{{Short description|Irish new wave band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = group_or_band | name = Zerra One | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland | genre = New wave | discography = | years_active = {{Start date|1982}}–{{End date|1987}} | label = Mercury, Top Hole, Second Vision | spinoffs = | spinoff_of = | current_members = | past_members = Paul Bell<br/>Andreas Grimminger<br/>Adrian Wyatt<br/>Mike Mesbur<br/>Korda Marshall<br/>Anthony Drennan<br/>Eamonn Doyle<br/>Ian Penman | website = https://www.facebook.com/groups/110249542375562
YouTube Channel = https://www.youtube.com/@ZerraOneIreland
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'''Zerra One''' (also known as '''Zerra 1''') were an Irish new wave band formed in Ireland in 1982. They recorded two albums but split up in 1987 due to a lack of commercial success.<ref name="allmusic1">{{cite web|author=Biography by Michael Sutton |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/zerra-i-mn0000694874 |title=Zerra I | Biography & History |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref>
== History ==
Zerra One were formed in 1982 by vocalist and keyboardist Paul Bell, guitarist Andreas Grimminger, bassist Adrian Wyatt and drummer Mike Mesbur.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/zerra.html |title=Irish Rock Discography: Zerra One |publisher=Irishrock.org |date=1983-11-14 |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref><ref name="allmusic1"/> That year, the band supported The Cure on their UK and European tour in April–June,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/thecurethemultimediaexperience/three-forever-1980-1982 |title=1980-1982 THREE... (FOREVER) - THE CURE - THE MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> and released "Let's Go Home" as their debut single. It was released by Top Hole Records in the Netherlands only.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-I-Lets-Go-Home/release/1807034 |title=Zerra I - Let's Go Home (Vinyl) at Discogs |date=1982 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> Later in December, the band supported U2 for five dates.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tours.atu2.com/opening/zerra-1 |title=U2 Concerts with Opening Act: Zerra 1 |publisher=Tours.atu2.com |access-date=2017-09-23 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Two singles were released in the UK during 1983 on the Second Vision label. Although "The West's Awake" and "The Banner Of Love (How I Run to You)" did not generate any major commercial success, the latter single reached No. 33 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.<ref name="allmusic1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-I-The-Wests-Awake/master/97567 |title=Zerra I - The West's Awake at Discogs |date=1983 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-I-The-Banner-Of-Love-How-I-Run-To-You/master/97564 |title=Zerra I - The Banner Of Love (How I Run To You) at Discogs |date=1983 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref>
In February–March 1984, the band toured as a support act of The Boomtown Rats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6479954-Zerra-I/images |title=Images for Zerra I - Zerra I |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> The same year saw the band signing to Mercury. Their first single for the label was "Ten Thousand Voices, Message from the Peoples".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-I-Ten-Thousand-Voices-Message-From-The-Peoples-Alternative-Version/master/148996 |title=Zerra I - Ten Thousand Voices, Message From The Peoples at Discogs |date=1984 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> That year, their self-titled debut album was also released, which spawned the singles "Tumbling Down" and "Mountains and Water".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-I-Tumbling-Down/master/148997 |title=Zerra I - Tumbling Down at Discogs |date=1984 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-I-Mountains-And-Water/master/148994 |title=Zerra I - Mountains And Water at Discogs |date=1984 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> Released across Europe, the album was produced by Todd Rundgren, but failed to give the band their commercial breakthrough.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-I-Zerra-I/release/3461515 |title=Zerra I - Zerra I (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs |date=1984 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> A revised version of the album was released in Canada in 1985 on the Vertigo label. It was re-titled ''Mountains and Water''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-One-Mountains-And-Water/release/2380914 |title=Zerra One* - Mountains And Water (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs |date=1985 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> A remix of "Rain", taken from the debut album, was released in the UK in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-I-Rain-Remix/release/1777242 |title=Zerra I - Rain (Remix) (Vinyl) at Discogs |date=1985 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref>
Mesbur was replaced by Korda Marshall during 1984. Recording sessions for the band's second album spanned from May 1985 to April 1986, however by this time both Marshall and Wyatt had left the band, with Marshall going on to launch independent record label Infectious Music. Wyatt was replaced by Eamo Doyle, making the band a trio. On the album, drums were mostly provided by Pete Thomas and Gavin Harrison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-One-The-Domino-Effect/release/935562 |title=Zerra One* - The Domino Effect (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs |date=5 January 1987 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> "Rescue Me", the first single from the album, was released in October 1985 and reached No. 82 in the UK in early 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22995/zerra-one/ |title=ZERRA ONE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company |publisher=Officialcharts.com |date=2017-07-21 |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/mer205 |title=Zerra One - Rescue Me / No Longer - Mercury - UK - MER 205 |publisher=45cat |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> However, the band were unable to capitalise on the chart entry. The album, ''The Domino Effect'', was not a commercial success, along with two further singles "Forever and Ever" and "Domino Effect".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/mer239 |title=Zerra One - Domino Effect / Stronger Tonight - Mercury - UK - MER 239 |publisher=45cat |date=2014-08-05 |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/mer220uk |title=Zerra One - Forever And Ever / You Are My Friend - Mercury - UK - MER 220 |publisher=45cat |date=2016-01-27 |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> In late 1986, the band supported Ultravox. They focused on trying to break the American market in 1987, but disbanded later that year. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zerra-One-Forever-And-Ever/release/935543 |title=Zerra One* - Forever And Ever (Vinyl) at Discogs |date=1986 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecure.cz/press/files/archive-1987.html |title=The Cure on Press (1987) | The Cure | Flowers Of Love |publisher=Thecure.cz |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://irishmusicdb.com/z/zerraone/band_biography.htm |title=Zerra One Biography |publisher=Irishmusicdb.com |access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref>
2025 finally saw Zerra One added to major streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other available services.
== Members ==
* Paul Bell - lead vocals, keyboards (1982–87) * Andreas Grimminger - guitar (1982–87) * Adrian Wyatt - bass (1982–85) * Eamo Doyle - bass (1985–87) * Mike Mesbur - drums (1982–84) * Korda Marshall - drums (1984–85) * Ian Penman - keyboards (1984)
== Discography ==
;Albums
* ''Zerra 1'' (1984) * ''Mountains and Water'' (1985) * ''The Domino Effect'' (1986)
;Singles
*"Let's Go Home" (1982) *"The West's Awake" (1983) *"The Banner of Love (How I Run to You)" (1983) *"Ten Thousand Voices, Message from the Peoples" (1984) No.112 UK *"Tumbling Down" (1984) *"Mountains and Water" (1984) No.152 UK *"Rain (Remix)" (1985) *"Rescue Me" (1985) No.82 UK *"Forever and Ever" (1986) *"Domino Effect" (1986)
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
Category:Irish musical quartets Category:Irish new wave musical groups Category:Mercury Records artists Category:Musical groups established in 1982 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1987 Category:1982 establishments in Ireland Category:1987 disestablishments in Ireland