Zero Down

Zero Down formed by bassist Jim Cherry, drummer Milo Todesco and guitarist John McCree. The three-piece punk outfit hailing from the greater Los Angeles area. Formed in 2000, the members of Zero Down possess a sterling punk rock resume, having spent time in bands like Strung Out, Down By Law, and Pulley. Their debut full length, With A Lifetime To Pay, makes Zero Down the newest addition to Fat Wreck Chords robust roster.

At first glance, Zero Down might appear as a typical So-Cal skate-punk trio. However, after listening to the record, it becomes clear that their personal politics run deep and their agenda as a band is equally profound. As bassist and singer Jim puts it, I formed Zero Down because Ive always written music and because Ive always been a fan of music. So many rockstar types write songs for so many wrong reasons. My favorite songwriters are fans of music, and Im still a fan.

Unlike most of the straight ahead punk acts of today, Zero Down mixes it up by taking advantage of slower and more complex drum patterns. Jim describes Zero Down as having a Slower, 80s driving rhythm. Their downbeat brand of punk allows for the threesome to truly showcase their talents as musicians.

Frontman Jim cites his musical influences as: Social Distortion, Adolescents, D.I., and Bad Religion. As these bands provide a great foundation for a modern punk rock outfit, Zero Down collectively has a vastly diverse musical pool from which they draw. Guitarist John prefers reggae and hip-hop, while drummer Milo prides himself on being a jazz musician. All of these varied influences add to Zero Downs dynamic sound and further strengthen their already proven songwriting.

Drummer Milo says this about being involved in Zero Down, I was a jazz snob until I got exposed to punk through Down By Law. It was then that I heard the true artistry of punk rock. With A Lifetime To Pay is my favorite recorded work, its believable music and it feels good to be part of this.

Following the release of With A Lifetime To Pay, Zero Down plans to hit the road hard and tour frequently. Milo expands on this, Because weve only been a studio band so far, we cant wait to tour and evolve through playing live shows. The future of newcomers Zero Down looks promising, albeit hard to predict. We just want the kids to like the record. Says Jim about the bands only goal. One listen to Zero Down and that shouldnt be difficult to accomplish.

Frontman Cherry (who was also bassist and songwriter for Epitaph Records band Pulley) enlisted the support of Fat Wreck Chords owner Fat Mike, who released the band’s first (and only) album, With A Lifetime To Pay in 2001. The music was a throwback to mid-90s melodic skate punk (no surprise given the pedigree of Zero Down’s members), and was well-received. The band added a fourth member in August 2001, ex-Lagwagon guitarist Shawn Dewey.

Zero Down came to a premature demise on July 7 2002 with the death of Jim Cherry, due to a life-long heart condition. Early reports suggested that Cherry died from an accidental prescription drug overdose; Fat Wreck Chords released the following statement on July 10:

«Jim lived his life as an honest and open person and we feel that it’s important to share the facts with the punk rock community. Although Jim had been clean in recent months, he battled addiction with prescription drugs for a couple of years. It would seem that his addiction got the best of him, as he died from an accidental overdose of Soma (a muscle relaxer) this past weekend. Again, we send our thoughts out to Jim’s family and loved ones.»

However, in December 2002 the label released a further statement concerning Cherry’s death.

«We have the final news regarding the tragic death of Jim Cherry this past summer. Although it was earlier reported that Jim’s passing came as a result of substance abuse, the autopsy revealed that Jim’s system was clean at the time of his death. Jim had a life-long heart condition which ultimately resulted in his death on July 7th. His family informs us that he suffered from hypertension and arrhythmia; and it was major blockage of an artery that eventually took his life while he was asleep. Jim was a big part of the Fat family as well as a member of Strung Out, Zero Down, and Pulley, and he will always be remembered for his passion and songwriting. He is greatly missed…»