Code 7

Credentials as a deep obscurist on the Minneapolis music scene could be one's for the asking if the name Clark Dircz is brought up, provided it can be pronounced properly. Dircz was the deep dish in a combo served up in 1993 as Code 7, a simile not only appetizing but appropriate considering the name comes from police code for a meal break. Another band came out of North Carolina a few years later called Codeseven and the two outfits should not be confused, either with each other or the content of chatter over police radios. Code 7 of Minneapolis may have been influenced by the one-man band genius factor associated with the city's biggest star, Prince. The artist known as Clark Dircz played keyboards, guitar, and bass; wrote and sang lead vocals on all the songs; and was one of two people listed as producer. The other was Jon DeLange, an owner of the OarFin enterprise, which included both a record label and a studio. Another label manager, Bob Pickering, played an eventually more direct part by adding guitar to the tracks. Other performers on the album may have simply been hired guns, players such as bassist David Martin, who were active with many local bands. ~ Eugene Chadbourne