Zev Asher

Zev Asher was a great filmmaker, musician, and artist.

Zev was talented, charming, strong, courageous, intelligent, original, generous, but above all…hilarious. As he liked to remind me often, he opened for Jim Carrey when he was at the ripe age of 16. He would steal other people’s jokes and rephrase them, which made it all the more whimsical.

He loved to play chaotic, but always conceptual audiovisual live shows all over the world. His documentary films were personal and intense.

Zev would beam with pride when telling stories about his days in Japan. He was especially satisfied while talking about swinging his bratwurst on stage. He enjoyed challenging his audience.

Even while he was sick during these past years, there were many moments of fun. Zev loved to travel. We were able to go to Venice to visit family and we went to Quebec City for a show. His determination and courage were absolutely inspiring.

I recently spent weeks by his side. He would always find ways to entertain me with totally perverse jokes that pushed all levels of decency. He was not well, but he was still creative. We made an effort to maintain this together. He would select images to make collages with and he would order me to shot video to see how much I could take. We watched great movies and listened to tons of Zev-style playlists, which would rage anywhere from Cheap Trick to Nick Cave to screaming jazz, death metal, and of course noise…and then back to unbelievably dated pop.

Zev taught me almost everything I know, but most importantly, he taught me that absolutely unwavering and profound love can exist.

Today, I am honoured to share his amazing voice with you.

I have made his album ‘The Romance is Over’ by The Sleazy Listeners (his duo with Lasse Marhaug) available for your downloading pleasure.

Donations in Zev’s memory may be made to "The William Brock Fund for Research and Education on Blood Cancers at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital" c/o the Université de Montréal, (514) 343-6812
portraits of hope
Guest book at Legacy.com

love Jen Morris

Music

free download
‘The Romance is Over’ by The Sleazy Listeners
if you would like to purchase a real copy please email me at jenlmorris [at] gmail [dot] com

“Blacked Out, Again”
The Romance Is Over

IMG/mp3/Blacked_Out_Again.mp3

Download

Nimrod on bandcamp

Roughage on bandcamp

"Coupon Clipper"
by [sic] & Roughage

released in 2004 on some NYC label (anyone know?)

IMG/mp3/coupon_clipper.mp3

Download

"Grupo de Tres"
by Roughage, [sic] and Anla Courtis

2003

IMG/mp3/grupo_de_tres.mp3

Download

Videos and Film

SUBCULTURAL REVOLUTION: SHANGHAI excerpt

CASUISTRY The Art of Killing a Cat
(NB: this is a documentary film please don’t send death threats! Zev loved cats)

WHAT ABOUT ME: The Rise of the Nihilist Spasm Band

RAT ART and Aqua Alta excerpts coming soon.

MEMORIES

[sic] & Roughage

2002-2003-2004


flyer for a casa show


Roughage in Montreal at Casa del Popolo Nov 2002


Zev Asher & Jen Morris

Zev Asher & Jen Morris

these are promo pics from our 2003 tour in Europe

We had the pleasure of playing
Ljubljana & Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia
Bologna, italy
London, England with "What About Me: The Rise of the Nihilist Spasm Band" screening
Brighton, England at the Cinemateque with "What About Me: The Rise of the Nihilist Spasm Band" screening

"Coupon Clipper"
by [sic] & Roughage

released in 2004 on some NYC label (anyone know?)

IMG/mp3/coupon_clipper.mp3

Download

"Grupo de Tres"
by Roughage, [sic] and Anla Courtis

2003

IMG/mp3/grupo_de_tres.mp3

Download

More photos to come.

Poster

from Toyohiro Okazaki

Tribute from the Straight

Vancouver online


photo by Bev Davies

The Georgia Straight

CKUT days

from Christof Migone

Live on Danger in Paradise, CKUT-FM
Fall of 1989 (Montreal). Zev Asher guitars, tapes, effects; Chris Wilson sax; Christof Migone turntables, edits.



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