The Ground Zero band was an American Rock Band from Wheaton, Illinois, formed in 1977. The band was composed of Gregg Barker (lead guitar), Pete Mrakovich (lead vocals), Alan Voelkel (drums) and Jon Voelkel (bass). Led by Pete Mrakovich’s flamboyant showmanship, Ground Zero created a devoted fan base across the Midwest based on their powerful and entertaining live performances. As rock journalist Gregory Taylor put it - “they were the art of the live gig” ^[1]. Their biggest hit was Back Streets of Lombard. Their debut album Tokyo Express was released by independent label Retread Records. With its melodic catchy vocals and energetic rock guitars it fit the power pop zone defined by the Cars and Cheap Trick. A second album was well on the way when the band broke up under unexplained circumstances.

Brothers Alan and Jon Voelkel cut their teeth in rock bands in Bogota, Colombia. In 1974, together with front man and guitarist James Sanchez they formed Crema Batida. The group had regular appearances on the popular Colombian TV music program Tu y La Musica. In an interview on the program, manager Scott McClean described the Voelkel brothers as “telepathically linked into tightest rhythm section in rock history”^[2]. When the brothers split with Sanchez, they moved to Chicago, Il.

Pete Mrakovich founder of the retro-rock band "PF Flyer And The Sneaks", had created a name for himself in clubs across Chicago for his flamboyant stage antics. The band’s line-up of musicians was constantly changing, and studio guitarist Gregg Barker was an occasional stand-in. After playing a gig at Wheaton College, Pete and Gregg dropped into the now defunct Spanish House Rock Club in the Chicago suburb of Lombard to hear the Voelkel brothers who were playing that night. Pete and Gregg were invited on stage and the ensuing impromptu jam was so compelling that the four decided to form a band on the spot. That band became Ground Zero.

Ground Zero's first album Tokyo Express was recorded at Salvatori Sound over a period of three weeks. The band set-up their full stage gear in the studio and played each song live with as little overdubbing as possible to capture the energy of their live performances. It was produced by Ground Zero and Michael Salvatori and mastered by Diskwerks. The album was released on the Retread Records Label.

• Ground Zero Band - Official Site