The band first made headlines in 2001, after a bizarre incident involving lead singer and outspoken Scientologist Tranzaxle Thorn, where he carved the word “bloviate” into their tour bus and then tried to light himself on fire outside an Econo Lodge in Deluth, Minnesota in what some close to the band say was the result of an addiction to rubbing alcohol.

This time it’s the music that is on fire, and that is just fine with the boys of Opheelya Drowning. Rising up through the silt and murky water of the modern American underground, this four-member outfit struck gold with their rendition of the Chicago-based Satan's Brainhammer classic anthem "(You Got To) Rise Up (To Meet Your Challenge)" for Shakesploitation! The tune underscored the pivotal training montage during Ninja Hamlet: Burning Fist of Denmark part of the three-play Fringe Festival production.

In an uncharacteristic move, these bad boys of the power rock scene turned their backs on a long standing rule to avoid all cameras— a decision made after their original bass player, Claude E. S. King, was murdered by a member of the Kodak family—and created a video for their tune. They have released the song on their upcoming single-track album titled "Rise Up". While their live shows have become the stuff of legend, for many, this video marked the first opportunity to see the infamously camera-shy quartet perform live. The band was determined to not disappoint.

Thorn donned his traditional American Flag Cape for the shoot, screaming the uplifting lyrics to the tune with the reckless abandon that earned him the title of Lord Golden Throat (Skreemerz Magazine, Oct. 2003). It was vintage Thorn. He was joined by the always steady Gareth Creeks on keyboards and the masterful Billy Bongo channeling Ringo Starr, if Starr played guitar. Of course the infamous lead guitarist, known to all but his band mates and mother as "The Fazz" unfurled an astonishing, almost apocalyptic solo in the studio session.

As goes with these Cinderella stories, during the filming of the video, after shooting his solo in the burning, mid-day sunlight of downtown Norristown, The Fazz went to the store to get a six pack and never returned. He was last seen staggering (a common gait) from the set with the sun glinting from his highly polished baldhead. The band members, like jilted wives, have vowed not to produce another song until their friend returns to them.

Hard-core fans say Fazz's disappearance was foretold in an earlier, never released classic and staple of their live shows: "Fazz-i-Nation", which includes the chorus "Fazz is fading fast/while finding furtive fuzz." These cryptic lyrics, written by the baldhead banger himself, seem to warn of the day when this masterful and often misunderstood guitarist might not be a part of the band. “Where’s Fazz?” websites has blossomed like Venus flytraps across the World Wide Web.

All band members refused comment for this story claiming grief-induced intoxication. The band's Manager Cassio B. Herwick III has stated that the video will never be released, although sections of it have already surfaced on peer-to-peer networks across the country. The only way for fans to see the completed work is to go the Iron Age Theatre production of Shakesploitation! at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in September. The play will be performed September 3, 4, 10, 15, 16, and 17 at the Journey Home Community Enrichment Center at 948 N 8th Street. The Single cut CD of Rise Up will be available at all shows. The CD contains the only remaining image of Fazz from the video shoot as he whales on his ax under the very blue sky and sun that drove him to his fateful beer run. Sadly, the cover image only pictures the three remaining band members.

Herwick convinced the band to permit the song to remain part of Shakesploitation. Herwick has a long-standing collaborative relationship with Iron Age Theatre arranging the performers for their annual performance art and fundraising site-specific concert and installation at a Philadelphia Salad Works “Greens of the Iron Age.”

What does the future hold for this quartet turned trio? Is there life beyond Shakesploitation at the Fringe Festival? Who can say, but if music lovers should keep their eyes out for the Fazz and get him back home.

A Where's Fazz Web Site

The Official Opheela's Drowning My Space

Links to more information about the plays and press releases ..... More to come....
Press Release PDF
Press Release Two (July 10) PDF
Press Release Two in HTML
Images of Shakesploitation at the Binge Festival 8/19/05
Press Release About Playwright Andy Grigg and the Origins of Shakeploitation! in PDF