Wikipedia
Zao is a metalcore band from Parkersburg, West Virginia. Founded in March 1993, Zao has hosted several musicians and endured numerous roster changes to the point where no original members remain. Former drummer Jesse Smith, singer Daniel Weyandt, and guitarists Scott Mellinger & Russ Cogdell are seen by most fans as the "core" of Zao.
Christianity has been a key influence in the band's work; because the founding members claimed to have a strong relationship with God, they were considered a devoted Christian band, which changed as time passed. Former drummer Jesse Smith slowly changed the band's vision. Because only half the band's members identified themselves as Christians, Zao no longer considered itself a Christian band but rather a group of open-minded artists. Lyrics in future productions may or may not include Christian messages, but Zao has stated they would have loved to return to the Christian Cornerstone Festival when it was still active. As of 2015, only one member of the band claims Christianity as their beliefs.
To date, Zao has completed ten full-length albums, four EPs, a two-disc DVD documentary and multiple concert tours, garnering a limited but global fanbase and earning critical praise in the process.
Zao may refer to:
- Zao (James Bond), a character in the James Bond film Die Another Day
- Mayor Zao, a character in the video game Freedom Planet
- Zao (American band), a metalcore band from Pennsylvania
- Zao (French band)
- Mount Zaō, a mountain in northern Japan
- Zaō, Miyagi, a town in Japan
- 5751 Zao, an asteroid
- ZAO, an abbreviation for a Russian closed joint-stock company
Zao was a progressive rock/ zeuhl band that was founded by two ex-members of Magma: Yochk'o Seffer ( saxophone, clarinet) and François Cahen ( piano). They were active from 1971 to 1994 and released six studio albums.
In 1976, Magma violinist Didier Lockwood also joined the band and appeared on their albums Kawana and Live!.