News by Ken Mosher [via snzippers.com web site]:

In a letter received from "Ghost of Steven Foster," co_director Matthew Nastuk, "You might be interested to know that we entered the film in the Vancouver Animation Festival which took place about a week ago and I was just informed today that the film took first place in the "Best Animated Music Video" category.

Please don't forget to spread the word about "The Ghost of Stephen Foster" video.

On 17 July 1999, "Stu and his longtime partner Ann Shy were married (yesterday) in Hillsborough, NC. The wedding was followed by a big reception. They have a wonderful son, Caleb. Congrats to both families!!" (As reported by Ken.)

Also by Ken:
"Zipper Fans!! Please check out our old friend Richard Gilewitz. He's a great guitar player who has played numerous times with the band, and he is a must for accoustic guitar players! Check out his page, and buy an album!"

Mammoth Records sent out a news release a few days after Tom Maxwell's resignation from SNZ. [Also, while reading the news release, I noticed on the bottom of the page that Tom Maxwell has an official web site? Has anyone seen it? I don't think it exists. I will notify Mammoth.]

Things should get better though with an upcoming new SNZ album release by Spring 2000. SNZ will begin recording this October with *new* members?! WOW! Also, SNZ is featured on the Asleep At The Wheel tribute LP entitled, "Ride With Bob," which also feature performances by Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson and Vince Gill. The song they recorded is entitled, "Maiden's Prayer."

News by Ken Mosher [via snzippers.com web site]:

News by Ken Mosher [via snzippers.com web site]:

6-21-99 If anyone is in NYC on the 25th?, Tom, Je and I will be part of the Ben Folds Five Orchestra for BFF Concert in Central Park! [Note: On the official BFF web site, the date is actually on the 24th.]

6-19-99 Chris Phillips** Celebrates 30th Birthday!!! He brought over a copy of the "Ghost of Steven Foster" video, and it is incredible..... We LOVE it!!! Thanks to codirector Raymond Persi, and everyone else involved. Now if only it gets played.**

* Belated Happy Birthday, Chris!!

News by Ken Mosher [via snzippers.com web site]: --> a lot has happened since I last updated this page...

6-1-99 Look at my interview* with the web's premier music mag! The Shrubbery The longest Squirrel Nut Interview Ever! Thanks to Jess. Also look at the great interview last month with Ben Folds.

5-30-98 The Video for "Suits are Picking Up the Bill" was recorded at the Carolina Inn, in Chapel Hill. (the photo shoot on the back of Inevitable was also done there. They are a full service hotel as well.

5-26-99 Y'all got Southern Style's attention!! I promise that I will be the biggest advocate of southern style nuts, if they drop the lawsuit!! In fact, we'll be able to buy the tons of candy from them, that we USED to buy from Squirrel Brand Co. And our manager, Erik Selz will buy 10 cases (about $30.00/case) and give it out for free right here on this webpage!!!

5-23-99 Amazingly, The Zippers are now being sued by Southern Style Nuts, the company that bought Squirrel Brand Corporation. They have a website, http://www.southernstylenuts.com and they haven't answered my questions about what they hope to gain by continuing the lawsuit.

5-21-99 Mammoth Records, who contractually agreed to support the band in defense of the Squirrel Brand Corporation lawsuit, has now stopped paying their legal bills, and therefore withdrawn their legal support of the band. Now, it looks like our only hope is our appeal to Southern Style Nuts, who has purchased the Squirrel Brand Corporation. Mammoth's Phone Number is 919-932-1882.

5-15-99 I just (saw) the new Mickey Mouse Show (Sat Morn, ABC). We did the theme music for the cartoon earlier this year.... Unfortunately, the music on the cartoon was someone else.. Funny, No One Let Us Know!!

News by Ken Mosher [via snzippers.com web site]:

We Were JUST the $500.00 Question in the "Swingtime" Category on the JEOPARDY! Gameshow. Amazing and true, the question: This North Carolina Band got its name from a candy in Massachusettes? Who are the Squirrel Nut Zippers!!! Who the Heck Knows who the Squirrel Nut Zippers Are?!?!? No One Buzzed In!!! If only Y'all had been on JEOPARDY! You could have pocketed 500 Clams!

Look forward to solo albums in 1999 by Katharine's "Jazz Squad", Jimbo's "Knockdown Society", and Tom's "The Tom Maxwell Experience"*, with and without Zipper cohorts. For purposes of accounting, these albums will not be available on this site. Katharine's Jazz Squad is due for release in May**, and Tom's Samsara*** will be available in August. I have no Knockdown Society Info, but I know Jim recorded some songs with Jim Dickinson, the famous Southern producer. Jim Dickinson's boys Luther and Cody are the guitarist and drummer for the North Mississippi All Stars.

News by Ken Mosher [via snzippers.com web site]:

Yes, I know the updates are getting ridiculous, but I'm really trying to make the website better for everyone who uses it.

News by Ken Mosher [via snzippers.com web site]:

The "Ghost" Video is Finished!!!

A Mr. Raymond Persi has just e-mailed me. He is one of the directors of the "Ghost of Steven Foster" video. Ladies and Gentlemen, the video was delivered to Mammoth TODAY*!!! I can't wait to see what they do to it!!

The Official SNZ Web Site now makes use of frames. :-) It has also been updated with an essay, written by Tom, celebrating Duke Ellington's birthday, who would have been 100 years old last week.

In other news by Kenny:

Does anyone know if The "Ghost of Steven Foster" video is done? I distinctly remember hearing late April, but I have seen no video yet.

Look forward to solo albums in 1999 by Katharine, Jimbo, and Tom, with and without Zipper cohorts. For purposes of accounting, these albums will not be available on this site. Katharine's Jazz Squad is due for release in May, and Tom's Somsara will be available in August.

--

So, now we know the title of Tom's new album! I looked up "Somsara" and this is what I came up with:

• Somsara is a village in the district of Bankura, West Bengal.
• A search on Encyclopedia.com returned: 1.-nirvana 2.-Buddhism
• Also spelled "Samsara" (?) If so, a search on WWWebster Dictionary resulted in:
  Function: noun
  Etymology: Sanskrit samsAra, literally, passing through
  Date: 1886
  : the indefinitely repeated cycles of birth, misery, and death caused by karma
• For a more in-depth explanation of "Samsara", I found this page. It contains a lot of information and links.

As for the "Stephen Foster" video that will soon be released, Matt suggested that we start "campaigning" for air-time (for the video.) We can start by sending e-mail to:

• MTV
• VH1
• Muchmusic

There was an article yesterday on the SonicNet Web Site about SNZ. In it, Katharine talks about the band as well as the upcoming SNZ album. [Thanks, Laura!]

--

Another article [written 01 May 1999 at the Live Daily Web Site] on SNZ with regards to individual member projects (i.e. Katharine's, Tom's, and Jimbo's.) It describes Tom's upcoming album as, "far out, eclectic, organ influenced, even barber shop quartet, eastern sounding, and quirky.." [ I guess this pretty much answers my question above -- on what direction Tom will take his music.]

--

Ken has updated the snzippers.com web site:

News By Kenny, Updated 26 April 1999

The Squirrel Nut Zippers have cancelled their scheduled shows for August and September of 1999. Sorry to everyone with tickets, to our promoters, and to Erik Selz, who is the greatest manager in the world. We are putting the organization on hold until situations are resolved.*

--

Remember that cartoon with that oh-so-famous mouse (mentioned here a little while back) in which SNZ wrote and performed the title theme? Well, it's due out this Saturday, 1 May 1999. The show is called "Mickey Mouse Works".

In the new issue of "New Music Monthly"**, Tom Maxwell interviews Ben Folds Five (BFF). The issue comes with the new BFF cd single called "Army", in which Tom Maxwell and Ken Mosher perform. Speaking of BFF, they will be on the Late Show with David Letterman tomorrow night, Wednesday, 28 April 1999. Check your local TV listings for the time schedule.

In the latest issue of Downbeat Magazine, there is a full page ad (on the back) for Selmer/Bach horns featuring SNZ. Here is a mini online view of the actual ad/poster located at the Selmer Web Site, which can also be purchased.

"Bird On Film" Read on...

* I am not speaking for anyone but myself when I say that apologies are not needed in this case. All I want is for SNZ to be able to get through this quickly and painlessly and, more importantly, in their favor.

News by Ken Mosher [via snzippers.com web site]:

I must point out that the following comments/opinions are mine alone. Posted By Ken Mosher:

The Squirrel Nut Zippers are being sued for using the name Squirrel Nut Zippers. Because of the complex legal issues, I cannot comment further; I might get in more trouble than being sued, right?! The band has not broken up*, as I previously stated. I'm sorry for misinforming you, but these circumstances are both professionally and emotionally difficult, and I let my frustration get the best of me. While I personally feel that spending time and money to tour and record are foolish under the cloud of these circumstances, and that our efforts over the last year and a half to rectify this situation have been for naught, I do not speak for anyone but myself. I do hope that these issues can be resolved, so the band may continue to make great music together. More details later.

The Squirrel Nut Zippers have been nominated for Music: Band of the Year by GQ Magazine! It is the April issue with Mike Piazza on the cover. Turn to page 114 and vote for SNZ!

"The Ghost of Stephen Foster" video will be out this Spring and will feature animation by the team behind the Fox series "The Simpsons."

The Zippers horn section* can be heard in the new Ben Folds Five single "Army" (from "The Unathorized Biography of Reinhold Messner"), which will be released on 27 April 1999.

Mammoth has added a page exclusively about Katharine Whalen (and her Jazz Squad).

Honorary SNZ member, Andrew Bird (and his "Bowl of Fire"), has finished recording (their) new album entitled "Oh! The Grandeur!", produced by Mike Napolitano. The album will be released on 24 August 1999. Feature performers include James Mathus, Jack Fine, and Pat Sansone. [I will add detailed info & news as soon as I set-up Andrew's page.]

There's talk of various SNZ band members appearing on singer Paula Cole's next album (her producer, Phil Ramone, is reportedly a big (SNZ) fan). [Take that for what it's worth!] :-)

The Stacy Guess tribute album, "Legacy", was released on 23 March 1999. Go and get yourself a copy today! I'm sure you will not be disappointed. Here are additional information on the album:

• Fifteen track compilation spans Stacy Guess' short music career
• Features tracks by Squirrel Nut Zippers, Chris Stamey, Pressure Boys*, Sex Police**, Soma and others
• All proceeds go to the "Stacy Guess Outstanding Musician Scholarship"

Wrote to Disney Records trying to find out the title of the new Mickey Mouse cartoon in which SNZ performs the title theme. I got this response:

Thank you for your letter. Unfortunately, we do not have any information on the Squirrel Nut Zippers recording. The new cartoon is currently in development, so we do not have much information on it yet...

New News by Ken via snzippers.com:

• "Trou Macacq" will again be used in another movie called "Three to Tango", set to be released this Spring. [Note: I checked the Internet Movie Database and the plot summary given, as well as the actors in the film, were quite different from what Ken described. Do I have the wrong movie, Ken?]
• SNZ recently finished the title theme, written by Jimbo, to the NEW Mickey Mouse Cartoon! "...stellar performances from everyone," says Ken!

According to Billboard Online, Stacy Guess' Tribute Album, "Legacy", was released (?) by Mammoth Records today, 9 March 1999.

On Thursday, 11 March 1999 at 12:00 AM, Hard Rock Live on VH1 is airing a taped concert footage of SNZ (performing "Suits Are Picking Up The Bill", "Club Limbo", and "Hell". There will also be taped concert footage by other artists, so you may have to wait a little.

More news (via Rocktropolis Web Site) about Katharine Whalen's Solo Album, and a tidbit about Tom Maxwell's upcoming Solo Album. You guys won't believe it but, Kat recorded this album late last year! [I was quite disappointed at the last line of the article. It stated that, "The Zippers, as a entire band, probably won't see the inside of a recording studio until late 1999 or 2000." But, then again, it's just speculation!]

According to the Wall of Sound Web Site, Katharine Whalen's Solo Album entitled Katharine Whalen's Jazz Squad will be released on 25 May 1999. AND, her band will be on tour this June! Also, note that her "Jazz Squad" includes SNZ member and husband, Jimbo, as well as Stu and Je!