The Nazz
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The Nazz was an early psychedelic garage rock band from the 1960s. The band was formed in 1967 by Todd Rundgren (lead guitar) and Carson Van Osten (bass guitar), borrowing the name from an old song by the Yardbirds. Thom Mooney (drums, formerly of the Munchkins) and Stewkey (vocals, keyboard) joined before their first concert, opening for the Doors in 1967.
Marketed by their manager, Michael Friedman, as a teenybopper boy band, the Nazz signed with SGC Records, releasing Nazz in 1968. The album was not successful and neither was the first single, "Hello It's Me". After a brief trip to England cut short due to visa problems, the Nazz recorded their second album, Fungo Bat. The album was originally a double album but was shortened to a single LP before release. Much of what was cut was Rundgren's material, and he departed the group, along with Van Osten, soon after.
With Stewkey in charge, Rundgren's vocals in the old tapes were replaced by his own; the band released the unsuccessful Nazz 3 in 1970. Mooney soon left, eventually playing with a variety of groups including the Curtis Brothers, Tattoo, Fuse and Paris. Stewkey played with Fuse alongside Mooney for a brief period, but then left. Rundgren went on to have somewhat successful solo career. Ironically, Rundgren recorded a hit version of The Nazz' first unsuccessful single, "Hello It's Me".