By JOHN ZEWIZZ & SANDRA PEPIN
The MIDDLE EAST Club iz also like MANRAY in Cambridge. Very fierce rivals for SLEEP CHAMBER performances. They are less than 100 feet apart. Just different streets. THE MIDDLE EAST Club also serves Middle Eastern food and iz on the main street in CENTRAL SQUARE. On the other hand MANRAY iz on a dark side street perfect for underground people. Only open at night. The MIDDLE EAST iz run by two Middle Eastern brothers and hire their family and close friends to work there. There iz 2-floors. One upstairs for smaller crowds. And the ballroom downstairs for headlining acts. Like MANRAY, in the 1990s SLEEP CHAMBER played both Clubs MANRAY & THE MIDDLE EAST around 5-times each year from 1992-1995. So I have a very difficult time keeping dates correct. Years are easy. SLEEP CHAMBER always headlined downstairs. JOHN ZEWIZZ performed upstairs once solo with hiz BARBITCHUETTES. A Rare performance. (Video iz dark/ Audio soundboard show exists- A-) A disagreement issue with the band waz rumored. “That’s Romance” a Jonathan Briley song from 1990 SLEEP CHAMBER- Sleep Or Forever Hold Your Piece” Release waz performed by John Zewizz in the 1990 Texas Shows a few times az a cover tune without Briley and again at theze 2-Solo performances in 1993.
Most All Performances at THE MIDDLE were Big Shows. Always 10-14 BARBITCHUETTES. It also had a better stage and lights than MANRAY. (Both were not very exciting light systems. Pretty much Club standard). SLEEP CHAMBER always brought TV-Monitors at first. Then evolved to BARBITCHUETTES, Pin-Strobes, Master Strobe, Dream Machine,Fog Machine, Industrial Fan and ov course the Home made Incense, silly string, feathers and other kaos props. We learned to blow the Fog machine into the audience instead ov the Rock & Roll mentality ov smoking out the stage. Makes for cloudy videos. This iz where major political problems evolved within the band and its transition. Heroin use waz light but within the majority ov the BARBITCHUETTES. I waz the only SLEEP CHAMBER member doing it. The girls in THE BARBITCHUETTES started az a kind ov sexual Goth chick. It waz not long before Strippers were involved. Which alternated the dynamic instantly. They had no inhibitions and were eager to compete and please the agenda ov the SLEEP CHAMBER performances.
In 1994 SLEEP CHAMBER booked the ‘Downstairs’ for a ‘Quadraphonic Performance’. We passed out flyers and stickers explaining our 4-Channel experience. The Master back-up tape waz a DAT 4-Track Teac. Each channel waz panned left to right, front to back. I came up with the idea a week before the show. I obviously had to pay for the 2nd PA System. It waz way worth the experience. Especially the ritual electronic first set. The 2nd set with polyrhythm songs that included THE BARBITCHUETTES waz less noticeable sound separation wize. The owner-(Joseph)- waz not really sold on the concept. He doubted that SLEEP CHAMBER could sell-out a 2-set performance downstairs and make $15.00 a ticket. We did it but there were issues with people who worked there bulking the ‘Guest List’. I waz pissed, even though we Sold-Out and made little overhead. Fought with Club workers, yet maintained my side ov the argument. If you know you can pack a club or Sell-Out, no one can con you. No matter how hard they try their Bullshit. Joseph-the owner knew I waz right and respected me. Even though hiz main objective waz scoring one ov my vixen BARBITCHUETTES. It only grew worse with each performance. THE BARBITCHUETTES continued to bekum more established in performance and sexuality. I had constant briefs with them about the focus on sexual magnetism. (No Eye contact, No Audience acknowledgement, To remain unobtainable). Some BARBITCHUETTES were ego drawn to their stage attraction and sexual empowerment. I had encouraged them to remain ‘Unobtainable’. Thus causing a more powerful enchantment and overwhelming desire. Keeping the performances more ov an erotick burlesque than a X-rated sex show took constant conditioning. Especially since THE BARBITCHUETTE Line-Ups were constantly changing. Having serious relationships with Laura, Semiramis and on occasion other BARBITCHUETTE short term flings made everything much more complicated. In a close up relationship with a lover causes a lot ov competition with other females in the Pride demanding attention and power. Performances were in a demand ov about one every two months in a Boston Club. I warned the band members not to engage in relationships with THE BARBITCHUETTES because I understood the complexity from my own experiences. Yet, who waz I to enforce this standard that I could not keep myself. There waz distractions from two & three females in group sex. I learned quickly that the dynamics ov fetishism and multiple female sex partners that you never involve a true lover or girlfriend. Insecurity iz a oversight just waiting to doubt your loyalty and commitment.
Into 1993 Sexuality waz unleased in many different aspects. Even with a bi-sexual lover, who iz attracted to females like herself trust and inhibitions evolve. Its just natural. I waz also in the prime ov my most sexually erotic videos for SIAMRSE SUCCUBI. Some ov the final erotick videos I produced. I see az my best. I waz very prolific in filming the highly erotick and fetishistic videos ov WOMEN OF THE SS also. The cross-over ov female vixens were shared back and forth between THE BARBITCHUETTES and WOMEN OF THE SS. The shared the stage performances in 1992-1993 and the videos I produced in that exclusive time period. (EROTICK FANTASTICK-60 minute video), WOMEN OF THE SS-Naughty & Nice Nazis-(60-minute), SIAMESE SUCCUBI-65 min videos, and one shot videos like “Babes ov Babylon”, Justify My Love”, No Ones Heart Beats Harder”, “Snakebite”. The Great & Secret Show”, “Beside Dannae”. ‘Infatuation-(Live)’, “Red Panties”, and Remake ov “Kiss The Whip”. Now I have already done Erotick and Magick ritual videos in SUBMIT TO DESIRE & SEXMAGICK RITUAL but theze newer videos were too much for most all networks like U-Tube and VIMEO. First postings got me BANNED instantly. Even with the ‘Adult Blocking guard’. It got to a point in 1018 were I had no idea what U-Tube waz going to ‘Strike’ me with. It waz a lost cause. I waz Banned in 2-months. Even the videos-(most SIAMESE SUCCUBI)- were issues with VIMEO. A Nude Network. Yet, some ov my ‘Behind-the-Scenes’ footage waz deleted for Not Sexual activity. But being “Too Sexually Stimulating”. True Captured Sexual Emotion. ~
After Publishing THE MANRAY SHOWS we found out that there iz a Limit to how much you can upload. We reached a ‘Maximum Limit’ to our Page. So obviously there will be Parts #1 & #2 to any Posts that include too much data. You have to understand many SLEEPCHAMBER admirers collect large amounts ov memorabilia. Especially us. Our Archives are full ov items going back 30+ years. We don’t have everything. It waz impossible to contain many items from me moving around throughout the years. Our main Archive iz in a large storage unit. I make visits monthly. Its so great to find boxes ov items that were misplaced or forgotten about. Please be a little more patient about purchasing products. I’m working az hard az possible. Keep in mind, when all retail products bekum available it will Blow-your-Mind. Plus az I age I know there iz no need for me to keep 2 ov every vinyl & digital item in my own personal collection. So, many ‘One-ov-a-Kind’ items will be listed. I’m not going to tease you with what will be for sale. Just be prepared. I can tell you that there will be Free Flyers with each order. (Reissues) but same color & size az originals. There will be roughly 27 different ones. We may offer them in a complete package too. We will also be offering the SLEEP-Incense. I will tell you now- No Overseas Orders. We do not need to go into that problem waiting to happen. There are No Dangerous ingredients either. Its 100% Pure Organic herbs and resigns. Its also pretty costly. Not for everyone. At this point, back to the point … Large Posts will have to be featured in Parts. There iz just too much data -(pix, video, etc) to fit in one Post. (OK ?) – K00l –
Well, funny I had just mentioned the space for each Post. We just reached it. So expect a Part #2 and possibly Part #3 to THE MIDDLE EAST Shows. I had a lot ov problems with THE MANRAY SHOWS at the end. Things would not upload because ov space. I could not even swap off photos. I waz just really getting started with this Post. I guess less photos maybe ? Anyway … More writing in THE MIDDLE EAST #2 about the Kaos and adventure playing such a great venue. Mostly BARBITCHUETTE stories. I will also list SLEEP CHAMBER Line-Ups, Set Lists, and the Quadraphonic stereo PA System we set up at THE MIDDLE EAST in 1994. We played a tribal/electronic set first, then a song set with THE BARBITCHUETTES. More info on Part #2. (stay tuned). I paid out ov my own pocket for this project. I paid for a 2nd Sound system. (PA). But it waz worth the concept. We used a 4-Track cassette master. Each Channel panned to a seperate dircetion. Front Left & right. Back left & right. SLEEP CHAMBER had worked with different EQ and frequencies to eastablish a unique sensory experience in our performances-Sound wize. Mostly sub-low bass frequencies and ultra-sonic high 450 levels ov high end. I waz searching for the unique frequency that would subconsciously reach true alpha-brain waves bringing the audience to a Trance-like attention.
SET LISTS ~ 1993 : MIDDLE EAST CLUB
(BAND-Line-Up)-(John Zewizz- Vocals & Violin, Elaine Walker- Synths & Percussion, Ashley Swanson- Guitar, Laura Chopelas- Sax). Harry Wallance-Soundman
WAY OV THE FLESH, JUSTIFY MY LOVE, ANIMAL MAGNETISM, X-TA-SEE, COCKWORK, ANDKONDA, CATWOMAN, WARM LEATHERETTE, NO ONES HEART BEATS HARDER, BESIDE DANNAE, BABES OV BABYLON, RED PANTIES, SUBMIT TO DESIRE /COBRA HEARTBEAT, KISS THE WHIP, MRS GOODBAR.
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SET LISTS ~ 1994 : MIDDLE EAST CLUB
(BAND Line-Up)- (John Zewizz-Vocals / Ashley Swanson-Guitar / Arthur Woznic- Synths)- On occasion- Jay Keegan-Drums & Percussion / Spike Devitt- Guitar / Andrew Woolf-Synths & Percussion / Harry Wallace- Soundman
SWEET DREAMS SWEET / MONKEYMAN, NIGHTSHADE, ANIMAL MAGNETISM, CATWOMAN, COCKWORK, ANAKONDA, NO ONES HEART BEATS HARDER, BESIDE DANNAE, SALOME, SILVERMOON, SNAKEBITE, RED PANTIES, JUSTIFY MY LOVE, COBRA HEARTBEAT, KISS THE WHIP, INFATUATION.
RITUAL OPENING SET – (2-Show Performance)- Quadraphonic Stereo Sound System 1994. Additional Musicians: Spike Devitt-Guitar & Percussion / Larry Van Horn -Strings, Violin, Zither, Bass Guitar/ Zora- Back Vocals, Chimes, Percussion.
STAINED PRAYERS / SWEET DREAMS SWEET / SERPANTS EGG / DREAM OV LIFE/ ISIS / SECONAL SHUFFLE-(10 min) / MOONS DARKER SIDE / INTO THE ABYSS/ NESSUS / WEAPONS OV MAGICK / Although broadcast in Quadraphonic stereo sound the Soundboard tape only copied the Musick in 2-Channel Dolby stereo. Yet hearing the four-way sound processing throughout the MIDDLE EAST Club waz very lucid. There were times some claimed an ‘Out-ov-Body Experience’. I will admit it waz an experiment that surpassed my expectations. The large Clubhouse waz engulfed in fog and true Mystic incense. The strobe lights were matched to the rhythms ov the sub Bass beat. Ov all the wild and crazy SLEEP CHAMBER Performances, this one waz a one-ov-a-kind. The audiences reaction waz strange. Most sat at the bar on Indian-style cross legged through the complete event. You could hear silence between the ending and beginning ov each piece. I would even say it waz ‘Group Hypnotics’. A Peaceful Trance fell over everyone. Including all in SLEEP CHAMBER. Afterward we would have 2-hours to get ready for our next set. That included our regular set ov Songs and BARBITCHUETTES. Now the Events that Followed. The owners ov THE MIDDLE EAST were not impressed at all. Between the Ritual Musick, fog and overwhelming amount ov homemade incense totally disrupted the fine dinning restaurant upstairs. The workers and many diners were not amused. Some left the others complained to the owners ov THE MIDDLE EAST. If that waz not bad enough, The Cambridge Police and some Firemen made their way backstage in a search for a ‘Rumored Narcotic Incense’. There were threats ov closing down the next set and arrests. But the 8-Cambridge Police were unable to find such Incense. The Club waz thick with heavy Frankincense and smoke. We used the Industrial fan to air out the Club. The Police were too interested in talking to THE BARBITCHUETTES to really take it anymore serious. We were warned not to use the fog or smoke anymore that night. They said “Behave Yourself” … and after 30 minutes left. See Press sheet Bellow `(Sorry its Blurry) ~
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SET LISTS ~ 1995 : MIDDLE EAST CLUB
(BAND Line-Up)- (John Zewizz-Vocals / Craig Wein-Synth & Guitar / Andrew Woolf- Synth & Percussion / Ashley Swanson-Guitar / Jay Keegan- Drums & Percussion).
MONKEYMAN / NIGHTSHADE / COCKWORK/ ANIMAL MAGNETISM / CATWOMAN / WAY OV THE FLESH / ANDAKONDA / NO ONES HEART BEATS HARDER / BESIDE DANNAE /COBRA HEARTBEAT /SALOME /SILVERMOON / SNAKEBITE / KISS THE WHIP /INFATUATION.
WATCH FOR MIDDLE EAST SHOWS : # 2
