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. 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.

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. 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. An EP is slated for fall release following this track, which premiered on platforms like BrooklynVegan and The Big Takeover.

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. His enigmatic persona, possibly linked to a past as Eastern European jingle singer Ezekiel Bleektepski, adds to his allure as a weathered storyteller.

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.
• His debut single '26 eXes' lists exes from Annabelle to Zoe, alphabetically matching the 26 letters of the alphabet.
• The '26 eXes' video features Ruby Marker (Garbage's Steve Marker) as Penny and Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups) as Zoe.
• Bleek's site hints he may be Ezekiel Bleektepski, a 1990s Eastern European auto-commercial jingle singer.

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')
• Frank Lloyd Anderson - Pedal steel guitar, backup vocals (The Emperors of Wyoming) ('26 eXes')
• Alex Drossart - Piano, organ, backup vocals (Hang Ten) ('26 eXes')
• Cory Chisel - Backup vocals ('26 eXes')
• Wally Ingram - Backup vocals ('26 eXes')

External Links

• Spotify