In for the Count

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning "In for the Count" by Balance, a track from their album of the same name, for all the Zoo Freaks tuning in. This song, a vibrant blend of funk and rock, has some wild stories behind it. In a 1982 interview with Rolling Stone, lead singer Peppy Castro shared that the song was born during a late-night jam session in a tiny New York studio, where the band was "half delirious from coffee and chasing a riff that wouldn’t quit." The lyrics, with their gritty determination, were inspired by a boxer Castro met who kept getting back up no matter how many times he was knocked down. A recent X post from the band’s official account revealed a fun tidbit: the iconic guitar solo was almost cut because the producer thought it was "too wild," but the band fought to keep it, and fans still go nuts for it at live shows.

Another cool piece of trivia comes from a fan-shared story on the Balance Freaks Facebook group. A longtime Zoo Freak recounted how "In for the Count" was the anthem for their cross-country road trip in the early '80s, blasting it through a beat-up cassette player while cruising Route 66. The song’s driving beat and never-give-up vibe kept them going through flat tires and sketchy motels. Balance also posted on Instagram about a 2019 reunion gig where they played the song, and the crowd’s energy was so intense that Castro jumped into the audience, mic in hand, to sing the final chorus with the fans. That moment, they said, reminded them why they wrote the song in the first place.

Balance got their start in the late 1970s in New York City, where Peppy Castro, a former member of The Blues Magoos, teamed up with guitarist Bob Kulick and drummer Chuck Burgi. According to their bio on their official website, the trio bonded over a shared love of raw rock energy and funky grooves, cutting their teeth in smoky clubs like CBGB. They scraped by, playing gigs for gas money, until a demo tape caught the ear of a producer at Portrait Records. Their debut album, In for the Count, dropped in 1982, blending hard rock with a danceable edge that made them stand out in the era of new wave and metal. Castro’s soulful voice and Kulick’s blistering guitar work gave the band a cult following, especially among fans who caught their high-energy live shows.

You can keep up with Balance through their official channels: their website at balanceofficial.com, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans are also super active on the Balance Freaks Facebook group, where they swap stories, rare vinyl finds, and concert memories. There’s also a fan-run tribute site, BalanceFanz.com, packed with old photos, tour posters, and a forum for diehards to geek out over the band’s legacy. Whether you’re a longtime Zoo Freak or just discovering Balance, these spots are the place to dive into their world.