Zon - Back Down To Earth

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Circus	03:59
	2	Please Stay	03:43
	3	Lifeline	03:22
	4	As Seasons Change	04:01
	5	Suicide	03:26

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Back Down To Earth	03:28
	2	Cheater	03:37
	3	Take It From Me	02:56
	4	When He's Old	04:05
	5	Gods And Kings	04:18

Photos

Videos

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Information/Write-up

Toronto’s Zon emerged in the mid-1970s from the city’s fertile progressive rock underground, quickly positioning themselves alongside fellow Canadian acts like Saga, FM, Klaatu, and Rhinegold. The group came to the attention of CBS A&R executive Bob Gallo, who signed them to Epic Records. With producer Don V. Lorusso at the helm, Zon recorded their debut album Astral Projector in 1978. Released on striking blue vinyl, the record became a fixture on FM radio and earned Zon a Juno Award nomination for Best New Group. Tracks like “Put On the Show” and “Hollywood” captured both the grand ambition and melodic flair of late-’70s prog rock. That same year, Zon landed coveted opening slots for The Tubes at Maple Leaf Gardens and Styx at CNE Stadium, impressing arena-sized audiences and even winning encores from crowds waiting for the headliners.

The follow-up, Back Down to Earth (1979), co-produced by Lorusso and Vancouver keyboardist Dale Jacobs, saw Zon expand their sound with a stronger melodic rock edge. They headlined a triumphant show at Maple Leaf Gardens before a crowd of nearly 18,000, but their momentum faltered after a Globe & Mail critic—who mistakenly reviewed the opening act instead of Zon—published a scathing national review. Despite CBS demanding compensation, the damage to the band’s reputation was lasting.

By 1980, corporate restructuring at CBS ended the group’s contract even after a third album had been greenlit. Undeterred, Zon regrouped under Falcon Records with Gallo producing, releasing I’m Worried About the Boys! (1980). The record included a spirited cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane” and the single “For You,” which climbed to No. 2 on Hamilton’s CKOC—ironically charting higher than any of their CBS releases.

But misfortune struck again during their 1980 tour when Zon opened for Alice Cooper at CNE Stadium. Minutes before showtime, Cooper canceled due to illness, and Denton Young was forced to deliver the bad news to a furious audience. The crowd erupted, hurling chairs and debris in a near-riot, and the band barely escaped unharmed. The ordeal, combined with years of label battles, sapped their energy. By 1981, Zon had quietly disbanded.

After the breakup, the members pursued new paths in Canadian rock. Denton Young resurfaced on Rik Emmett’s solo projects. Kim Hunt went on to play with Hanover, Urgent, and later Moxy. Jim Samson also found a long-term home in Moxy. Roddi Chappell became part of the AOR band Lightspeed, releasing albums on Pacemaker in the 1990s. Brian Miller worked at Toronto’s famed 12th Fret guitar shop until his passing in 2015. Howard Helm joined Michael Fury (later Refugee) before spending four years touring worldwide with Mick Ronson and Ian Hunter, later establishing a production career in Tampa, Florida, writing and recording music for television, film, and artists such as Seven Mary Three.

Though their career was brief, Zon left a vivid mark on Canadian rock. Their albums captured the ambition and drama of late-’70s prog, while their live shows proved they could hold their own on stadium stages. Remembered for their flashes of brilliance and bad luck in equal measure, Zon remains a cult name in Canadian prog history—an ambitious band that deserved more than fate allowed.
-Robert Williston

Denton Young: lead vocals, percussion
Howard Helm: keyboards, synthesizers, vocals, screams
Brian Miller: all guitars, vocals
Kim Hunt: drums, percussion
Jim Samson: bass

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