It is March 25th, 1988 and Night Flight, a late night visual arts and variety show on television’s USA Network each weekend, is about to show viewers something entirely different… and they shall never be the same.

It is, of course, the age of the music video and this program is on the verge of airing one titled “Prime Mover” from the British sleaze rock act, ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION. The number is musically inspired by the U.K. space rock collective Hawkwind’s 1977 track “Quark, Strangeness And Charm“, its video directed by Adrian “Ade” Edmondson of “The Young Ones” fame. Ultimately, neither one of these facts will mean much of anything when people get an eyeful of this leather-clad band, and then hear their music. Yes, it is the latter that they’re going to find most impressive, hopefully… or altogether hate.

Mark Manning is a graphic artist at the time, and former art editor at the then-defunct Flexipop! Magazine that had folded in 1982. It was while working there that Manning was introduced to a frequently visiting flow of rock stars and their hedonistically decadent lifestyles… and he wants in. It would be a few years still, but soon enough, Manning is working as a graphic designer at another publication, Metal Fury, when he begins to undergo a transformation.

The change is taking place during his hours off from work, Manning experiencing an evolutionary-like leap (or in some’s eyes, perhaps a devolution) on the scale of characters from Robert Louis Stevenson’s literary work, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Much like that strange case, Mark assumes an alter ego role, that of Zodiac Mindwarp – an anti-social looking sort, like a greasy biker from the cast of some forgotten 70’s exploitative B-movie. What he is, and what he has become, is something that really surprises no one that has known Manning for any length of time, and soon, he aligns himself with similar like-minded outcasts.

ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION is officially given life in 1985, joining Zed (as he is known to his friends) in the band are guitarist Rockman Rock (aka Jimmy Cauty), bassist Kid Chaos (aka Stephen Harris), and drummer Boom Boom Kaboomski (real name unavailable). Of course the latter part of the band’s name was culled from the most unlikeliest of sources, but there it was, in the lyrics of the third verse of The Boss’ “Dancing In The Dark“.

Soon, the band is signed to the Phonogram Records subsidiary, the Food label, and 1986 would be the year that ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION begin their campaign to dominate Rock ‘N Roll. It begins in May that year with the “Wild Child” single,  recorded with Zodiac on vocals and guitar, Kid Chaos on bass, and Jake Le Mesurier on drums. The band’s name has already become a thing of high praise and acclaim among the denizens of the “Grebo” movement (or “Grebo rock”), a British musical sub-genre incorporating influences from punk rock, electronic dance music, hip hop, and psychedelia.

Though ZM&TLR look the part of the term’s earliest intended targets – the word “grebo” was originally used as a slang term for bikers and rock music fans with long hair – the word is being re-fashioned by the group Pop Will Eat Itself in 1986. They use it in song titles and soon, it becomes a thing unto itself, a music genre sublet that in time will include such acts as Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, The Wonder Stuff, Scum Pups, Jesus Jones, and Gaye Bykers On Acid. Before ’86 is over,  ZM&TLR release the “High Priest Of Love” EP which soon lands in the #1 slot of the U.K. Indie Chart.

Truth is, ZM&TLR are pretty much the antithesis of the Grebo look, a polar opposite to its colorful shorts and clean shaves. Zed & Co. opt for a rather more psychedelic, drug addled, Mad Max-ian appearance melded with the German SS ala iron crosses, skulls, black leather, and sometimes, storm trooper helmets.

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HIGH PRIEST OF LOVE EP

TATTOOED BEAT MESSIAH

By the end of 1986, ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION play the U.K.’s packed Reading Festival before thousands of fans. Not bad for a band that had their first gig at the 500 capacity Dingwalls in London less than a year before. Yes, it is evident that the band’s misanthropic imagery is not having an anti-social effect whatsoever, and even more intriguing, their music and its lyrical contents are finding an audience. Chock full of flamboyant, chest-thumping proclamations derived from a raging libido, Mindwarp’s tongue-in-cheek ravings are pure camp despite their often lascivious and misogynist tone.

By the next year, the band has new blood in the form of lead guitarist Cobalt Stargazer (real name Geoff Bird), rhythm guitarist Flash Bastard (real name Jan Cyrka), and drummer Slam Thunderhide (real name Stephen Landrum). Also, bassist Kid Chaos has left to join another popular rising band, The Cult, so enter Trash D. Garbage (real name Paul Bailey). The band continues their ascension to sonic glory with more U.K. single releases in 1987, including “Prime Mover” and “Backseat Education“.

However, for any British band, there is only one thing that seems to equate as having “made it” or being successful, and that is acceptance across the pond, in the United States. In February of 1988, ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION release their first full-length album, “Tattooed Beat Messiah“, through the Vertigo label, another subsidiary of Phonogram. The album contains remixed versions of the singles released the previous year, alongside several new songs too, including a cover of the Steppenwolf classic, “Born To Be Wild“, in some markets.

The album explodes in a music scene being dominated by acts like Poison and Bon Jovi but true anti-authoritarian types know the deal. “Tattooed Beat Messiah” is the dividing line, where such horrid pop fluff shall not pass, and it spawns several subsequent video tie-ins to tracks like “Backseat Education“, “Planet Girl“, and of course, “Prime Mover“.

Ultimately, it has the desired outcome as ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION are placed on a 1988  U.S. tour bill, alongside Guns & Roses, supporting Alice Cooper. After just a few dates, ZM&TLR are bumped up on the roster, now playing after G ‘N R , before Alice Cooper. Several of the band members appear with Slash, Axl Rose and Alice Cooper in a performance of Cooper’s “Under My Wheels” for the feature film music documentary, “The Decline Of Western Civilization: Part II“.

Tours with Motörhead and Iron Maiden only serve to increase the frenzied hysteria about the band, it’s growing like a raging wildfire and soon, they’re designated the new rock royalty, placing them in the ranks of bands like Circus Of Power, Warrior Soul, and Monster Magnet.

Yet, for every high there is a low, for every climb, a descent, and somehow, some way, ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION were about to experience theirs. At some point in all of this, the band is informed that “Tattooed Beat Messiah” failed to sell well in the United States, resulting in them being dropped by their record label while burdened with large, outstanding debts. It doesn’t add up, literally, as the album had ignited like a fuse, spawning five official videos that received regular rotation airplay on MTV, and the channel’s “Headbangers Ball“. That show’s host, Ricki Rachtman, claims the band as one of his all time favorites, and one of the most underrated bands of the era.

Not ready to give up the ghost yet, ZM&TLR release a sophomore album, “Hoodlum Thunder“, through the only label that would seemingly sign them at this point, Musidisc. Despite critical acclaim for the album, there is no hysterical fanfare this time, no arenas to rock, yet it’s probably a safe bet that some grope-ready groupies still thronged the band. The album spawns a handful of singles including “Elvis Died For You” and “Meanstreak“, and one of its cuts, “Feed My Frankenstein“, ends up being re-recorded by Alice Cooper, and released on his 1991 Hey Stoopid album (and featured in the 1992 movie Wayne’s World).

  Truth is, things will never quite be the same for ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION as they increasingly cycle through a revolving door of musicians. This includes bassists Suzi X, Tex Diablo and Kev Reverb, along with such drummers as Robbie Vom and The Apocalypse. They continue to release consistent output like “Live At Reading“, “My Life Story“, and “One More Knife”, but the band eventually goes on a hiatus, remaining inactive for a decade before resurfacing again around 2002.

“I Am Rock” arrives that year, another live album, “Weapons Of Mass Destruction” in 2004, “Rock Savage” in 2005, and the following year, 2006 brings “Pandora’s Grisly Handbag”, a 1986 live album and DVD pairing. Through all of this, the persona and over-the-top character that is Zodiac Mindwarp never dilutes nor seeks a PG rating. The dangerously deranged, gargantuan genius of Mark Manning continues to expand, authoring multiple books containing memoirs about his sordid sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll experiences simultaneously as the band issues albums.

In 1996, he pens Bad Wisdom (with Bill Drummond), while Crucify Me Again (2000), Get Your Cock Out (2000), Fucked By Rock: The Unspeakable Confessions Of Zodiac Mindwarp (2001), Collateral Damage, and The Wild Highway (2005, again with Drummond) all follow.

2010’s “We Are Volsung” album, featuring the cast of Zodiac Mindwarp with guitarist Cobalt Stargazer, bassist Jack Shitt, and drummer Bruno ‘The Cat’ Agua, is released via SPV/Steamhammer. Recently, the current edition of ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION featuring Z and Cobalt, Beast Of Ante (bass) and the returned Robbie Vom (drums), have toured in celebration of the 30th anniversary of  the “Tattooed Beat Messiah” release.

When all is said and done, the larger than life cosmic rock deity that is Zodiac Mindwarp, as well as his more human alter ego, Mark Manning, will be a subject regaled across the infinite celestial. Tales, legends and mythologies, if not entire theologies, will be devoted to the praise and edification of the Tattooed Beat Messiah. You know, the “Christ in shades“, the “napalm god“, the “Sex führer, baby”, the “love dictator…living detonator“- Mister Prime Mover himself.

Mark Manning, 19, is a talented young musician from the town of St. Bride’s; the largest community on the Cape Shore. He has just completed his first year of Business at Memorial University and is already displaying great entrepreneurial skills. When Mark is not busy with his academic commitments, he enjoys turning his musical talents into a profit. Mark provides entertainment to different locations (mainly pubs and bars) in St. John’s. They repeatedly hire him due to the quality of his performance and the crowd of patrons he attracts. Mark also performs locally in Placentia and surrounding areas at events where his talents are in demand. In 2011, he performed in the first ever North East West Expo held in Placentia. “He was definitely a hit!” said The Town Of Placentia’s Cultural Office describing Mark’s performance. The Cultural Office is delighted to see Mark has joined the Youth Ventures program and is very interested in booking him again for community events (including the 2nd Annual North East West Expo) and other shows during the summer months.

Mr. Manning plays a wide variety of music and musical instruments. Some of his common music includes hits from Tom Petty, CCR, Old Medicine Crow Show, Greg Kihn Band and countless other artists. Although Mark enjoys playing classic rock, he is no stranger to Newfoundland music. Mark was a member of the Fatima Academy Accordion Group. This CD is the latest in an impressive list of accomplishments that the group has realized in the 3 short years since its formation. Other successes worthy of note include: receiving an adjudicator’s choice award at the Kiwanis Music Festival, performing at the Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival, entertaining the Irish contingent at the Festival of the Sea conference, performing at the Cape St. Mary's Performance Series, providing the musical accompaniment for the Fatima Academy Concert Choir in Orlando, Florida, and performing as part of the Juno week celebrations. This group received an adjudicator’s choice award at the Kiwanis Music Festival, performed at the Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) Folk Festival, entertained the Irish contingent at the Festival of the Sea conference, and in 2010 provided the musical accompaniment for the Fatima Academy Concert Choir in Orlando, Florida, as part of the Juno week celebrations. Furthermore, Mark is a current member of The Celtic Fiddlers, a vibrant group of young musicians who are members of the Music Industry Association of NL and the East Coast Music Association. This group is traveling to Ireland in August to showcase their musical inclination.

A Kick in the Head leads to a Big Bang: Mark Manning- producer/actor/activist

In 1986 a young small town Nebraskan migrated to Kansas City to pursue his theatre craft.  Kansas City was considered an oasis for Mark Manning.  Manning quickly landed low paying gigs as an actor and stage manager at the independent theatre, The Unicorn Theatre at 3828 Main Street.   Like many young artists, he also ventured into the service industry to support himself.  Manning found employment on West 39th Street’s “Restaurant Row” at Lou Jane Temple’s eclectic Café Lulu.  Unfortunately, Manning would become a victim of a random hate crime after an evening shift at Café Lulu. The traumatic gay bashing later enlightened the artist to create a performance piece about the beating.  Manning debuted his first original performance piece at David Ford and Scott Cordes’ "Art Coffee and Roll" program at The Foundry.

The audience’s reception to his original work encouraged Manning to produce more pieces and create a weekly event called “The Spoken Word” at Café Lulu with co-worker/actor Ron Megee (Late Night Theater).  The variety show format (10 minutes an artist) fostered an underground scene for Kansas City performers to showcase new original works for over one hundred weeks.  After Café Lulu closed in 1991, Manning evolved “The Spoken Word” showcase into “The Big Bang Buffet.”   Manning created themes for each of these events that attracted contributions from more of the serious writers and performers of “The Spoken Word.”  The Cabaret, a gay bar at 5024 Main, would become an early “home” to The Big Bang Buffet’s performance events. New social and political themed performances were showcased at The Cabaret with titles like: “Birmingham’s Book Burning Barbeque”, “Gingrich Eggs and Ham”, “Every Gay People”, “Nasty Sally Searsucker”, and “The Fired-Up Fruitcake Bake-Off.”   Often the shoe-string budget productions were benefits for various organizations like the Coalition Against Censorship, KC Free Health Clinic, The Good Samaritan Project, and ACT-UP.  Big Bang Buffet continued to fill the house at the Cabaret and also flourish as an organizer/contributor to the annual Culture Under Fire anti-censorship programs in Kansas City.  In the end Big Bang Buffet presented art exhibitions and hosted over 75 performance events at underground venues and established theatres like The American Heartland, Midland, and the Unicorn. 

Mark Manning continues to be an activist/organizer in Kansas City.  He is the producer for KKFI’s 90.1 FM’s weekly community radio program; Wednesday Mid-Day Medley (10am-12pm). The program highlights Kansas City’s art community and features original local music.  Manning also is the coordinator of the KCK Organic Teaching Gardens program at elementary schools in Kansas City, KS.

Text by Pat Alexander. All images/materials courtesy Mark Manning.

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