Zinny J. Zan - Biography

Biography

Zinny J. Zan is probably best known internationally as the original lead-singer for the 80s Glam metal band Shotgun Messiah (1985–90). However he was already well known in his home country of Sweden by the time he was 18, when his band Easy Action (1981–85) toured Scandinavia and was soon signed to a contract with Warner Bros. Records. Easy action was the first Swedish music artist ever to sign a world wide deal.

Zinny's work with Easy Action included one album as well as a Swedish slasher movie titled "Blood Tracks" for which Easy Action both provided the music as well as starred in.

After a few years of enjoying local success touring the Scandinavia region, Zinny wanted the band to try to make a go of it in the U.S., while the other members of the band were hesitant to leave their home country. This caused Zinny to end up leaving Sweden for New York and start looking for a new band.

He was soon contacted by Tim Sköld and Harry Cody and asked to join Kingpin (the band that would eventually become Shotgun Messiah). While under the name Kingpin the band recorded the album "Welcome to Bop City". After being signed to Relativity Records and relocated to live in Hollywood California they changed their name to Shotgun Messiah and remixed and released the Bop City album as Shotgun Messiah's self-titled, debut album.

The album Shotgun Messiah was a reasonable success, spawning three fairly popular singles as well as two video for MTV the album reached a 52nd place on the American Billboard chart]. Eventually though, personality and creative differences between Harry, Tim and Zinny began to grow and led to Zinny's departure from Shotgun Messiah in 1990.

After the split Zinny went back to Stockholm to begin again, but due to various personal problems (a divorce, his father dying, his sister being diagnosed with cancer, and contracting a stomach disease), it would be over four years before he released the album "Citizens of Wasteland" with his new band Zan Clan in 1994 to rather limited success.

In 2002 Zinny would record and release the solo album City Boy Blues which enjoyed moderate commercial and critical success in Scandinavia, was chosen as "Come back of the year album" in UK.´s Classic Rock Magazine but failed to gain much of attention in the U.S.

Zinny then signed a TV contract to be the Tour Manager and Mentor for a TV show Band called Tribal Ink for the show "Wannabe" in 2002.

After his solo album Zinny would resurrect the Zan Clan with a new line up including producer/guitarist/songwriter friend Chris Laney.

As of 2005, the Zan Clan has released a one album titled "We Are Zan Clan, Who The Fuck Are You" as well as having opened a series of shows in Europe for Whitesnake & Queensryche.

As of 2006 Zinny Reunited with his former Guitarist Kee Marcello (Europe) for a Reunion gig at Sweden Rock Festival with his band Easy Action. This led to more shows for Easy Action and they opened up for Twisted Sister on their farewell tour in 2007.

2008 Easy Action released a new single Jack's Back (Produced by Chris Laney) and opened up "The Speedway Grand Prix" at Ullevi in Gothenburg, The single went up on the singlechart in Sweden for weeks.

Zinny is reportedly writing an autobiography called "The lies and faults of Zinny J Zan" which will reveal everything, from groupies to behind the scenes within the band and the record industry as well as finishing up the recording of a new Easy Action Album with the work title "Looking Up Your Old Address".

Heavily influenced by bands such as Aerosmith, Kiss, Sex Pistols, and Thin Lizzy it shows in his song writing and singing style.

Contributed to the FastLane Records release 'Tricked Out' a tribute to Cheap Trick where Zinny did CT hit 'Surrender', Zinny also contributed on the "A Tribute to Phil Lynott" album doing a cover of the song Dedication.

He was last sighted at Ericsson's North American headquarters in Plano for some inexplicable reason. He has also been sighted recently roaming around Ericsson Brazil headquarters in São Paulo.