ZEEKtheFREAK is an alternative indie music project from Scottish musician Zeek Catweazle. Zeek is a multi-instrumental studio recording artist who writes, records and produces music, CDs and music videos.
The Story
The story goes all the way back to 1976. The place is Dundee, Scotland. The music scene was more than a bit boring. A singer and a guitarist/bass player formed a comedy/punk band as they felt the music scene was dull.
Zeek Catweazle and Murray Muff were later joined by The Great Giz on drums, and the Snap-on Brothers were formed. This project only lasted 2 years but impacted the Dundee music scene.
Fast forward to 1996, when Zeek was starting a new music project and, after much thought, came up with the name ZEEKtheFREAK, a song written and performed by the Snap-in Brothers.
Zeek had been living, by this time, in Alkmaar, Holland.
He originally planned to record music but decided to perform a live show after a few cassette tape releases.
In 1997, ZEEKtheFREAK & his FCB took to the stage to support the Indie band the Bouncing Bettys. The show was successful, and more gigs followed. Before time, ZEEKtheFREAK was a well-known name in the Alkmaar music scene.
From 1997 to 2016, Zeek and his band played many shows, shocking audiences with their brand of shock rock. During those years, Zeek continued to write and record the music for numerous albums, only occasionally bringing in session musicians. The band members have changed; only guitarist Bas 'the Rebel Jesus' Lute was there from day one.
But after releasing his last album in 2018 and a host of singles, Zeek decided that he had taken the rock show as far as he could. So, in the autumn of 2024, he decided it was time to take ZEEKtheFREAK in a new direction. Thus, there would be no live shows, and the music would be more experimental indie.
2025, and the story continues. . .
Zeek Catweazle. The Godfather of Psycho Rock, Happy Psycho Records, and the musician behind the ZEEKtheFREAK project.
Zeek Catweazle's Official website:
The Influence
The ZEEKtheFREAK project has been influenced by various musical and non-musical artists and bands over the years. Frank Zappa and the Mothers have been his most significant influences, along with the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Alice Cooper.
For the live show, the Mothers, Flo And Eddie, and especially the Tubes and Alice Cooper, have greatly influenced his show.
Musically, at the beginning of the project, he listened to punk and humorous bands. These included Half Man, Half Biscuit, Albertos Y Los Trios Paranoias, the New York Dolls, and the Dead Kennedys.
As the years progressed, moving away from punk towards metal, Zeek was influenced by Type O Negative, Soundgarden, Creed, and Sepultura.
Due to his influences, classical music and alternative sounds have taken centre stage in later times. Composers such as Chopin, Satie, and Tchaikovsky are just a few. Alternative experimental music has played a significant role in his composition. Tangerine Dream and Eno are just a couple of artists.
