Zing's Spoiler Career
Osborne "Zing" Rampersad was born on February 2nd, 1953 on the island of Grenada in the British West Indies. A bright and articulate young man, he excelled scholastically and was a tutor for his fellow students in both grade and high school until relocating to the USA in his late teens, leaving his parents and his siblings, Ruth, Lettuce and Robert behind at the family's farm property. Little did anyone anticipate what was to come.
As fate would have it, Zing attended the Spoiler's return gig at El Bolero during the Summer of 1975 along with his close friend, Abdul the Butcher. Abdul made the introductions and Zing was recruited as the band's new bassist, replacing Robert "the Monster" Echevarria. Lead guitarist Louie "the Great" Cazucci went on hiatus shortly thereafter and was replaced by Sherry Smith, the band becoming Spoiler VI. They performed at El Bolero and Los Panchos before singer B.T. Superstar's chronic substance abuse caused Zing and Smith to resign.
Zing and Cazucci teamed up to form Satan's Claw, whose show closer, "Sweet Loretta", was a tribute to the Spoiler's "Barbarella Queen of Pain". They eventually rejoined Superstar to form Spoiler VII, but Zing dropped out to pursue his dream of playing guitar. The following year, Zing returned as rhythm guitarist for the Spoiler Knights, yet another manifestation of the tumultuous group. After their breakup, Zing joined Superstar and Alma Merced to form Spoiler IX.
The Punk Revolution was in full swing in 1977, and the trio played numerous gigs before stunned audiences unprepared for the band's relentless assault. Zing's methodical mauling rhythms and staccato, slashing leads were both distinct and unique, and his stage persona and off-stage reputation as a two-fisted party animal made him a legend of the Spoiler Empire and the Brooklyn punk underground.
After the Punk Revolution ended, Zing focused on his family, having brought his mother and his brother and sisters to America to join him in his neighborhood in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn. He married his sweetheart, Angela, and they gave birth to their son David, who bears a striking resemblance to his father. Zing worked as an airport taxi dispatcher and remained devoted to his family and friends.
Broadway Turk Superstar said of Zing: "He was the spiritual guru of the band, everyone looked to him for support when times got tough. He was our Jack Palance, he was a bad-ass both on and off-stage, yet he had that loyalty, honor and integrity that made him who he was. There was never anyone like him before or since. I've lost a brother, and punk rock has lost one of its unheralded legends."
God bless Osborne, his family and friends. His memory lives forever in our hearts.