Z'EV (born Stefan Joel Weisser, February 8, 1951) is an American poet,percussionist, and sound artist. After studying various world music traditions at CalArts, he began creating his own percussion sounds out of industrial materials for a variety of record labels. He is regarded as a pioneer of industrial music.
In 1983, critic Roy Sablosky wrote: "Z'EV doesn't just break the rules, he changes them." Journalist Louis Morra wrote in 1983: "Z'EV is a consummate example of contemporary performance art, as well as modern composition and theater." and, "Z'EV realizes many of modernist art's ultimate goals: primitivism, improvisation, multi-media/conjunction of art forms, the artist as direct creator."
His work with text and sound has been influenced by Kabbalah, as well as African, Afro-Caribbean and Indonesian music and culture. He has studied Ewe (Ghana) music, Balinese gamelan, and Indian tala.
From 1959-65 he studied drumming with Arnie Frank, then Chuck Flores and then Art Anton at Drum City in Van Nuys, California.
It was more than a matter of knowin'
Or the words that were finally said
It was more than the comin' or goin'
Or the things that were made in your head
It was more than a matter of wantin'
And needin' the foolish things I gave
As if I ever cared to make you cry
Could've been right to know that it wasn't
Yet you knew I was sorry
I dared to make you cry
As if I would
As if I could
As if I tried
But the words that were finally spoken
Like the thoughts that remain in my soul
And hearts that were finally broken
And embrace that never be hold
And the words that I never told you
But I told you, the foolish things I said
As if I ever cared to make you cry
I could've been right to know that I wasn't
Yet you knew that I was sorry
I dared to make you cry
As if I would
As if I could
As if I tried
As if I ever cared to make you cry
I could've been right to know that I wasn't
Yet you knew that I was sorry
I dared to make you cry
Could have been strong but the words didn't rhyme