For the Love of Music
Penzephyr, as a project, comprised Bagz (Errol Balzer) and Smelly (Errol Fellows) RIP. It was a working band in various forms over the years, with some notable members: Les Kemsley, Gerry van Wyk, Barry Langton, Steve Busa, Den Doel and Peter Price. They were very active during the early ‘70’s and mid ‘80’s.
Bagz and Smelly, close friends who wrote songs together since the ‘60's for the pure enjoyment of doing just that; writing songs and playing them whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Smelly, who contributed a metronomic and thundering bass whenever he performed, was a career musician and well-respected bassist in the South African Music Industry. His early roots were established in the Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth areas and includes bands such as The Visions an The Pleasure Machine who were winners of the “On the Go Show” in the mid-Sixty’s
Bagz, known for his thrashing rhythm style, prefers to stay on the fringes and, apart from a brief professional spell circa late 60's/ early 70's, appears publicly mainly doing guest spots. He cut his teeth in music in the 1960’s playing in bands in the East London, King William’s Town and Border towns and later Port Elizabeth. The bands he played with included The Hooks, The Burning Embers and The Changing Thymes.
Bagz and Smelly were also a part of Charles Jacoby’s Country Music Show which toured and performed in Towns around South Africa.
In 2015, Smelly and Bagz, while reminiscing over a few glasses of wine, reflected on the fact that, despite their collaborations over the past decades, they actually had nothing physically to show for their efforts.
The decision was then made to leave some of their original works for posterity.
This lead to an online collaboration which lasted until Smelly passed in June 2023
We showcase some of these efforts here.