From A to Zed: And back again
After 14 years of silence, one-time hit machine band Zed got back together for a hometown reunion in Christchurch and photographer Joseph Johnson was there to enjoy the show. By Matthew Rosenberg.
In the early 2000s, when people used to wear their pants baggy and die the tips of their hair blonde, angsty four-piece band Zed were the kings of New Zealand music’s castle. They went triple platinum, toured with Coldplay and Robbie Williams, and empowered young punks with their hit anthem and number one song for the year 2000 Renegade Fighter.
In 2005 they suddenly disbanded, and there were more than a few tears shed by their pronounced and loyal fan base.
But on September 21 this year, some of those fans were treated to a trip down memory lane when the group returned to their hometown Christchurch for their first show since going their searate ways.
Sunday Star-Times photographer Joseph Johnson was there, and at the practices leading up to the show, but this wasn’t an ordinary job for him.
Johnson and lead singer Nathan King had a special connection that went back to when they were toddlers at playcentre in West Melton near Christchurch.
‘‘We were about four and our mothers became really good friends through Nathan and I meeting,’’ Johnson said.
‘‘Our friendship continued by that mechanism, so when Nathan started making music and becoming successful, I thought ‘oh well, I’ll take some photos’ and he’d start putting me on the door and I got to know the other guys quite well through that process.’’
Johnson and King don’t see much of each other now because they live in different cities, but they still make time to catch up when they can.
When the band assembled last week for their first practice, Johnson was on site just like the old days. The four-piece hadn’t played together in 14 years so there were a few nerves, he said.
‘‘They got together cold...and had two days jamming and going through the set, getting their s... together. They even used the soundcheck on Saturday to do a bit more fine-tuning. There was nervous tension but I did ask Nathan a couple times, and he said they were back to where they left off.’’
When the show started, the atmosphere was relaxed and everyone hit their groove. Gone was the pressure of years gone by – a group of young guys having to prove themselves. It was clear that Zed were enjoying themselves on this special occasion and reunion.
And so were the fans. One woman even brought a flip folder ‘‘about an inch and a half thick’’ full of photos of her and the band members from the days when she used to travel from her hometown in Invercargill to wherever they were playing.
‘‘It was pretty full on but as she said, ‘that’s what you do as a teenager’,’’ Johnson said.