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
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
"Coupon Clipper"
by [sic] & Roughage
released in 2004 on some NYC label (anyone know?)
"Grupo de Tres"
by Roughage, [sic] and Anla Courtis
2003
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.
ZEV ASHER / ROUGHAGE
Roughage
Zev Asher WIKIPEDIA
Tumblr
YouTube
TRIBUTES
The Globe and Mail
The influence of noise artist Zev Asher
The Georgia Straight
Keith Parry
Allan MacInnis
The World Provider
Broken Pencil
ARTICLES / INTERVIEWS
Broken Pencil written by Zev
Vivoscene article
Zev Asher: the Casuistry Interview
TF1
REVIEWS OF NOTE
New York Times
Variety
MUSIC
Nimrod on bandcamp
Roughage on bandcamp
Please consult the MUSIC section on this page
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?)
"Grupo de Tres"
by Roughage, [sic] and Anla Courtis
2003
More photos to come.
Live on Danger in Paradise, CKUT-FM
Fall of 1989 (Montreal). Zev Asher guitars, tapes, effects; Chris Wilson sax; Christof Migone turntables, edits.