Songs > Open My Eyes > History


“Open My Eyes” is a short and simple garage rock song by Nazz. Written by Todd Rundgren, the track was a small success for the band and the only single from their 1968 self-titled debut. The song was later featured on the 1972 compilation Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968 which compiled a number of garage rock tracks from the mid to late ‘60s on a double album. This compilation would provide a building block for many bands, including King Gizzard. In a Nardwuar interview, Eric said “I guess we all just started listening to Nuggets and everything. That’s how we started Gizzard. It’s just so easy to play. Makes you want to, like, pick up an instrument and have a bash and start a band. That’s rock and roll.”

In 2012 Warner Music Australia released the cover compilation Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations Of The First Psychedelic Era. The album sees a variety of Australian artists play their favorite garage rock songs from the compilation, including King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Their rendition of “Open My Eyes” transforms it into a fuzzed out and heavy psychedelic rock track, with their iconic delay effects and growling vocals from Stu. On top of Gizzard’s involvement, the album also features The Murlocs doing “Psychotic Reaction” by The Count Five, and has cover art by Jason Galea.

The song was played at least once live by the band. The only known performance was on 2013-01-25 at Paradiso at Sydney Town Hall in Eora (Sydney), for the release party for the Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations Of The First Psychedelic Era compilation.

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