Zolar X

by Jason Ankeny
The Los Angeles glam rock trio Zolar X drew on classic science-fiction iconography in creating the fledgling group's image, with costumes including antennae, skintight body suits, and moon boots, and even the invention of their own alien dialect. The band formed in 1972, originally with guitarist Ygarr Ygarrist (born Steven Della Bosca) and bassist Zany Zatovian (Bruce Courtois). After recruiting singer Zory Zenith (Billy McCartney, formerly of rival L.A. glitter outfit Shady Lady) and drummer Eon Flash (Craig Rhinehart), Zolar X began appearing at local radio impresario Rodney Bingenheimer's notorious Sunset Strip club the English Disco, additionally opening for the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop.
They cut their first demo session in 1974, but major labels wanted nothing to do with the band. Zatovian exited Zolar X in 1975, soon followed by Flash. With new bassist Ufoian Ufar (Tom Lee) and drummer Romm Eclipse (Ron Eismann), the reconfigured quartet traveled to Memphis' famed Ardent Studios to record a second demo, but with punk and disco now the rage, the glam era was officially over. As Zenith's substance abuse problems swelled, he was fired from Zolar X in 1979, but returned long enough to record one final session before the group splintered in 1981. The Timeless retrospective followed a year later, and in 2004, avowed fan Jello Biafra released an expanded edition on his Alternative Tentacles label. Although Zenith was now incarcerated in an Oregon prison on an assault rap, in June 2005 Ygarrist and Flash played a Zolar X reunion gig with new bassist Jett Starsystems, subsequently mounting their first-ever tour outside the L.A. area. A full album of new recordings, X Marks the Spot, appeared on Alternative Tentacles in September 2007.