By Bob Makin
originally published: 06/25/2025
Formed in New Orleans in 1975, the hard rock band Zebra are on a 50th anniversary tour that will bring them to the URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center on Friday, June 27, 2025. Sharing the bill will be Angel and Starz. Showtime is 7:00pm.
A limited number of tickets are available for purchase online. The venue is located at 46 Washington Avenue in Carteret, New Jersey.
On behalf of his original band mates – bassist Felix Hanemann and drummer Guy Gelso – I spoke with co-founding vocalist-guitarist Randy Jackson about the many years they’ve been recording and touring.
How and why have the three original members of the band stayed together for 50 years?
We love performing, and at this point we are family and get along great. We’ve certainly had a lot of comedy along with the music after 50 years.
What has the band enjoyed most about celebrating their 50th anniversary?
Performing the new songs has been a lot of fun for us, especially since the reception has been so good. The realization that it is actually 50 years and how fast it seems to have gone is a mind bender. We are really fortunate to still have such loyal and amazing fans.
Before the current 50th anniversary tour, when was the last time Zebra toured?
We have been doing a LOT of shows around the country for the last six years. We never really ‘end’ a ‘tour.’ We just keep going. It happens to be our 50th year together, so this year is special!
There’s been talk of a new studio album timed to the 50th anniversary and produced by Jack Douglas, who produced your first two albums for Atlantic Records in the mid-1980s. What is the status of that project?
We are in the mixing phase for Jack’s part of the record. It’s sounding really good!
What impact did Jack Douglas have on the band?
Jack is a great musician. He has great arranging skills, and he also adds a lot of awesome melodic ideas for the songs.
Will Zebra continue to work beyond your 50th anniversary?
As long as we are physically able.
Zebra formed in New Orleans but relocated to Long Island to be closer to the following you had built up in the Northeast. Are you still based in Long Island or have you moved back home to New Orleans or do members of the band live elsewhere?
Felix and I live in Long Island. Guy lives in Covington, right outside of New Orleans.
Did Zebra know White Tiger, a New Orleans band that relocated to New Jersey in 1977?
Yes I knew them well before they came up to NJ. Great band, and I knew they would kill it up here!
What was your favorite venue to play in New Jersey and why?
There were a lot of great clubs in New Jersey. Mother’s and The Soap Factory were always great to play, but my favorite was Club Bene. Great food!
Zebra are ending their 50th anniversary with a homecoming show on Thanksgiving Eve in New Orleans. What are you looking forward to most about that show and why?
Hometown shows are always special for us. Although we have been performing in the Northeast since 1977, New Orleans is the only place in the country where we have fans that saw us back in that first year, 1975. That certainly is a reason to celebrate.
Is there anything I didn’t ask on which you would like to comment?
Come see us before we’re dead!
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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