, Zoetrope were popular in their native Chicago area. Self-described as "Street Metal", Zoetrope proved to be an aggressive '80s Metal act that bordered closely onto thrash metal. Under the original line-up of Barry Stern (drums/vocals),Kevin Michael (guitar), Ken Black (guitar) and Calvin Humphrey (bass) they would release Amnesty (1985). On A Life of Crime (1987), Louie Svitek replaced Black, but the follow-up, Mind Over Splatter (1993), saw a massive line-up adjustment with Michael replacing everyone else with Pete Montswillo (vocals), Michael Ray Garrett (guitar), Eric Armstrong (bass) and Sean Schipper (drums) but they never really got widespread attention away from home and split soon after. Barry Stern went onto Trouble, while Louie Svitek got more notice from Mindfunk, Ministry and M.O.D.