band members
also featured - related projects

 Zita Swoon have appeared as many incarnations, primarily in the forms of 'A Beatband' and 'Moondog Jr'.

As 'A Beatband' they released their debut ep, 'Jintro Travels the Word in a Skirt, 5 songs of wrath' The musicians who worked on this CD included Klaas Janzoons and Jules de Borgher who were to achieve publicity for their roles in dEUS, who co-incidentally released their debut 'Zea' around the same time. Stef was also involved with dEUS, who were signed to Island. dEUS' contract with Island also had a clause which meant they had exclusive rights over the band members' music including any other projects they were involved with. And so, Moondog Jr's first album, 'Everyday I wear a Greasy Black Heather on my Hat' together with the two singles that came from it, 'TV Song' and 'Jintro and the Great Luna' were released by Island but were poorly publicised, leading to some resentment towards the label. Early TV appearances are made, one with their producer, Michael Blair, and reviews often mention Tom Waits who Blair has also worked with. Belonging to two increasingly popular bands became impossible and just before the release of their second album, Stef made his announcement that he would be leaving dEUS.

This did not spell an end to their collaboration with dEUS, Klaas Janzoons along with percussionist, Piet Jorens, was to work on their 1996 score for FW Murnau black and white classic, 'Sunrise, a song of two humans.' By this time, they had drawn the eye of Louis 'Moondog' Hardin, a blind American blues musician, who objected to their use of his name. As a result of this, Zita Swoon were born - in time for the release of their live album, 'Music for Sunrise - a 1996 score' on independent label 'Play It Again Sam (PIAS)'. A mainly instrumental recording, two songs with vocals are released as singles 'Couldn't She Get Drowned?' and 'Giving Up the Hero.'  The live show is played alongside the projected movie, and tours around the Benelux countries. By this time, the band are receiving generous attention and awards. Then silence...

Eventually, Zita Swoon receive the financial security of a major label, signing with Warners Benelux. It is through this label that they release 'I Paint Pictures on a Wedding Dress' (IPPOAWD) and the preceding single 'Song for a Dead Singer' (an ode to Jeff Buckley). This is surprisingly upbeat, recorded in New Orleans and mixed by Malcolm Burn. After the initial shock wears off, the album receives an excellent reception and reaches gold within a year. A limited edition version of the album was released which included 'The Sound Hobbyist', a 9-track mini-album. Zita Swoon were quite unhappy with the way that Malcolm Burn had chosen to produce their album and this was their own offering to their fans.

Onwards and upwards! During 1998, Flemish government award Zita Swoon a special grant, under the new Flemish music bill, of 1,5 million BEF. They later also receive an official thank-you for their "artistic merits." They are the first band to receive this award and their manager, Teddy Hillaert from Tour Werchter responds, "This is a mighty precedent : the members of the group realise that their responsability is huge. If they don't do well, other rock-groups won't receive a dime the next time round (in 2002). We have an obligation towards the others to make something out of it".

Triumphantly, 'About the Successful Emotional Recovery of a Gal Named Maria' and 'My Bond with You and Your Planet, Disco!' were released. Tongue-in-cheek Belgian journalists write, "We are soooo grateful to you because our columns are already half-filled if we only mention one of your song- or album-titles". All the while, there are concerts taking place on a tour that travels all over Europe. At the start of this tour, Stef says he can't sleep because he is just so happy to be making music and playing live again.

At the same time, there are ideas in the works for a theatre/dance project. Stef, Bjorn and Aarich collaborate with an actor and his daughter and two dancers from Les Ballets C de la B. The two actors drop out, and what results becomes 'Plage/Tattoo=Circumstance,' an experimental theatre project in which every participant has acted as director. The theme picks up from Sunrise - being of two humans and their relationship. It debuts at the 'chic' Holland Festival, receiving a mixed response. The show tours from Austria to Greece and many places in between. The live album is released, it is released by Warners, but they do not do any promotion for it.

The band take a break to write new material and spend some time on side projects - Aarich's included an exhibition and having a baby!! Stef takes a holiday in Mexico before making various appearances around Belgium, including De Nachten and prepares his exhibition for September 2001 in Rotterdam. Tomas works mainly with the Marrakech Emballage Ensemble and Think of One, releasing a new album, 'Naft'. He has travelled to Morocco and works with Stephen Duncan. Tom has a new side project, 2000 Monkeys. He has been producing 'Flemming' from Holland as well as writing the score for 'Zee Majeur' and 'Zee Mineur' a children's theatre project by Dimitri Leue. Bjorn has been painting and working on his own music with his country band occasionally travelling to the US. In between all of the, the group, particularly Aarich and Stef, work on the official website.

The band begin to play new songs at variety concerts and on TV. Whispers of a new album resonate around the corners of the Antwerp scene. Announcements are by venues of odd dates here and there. Official release dates are announced for the new single and album on Warners.

Hot, Hotter, Hottest is released shortly before the Long Player, 'Life = A Sexy Sanctuary", a distinctly poppier array of songs, and is accompanied by the launch of their new website www.zitaswoon.com - a full on shockwave affair. The group are more active than ever, with promotional events, instore concerts and touring as well as further side projects. The band release a live recording 'Live at the Jet Studios', a limited edition of 10,000 and get back to their roots with a series of semi-acoustic retrospective shows in old baroque theatres.

Looking ahead in 2002, SKC is working on a Flemish score for Carmen, to show September. He has also been continuing his Ruddy Turnstone exhibition as well as exhibiting at the Louvre! Aarich is working on an operette 'Via Viola' whilst Tom has been continuing with 2000 Monkeys and producing for bands such as 'Boo!', Tomas has been working with Think of One and Bjorn is about to release a solo album.