GZR
American groove metal band founded by Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler.
GZR was an American groove metal band started by Geezer Butler, the bassist and lyricist for Black Sabbath, who also named the group after himself. The band’s releases have appeared under three different names: g//z/r in 1995, geezer in 1997, and GZR in 2005. Most fans call the band "geezer," but Butler pronounces it "gee-zed-ar." This project is separate from Butler’s earlier 1985 solo attempt, the Geezer Butler Band, which is largely unrelated.
The music has a much harder edge than Butler’s work with Black Sabbath. For the first album, *Plastic Planet*, Butler initially asked Devin Townsend to sing, but Townsend declined because he did not want to join another band where he could not write lyrics, having just come from a stint with Steve Vai where he had no lyrical role. Instead, Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory handled vocals, bringing a driving, harder-edged style. The album also featured Butler’s nephew Pedro Howse on guitar and Deen Castronovo (later of Journey) on drums. Bell did not stay past the album due to his commitments to Fear Factory.
In 1996, the band contributed an exclusive track, "Outworld," to the *Mortal Kombat: More Kombat* compilation, with Mario Frasca from Anger on Anger on vocals. This was a one-off collaboration; Frasca was replaced by Clark Brown from Symatic for the second album, *Black Science*, released in 1997. The band played a few live shows in 1996 and 1997 to support the album, but these were not a full tour—most gigs happened alongside the Ozzfest tour that year, including some with Deen Castronovo. Three songs from a 1996 Detroit concert appear as bonus tracks on the Japanese pressing of *Plastic Planet*, and live tracks are also on Butler’s box set *Manipulations of the Mind*. The band opened for musicians like Bruce Dickinson during his live shows. Castronovo was later replaced on drums by Chad Smith—yes, the same Chad Smith who is the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Quick Facts
- Background
- group_or_band
- Alias
- g · z/r, geezer
- Origin
- Houston, Texas, U.S.
- Genre
- Alternative metal, industrial metal, groove metal
- Years Active
- 1995–2006
- Label
- TVT
- Past Members
- Geezer Butler / Pedro Howse / Chad Smith / Clark Brown / Deen Castronovo / Burton C. Bell / Mario Frasca
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The band's music is generally of a much harder edge than Butler is known for in Black Sabbath. The vocalist on his first album, Plastic Planet (1995), was Burton C. Bell from Fear Factory, known for more driving and harder edged vocals. Before taking on Bell, Butler contacted Devin Townsend, who declined due to unwillingness to enter a band where he would have no lyrical input. Plastic Planet also featured Pedro Howse (Butler's nephew) on guitars and Deen Castronovo on drums. Bell did not stay past the recording due to Fear Factory commitments.
In 1996, the band contributed an exclusive track, 'Outworld', to the Mortal Kombat: More Kombat compilation, featuring Mario Frasca on vocals. Frasca was replaced by Clark Brown for the second album, Black Science (1997). The band played a few live dates in 1996 and 1997, mostly concurrent to Ozzfest, including some dates with Castronovo. Three songs from a 1996 Detroit concert appear as bonus tracks on the Japanese pressing of Plastic Planet. Castronovo was later replaced on drums by Chad Smith—yes, the very same Chad Smith who drums for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Reader's Guide
GZR represents Geezer Butler's exploration of a heavier, groove-oriented sound outside Black Sabbath, collaborating with musicians from industrial and extreme metal backgrounds. The band's three distinct marketing names reflect its shifting identity, while its discography spans from 1995 to 2021, including compilations like The Very Best Of and Manipulations of the Mind (The Complete Collection). Though the band never undertook a full-fledged tour, its appearances on the Mortal Kombat soundtrack and a Dog the Bounty Hunter episode indicate a niche cultural footprint. The revolving vocalist lineup—from Burton C. Bell to Clark Brown—underscores the project's experimental nature. GZR's legacy lies in documenting Butler's post-Sabbath creative output and his willingness to embrace a more aggressive musical direction.
Did You Know?
- The band has been marketed under three different names: g//z/r (1995), geezer (1997), and GZR (2005).
- Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory sang on the debut album Plastic Planet but left due to Fear Factory commitments.
- Devin Townsend was initially contacted for vocals but declined because he wanted lyrical input.
- The band contributed the track 'Outworld' to the 1996 compilation Mortal Kombat: More Kombat.
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