Zeke Bleek

Biography

Zeke Bleek is a mysterious drifter and singer-songwriter known as 'The Guy in Gray' for his forlorn wardrobe and tales of romantic woe. He was discovered over a decade ago by legendary producer Butch Vig in a high desert bar while sharing stories of heartbreak, initially hired as a model for Vig's 'Bad Boyfriend' Sauvignon Blanc wine label before forging a musical partnership[1][4][6]. Bleek writes lyrics about sadness and sings them, accompanied by Vig on bass and drums, with Vig assembling the band the Mighty Weak for his projects[1].

His career gained notice with the 2024 debut single '26 eXes,' co-written and produced by Butch Vig, recorded at GrungeIsDead in Los Angeles and Amano Studios in Appleton, Wisconsin, mixed by Samuel Farrell, and mastered by Justin Perkins[1][5]. The song humorously lists 26 exes alphabetically, reflecting his unlucky love life, with a video directed by Tess Lafia featuring cameos from Ruby Marker (as Penny), Steve Marker of Garbage, and Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups[1]. An EP is slated for fall release following this track, which premiered on platforms like BrooklynVegan and The Big Takeover[1][6].

Bleek's musical style blends outlaw country with heartbreak themes, delivering a therapeutic singalong chorus pondering life's mysteries through the lens of the opposite sex[1][5]. His enigmatic persona, possibly linked to a past as Eastern European jingle singer Ezekiel Bleektepski, adds to his allure as a weathered storyteller[6].

Fun Facts

• Zeke Bleek was first hired by Butch Vig as a model for the label of 'Bad Boyfriend' Sauvignon Blanc wine before transitioning to music[1].
• His debut single '26 eXes' lists exes from Annabelle to Zoe, alphabetically matching the 26 letters of the alphabet[1][5].
• The '26 eXes' video features Ruby Marker (Garbage's Steve Marker) as Penny and Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups) as Zoe[1].
• Bleek's site hints he may be Ezekiel Bleektepski, a 1990s Eastern European auto-commercial jingle singer[6].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Butch Vig - Discovered Bleek in a bar and became his primary collaborator/producer ('26 eXes' (co-writer, producer, bass, drums)) [Over a decade ago to 2024]

Key Collaborators

• Butch Vig - Producer, co-writer, musician (bass, drums), band assembler for Mighty Weak ('26 eXes', upcoming EP) [2010s-2024]
• Samuel Farrell - Mixing engineer, guitarist, acoustic guitar, tambourine, backup vocals (Hang Ten) ('26 eXes') [2024]
• Frank Lloyd Anderson - Pedal steel guitar, backup vocals (The Emperors of Wyoming) ('26 eXes') [2024]
• Alex Drossart - Piano, organ, backup vocals (Hang Ten) ('26 eXes') [2024]
• Cory Chisel - Backup vocals ('26 eXes') [2024]
• Wally Ingram - Backup vocals ('26 eXes') [2024]

External Links

• Spotify