Zero Zero - Mike Batt

This intriguing audio-visual piece was created by Mike Batt in 1982. It was the first thing Batt ever directed (co-directing with John Eastway). The designs and "animations" were all part of the original concept, conceived and designed and by MB during his 1981 Pacific crossing from Los Angeles to Sydney aboard his boat, Braemar. The story is about a young man called Number 17 (Ralph to his friends) - played by Batt. Set in the distant future, or past, - the World in which Number 17 lives is one devoid of Love, which has being deliberately, genetically eradicated. Number 17, however, is a genetic throwback and falls in unrequited love with Number 36, a surgeon at the local correction centre for those afflicted with the disease of Love.
*The album and DVD are available on Dramatico Records:
Amazon:amzn.to/18L7onl
iTunes: smarturl.it/ZeroZ
and other outlets.
Running order:
1. Introduction (The Birth Of Number 17)
2. System 605
3. Love Makes You Crazy
4. Delerium
5. Whispering Fools
6. Zero Zero
7. The Dance Of The Neurosurgeons
8. No Lights In My Eyes
9. Love Makes You Crazy (Instrumental Reprise)

[@b3naqua]

This album NEVER gets old. Brilliant 🔥

[@snobneonpeople7008]

Mike Batt is brilliant in the world music.

[@horaceosirian8993]

10 seconds in and I'm already convinced this is right up there with The Dude's landlord's dance troupe performance.

[@thornalas4385]

Always one of my favorites! Entangled minds in a dead end street, something that has become a reality to many.

[@hudshsoft]

He's one of the best composers and singers of all time.

[@basilbrush7878]

It's a shame he is only known for the Wombles and Watership Down Bright Eyes, but in the coming centuries, like the great artists, his work will be appreciated

[@MaxRothGroup]

A masterpiece... timeless artwork. Thank you! (Me; born 1967...)

[@flippert0]

Underrated to this day, both from a visual style as well as pop music or as modern composition.

[@linus4394]

Boy! Best of the best! Listening to it for more than 20 years! Neverending story😉

[@ADzPipes]

Recorded this on Betamax in 1982, the tape ran out 1/4 way through, so rewound quickly and re pressed the rec button, only missed a mo, and that is what I had of 00 for years. I was obsessed with it - bought the album twice, kept one mint, watched it 100's of times, and finally - recently bought the DVD/CD combo after waiting for it for years to come out, deserves a remastering in my honest opinion - slickly done, tragic, and disturbingly moving, still delights me to this day, wont ever get fed up with it, a one off!

[@basilbrush7878]

Same here, but my dad recorded over it. I even wrote to ABC Australia requesting a copy. They responded and said it would cost me thousands of dollars due to copyright. My dad redeemed himself later by recording "the Hunting of the Snark" for me.

[@AndreasSeebeck]

Same for me! It was broadcasted here in Germany when there was no chance to record tv. No videorecorders, can anybody imagine that? Since then I was waiting for this video. Thanks!

[@peterrobinson6034]

I had this on vinyl as a random buy from a record shop. I'd have been aruond 13-14 years old. Never forgotten it :-) Pure brilliance!!!

[@indianermaxe9062]

das ist sowas von erschreckend schön.......einfach großartig

[@simmisaa7905]

To think about ~ fantastic work by our dear brother Mike ..stunning performances and songs

[@pedromeloico]

a Masterpiece! thanks!

[@juliabrodie1635]

Thanks for posting this. I lived in Britain when this came out in 82 but haven't heard it since and no one I've met in New Zealand has even heard of Mike Batt.... =)

[@theborg]

I bought this album in 82 or 83 and cherished it. One Saturday night at 1 or 2 in the morning this video came on the television. I fumbled thru my mother's VHS tapes looking for a new one so I could copy it. Because I was so happy to see this, I just stopped looking for a tape and I sat down and watched. Of course all my friends were angry at me for not recording it. Oh well. But it's a pity about number 36.

[@jamiegoddard562]

Could never understand why 36 wasnt given what 17 received the orchestrated love makes you crazy with 36 makes me cry every time you just felt so sorry for her 😢

[@flippert0]

Amazing mix of pop and contemporary classical composing. Impressed me mightily back then (and still does).

[@sarahbrennan3078]

I've had the LP for years but I had never seen this before. Brilliant.

[@StefanTravis]

I saw half of this *once* in 1982 on the BBC. It was interrupted by a city-wide power cut. And yes, I've never forgotten it. You can never predict what will become a classic.

[@michaelgardthausen1496]

Immer wieder ein Traum Danke

[@broilerfresser9707]

Ein Meisterwerk!

[@dyfustifications]

I've seen this sooo many times when I was young. Happy, that I found it here.

[@inprice123]

I was a trainee at the ABC when this was made and remember assisting John Patrick during the edit. 2 inch tape no less!

[@gouchingsloth]

Thanx for posting, I had this on Betamax for years. Was just about 16 when it aired, fond memories.

[@jurgenfaustmann7047]

Echt lange gesucht, endlich gefunden. Herzlicher Dank.

[@jamiegoddard9913]

felt so sorry for 36 in the end of zero zero everyone ignoring her broke my heart

[@perpohlmann9134]

i had the LP, but have never seen this

[@Orion-ul4jh]

I too bought the vinyl back in the day. Have still got it plus several other Mike Batt discs. Saw this production, only once, back in the '80's. From memory the production was done in Australia, Number 36 was a principal dancer with the Australian (maybe Sydney) ballet company at the time. I've always considered this production as a modern dance interpretation to the the music. Rather ground-breaking for a 'concept' album.

[@nykhlfc6times632]

I remember watching this when it was shown on Tv. I loved it. I even bought the cassette of the Album. Not quite sure why, i wasn't doing drugs!!! I think i just loved the mixture of electro music and classical music.

[@jamiegoddard9913]

zero zero still bizzare thought provoking and brilliant never seen anything like it or since fresh original and ahead of its time

[@steveotto1454]

Thanks for your post. Excellent

[@marquonuk]

The single is what I first knew it from, as a long time synth fan. But seeing this on TV impressed me. Yes, slightly derivative of 1984, THX1138, and other dystopian warnings about the direction society could end up going in, but still has its own voice and identity and deserved more coverage than it got at the time. It's a clever and thought provoking artistic piece and stands up to repeat viewings. The look and sound of it is unique and striking. I'm surprised that a version of this isn't a stage show.

[@jamiegoddard562]

Exactly what I said

[@aprilporter7908]

My first viewing. Ive never seen anything like this in my 49 years. In a way its unfortunate but its also an extraordinary high impact WOW moment that would have been diluted otherwise.

[@spiel-liga7510]

From the Album Zero Zero 1982

[@pixeloid]

Saw most of this when it first came out on some station I could barely tune in. Incredible score, with a great story. Bought the album as a special order, but was never able to track down the video, nor was I ever able to find t the album as a CD. Thanks a lot for this.

[@CJ-zk1kl]

Pure Art.

[@vincentlyons]

Great!

[@mosouremonstarc2904]

Big Fan

[@nykhlfc6times632]

I had the cassette of this, no-one else got it. The womble had grown up.

[@ChasRochfort]

Wow havn't seen this since it was aired. I went out and bought the LP. Love this to bits. I still have the album !

[@jane_eyre_at_heart8222]

Great to at least have this as trying to find a copy on cd...

[@freds2555]

This is actually way better than I remember from seeing it 35 years ago. Pretty brilliant. There have been a lot of rock+symphonic musical mashups through the years but this must be the only symphonic+new wave production (with a little Klaatu thrown in for good measure.)

[@MrPhilou78]

I've been waiting for this for so long... Thank you soooooo much Mike !

[@solitudinarian]

Many thx for uploading!! This was so ahead of that time... Brilliant!

[@HeikeHerzogKuhnke]

Thank you very much for uploading this. I´ve seen it long time ago and was wondering if I may see it again.

[@AndrejRicnik]

God, what a blast from the past. I still know most of the lyrics of by heart. Love the album (have it on vinyl still!) ... :)

[@doogdoogdoogdoogdoogdoog]

I have waited for this for years, can't believe I could've been here 3 years ago!

[@jamiegoddard200]

Stunningly brilliant remember seeing this in early days of channel 4 in the uk never seen anything like it since

[@radwanderer6165]

Thanks so much for uploading this piece in history of Music!

[@TheAnathyma]

Thank you soooo much for uploading this! You made a terrible Christmas turn into the best Christmas ever. I've been obsessed with Zero Zero since i first saw it in the early 80s on USA NightFlight. When i met my husband I told him about it and we both searched for it. All we could ever find for years was the audio without video and every time we checked Amazon or places like it there were none available. Finally, this year, in the middle of a week filled with one disaster and upset after another I came home to my wonderful husband eagerly offering me my early Christmas present with the words 'you'll never guess what it is' ...Voila, your upload! Now i can see it as often as I like. I intend tho spread it too everyone I can because I feel it's a beautifully done work and deserves attention. I even got my son into it. Bravo! And thank you again!

[@jamiegoddard200]

Its awesome thought provoking. Disturbing and stunning visually brillant and amazing saw it as a 13/14 year old blew me away never seen anything like it since well done mike

[@stationplaza4631]

Thanks very much indeed for posting this. This is the first time I've seen the video since it was first shown on television. It depicts in a quite disturbing way, how people might become in a completely controlled Technocratic society.

[@indianermaxe9062]

great art

[@Pixel1962]

Trust me, Najey, it got a lot weirder than THIS!

[@maksistar1]

Занятно, но не более. Многим тогда хотелось писать музыку будущего, но она так и осталась в прошлом. Тем не менее, спасибо Мику за Кэти Милашку)))

[@Clarinettardis]

First time I've seen that. As a performing arts student, I found it very interesting, Good use of dance and physical theatre as well as imagery. I felt sorry for poor number 36 at the end though.

[@dervxerox]

It's cheesy as hell but incredibly watchable. I love the music.

[@JonasPlanck]

I accidentally deleted the folder which contained all the textures. AGAIN, sorry aeverybody. I didn't mean to, stop demonizing me for it.

[@Jacammo1]

I remember this short musical - Mike Batt became obsessed and engrossed with the role, wearing checked jackets in public and sitting cross legged on a chair while being interviewed, often taking the number 17 persona home with him, name dropping the 'Zero Zero' musical if the interviewer didn't mention it. As it happens my brother became obsessed with it, rushing out to buy the album, sitting cross legged, arms up, pointing fingers up etc. To top this story, Mike Batt left his wife to marry the gorgeous leading lady, her name escapes me. Amazing isn't it. However, you can't dis the music score.

[@RollsRoyceFanatics]

Jacammo1 Julianne White, his wife is still a stunning lady. She appears in the movie Sexy Beast.

[@jamiegoddard9913]

would like to know one thing about zero zero how come 36 didn't have the same op as number 17

[@ingostankau4998]

Maybe The Do were inspired by some songs of this extraordinay piece of muisc by wonderful Mike Batt.

[@johnsimmonds3197]

Clarinettardis... Please don't feel sorry for number 36 ... She married Mike Batt !

[@gbhxu]

Thanks for uploading. Does anyone know where I can buy the CD/DVD double pack? It seems to be out of stock everywhere!

[@massimoenzo]

(on Amazon Zero Zero is currently unavailable)

[@sosososo-xu1dm]

10

[@peteshau8398]

like

[@massimoenzo]

do somebody also have "The Tarot Suite"? I Just saw a very little part long long long time ago (lol)....

[@osolitude]

birth of the sampler ;-) ...how i hated this new technique some years later :-(

[@MashMashMusic]

OK, so who's Number 69?

[@sosososo-xu1dm]

ae

[@lancegeorge71]

Well this is a very weird video music is quite good though.

[@horaceosirian8993]

Number 17 of generation 43, haha too easy: Freemasonic square & compass encoding of 4+3=7 Square: 4 Compass (triangular): 3 Capital 'G': 7

[@Luschine]

I generally like this, have also seen it in the early 1980s on Austrian TV and never forgot it. But one thing is really odd: Why would a girl in times without love need make-up and a special hair-style? That's simply unlogical. There's no need for that in such a society.

[@najeyrifai1134]

Is this what they liked in the eighties? I don't really see what all the fuss is about!

[@jurajkovac9965]

No, it was not. Unfortunately only few people have heard this piece back then. What is your point if you have any? I think not.

[@doogdoogdoogdoogdoogdoog]

Your comment is bad and you should feel bad

[@jamiegoddard562]

Because it was pushing visuals and early days of seeing how far electronic music could go

[@robertbennett8795]

🔥 This movie is phenomenal 1:49 💖🎥💞 👇 👇 👇🔥

[@snobneonpeople7008]

This is life in Putin's Russia.

[@robinscouse4840]

Not impressed, a clown trying to be technical