Everyone Has a Damon Zex Story

The wall

• I dated Damon Zex f/k/a Fred Zaner ever so many years ago, at Columbus Alternative HIgh School (CAHS), and we remained friends thereafter, until I moved to California, seeing the transition from plaid shirts in a row in the closet in the house on Floribuda to black tanks at Crazy Mama's on HIgh Street and the apartment on Neil Avenue. All before Public Access, before fame. But always the art, the brilliant drawings and canvases. Oddly the memory that sticks with me is after high school, driving down HIgh Street with Fred in the car, maybe 1988 or so. We are stopped by a cop. I had forgotten to turn my headlights on. I try to placate the cop. But Damon Zex is being Damon, arguing with the cop, engaging in some long conversation about philosophy. I'm sure we are going to be arrested. But luckily the cop lets us go. From one of his favorite songs way back then: "This is Major Tom to Ground Control. I'm stepping through the door. And I'm floating in a most peculiar way. And the stars look very different today. Ground Control to Damon Zex. Can you hear us? Can you hear us? We miss and love you so. Eve, June 28, 2026

  — Eve · June 29, 2026

• Skully's Music Diner, peak Ladies 80s (2004-ish). I would travel from Heath, OH (the little city I grew up in) weekly to hit that dancefloor, eventually moving to the Short North to make it easier. I saw this absolute madman tearing it up week after week, sweaty, thick black eyeliner, black muscle shirt. The Damon Zex dancefloor uniform. I think we met purely by chance of proximity while dancing; but the magnetism, vibes, fate or whatever you wish to call it were paramount in ensuring a friendship developed. Damon was a complete unknown to me. Just a guy who loved music, dancing, and scintillating conversation. My knowledge of his public access TV antics came later. I found in him the artsy, dark, weirdo nerd energy that was in short supply back home. I knew he was about 20 years my senior, but that never mattered. Our talks about music, film and philosophy transcended age... but there admittedly was so much for him to teach me. He was always kind and empathetic. I loved that he treated me as an equal despite his time on this planet and intellect vastly surpassing my own. There wasn't an arrogance about him (outside of characters he portrayed, but I knew how to separate that from the genuine person). Our friendship was centered around parties, I don't believe we ever once saw each other in daylight! Nonetheless, it was always substantive, a rare privilege for a club/concert rat in her early 20s. Forever grateful for those late (waaay late) night conversations, sweaty dancefloor outings, and his art and writings he would share with me thru social media (the early years of Facebook). We eventually lost touch and stopped connecting in clubs or on Facebook; our paths diverged, I guess. I can still hear his slightly smokey voice. I know he's dancing to 80s EBM somewhere in his black muscle top, bringing the energy that only Fred •Damon Zex• Zaner can bring.

  — Sky · June 26, 2026