Lightning A.K.A. White Lightning - 1968-71

Lightning were a band from my home town Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded by guitarist Zippy Kaplan and bassist Woody Woodrich. The band was pretty popular locally due to Kaplan's fame playing with The Litter. The manager of KDWB radio station mistook the single "Of Paupers and Poets" for a song by Cream, giving the band valuable early airtime. They eventually broke up citing musical differences. Look HERE for an in-depth bio.



 

Zipper - s/t 1975

Sole album from US heavy rockers Zipper, dating from 1975. Featuring Fred Cole (ex Lollipop Shoppe, Weeds) on vocals. Garage rock to the max! With a whisper of stylings from Grand Funk, heavy guitar driven with great guitar runs and a pumpin' rhythm.
Formed in 1973, Zipper as un-compromising as anything Cole's done in his long career. The album  was the frustrated response to the music industry as a whole. Unable to obtain a new contract, Cole relocated to Portland, Or. and it was there he began to take charge of his career. He opened a music store, and a short time later found himself with another band. Tired of his previous trials, Zipper's eponymous debut was self-released on Cole and his wife Toody's new label, Whizeagle. Sadly, this is their only album.
In a true D.I.Y. ethic, the album was released with a cover consisting of two stickers stuck together with gaff tape.
Cole went on to form Dead Moon in the eighties and they continue to play to this day.