For Citizen Zero, the story has never been simply about writing songs. It is about friendship, chemistry, loss, persistence, and the feeling that happens when a group of musicians steps into a room and everything suddenly clicks.
In a conversation with Press Play Radio Conversations, vocalist Josh and guitarist Sammy looked back on the band's history, the experiences that shaped them, their return to music, and the story behind their latest track, “Queen of the Damned.” From unforgettable moments with ZZ Top to emotional reunion shows and the chemistry that brought them together in the first place, the conversation offered a glimpse into what makes Citizen Zero special.
A Lesson From Billy Gibbons
One of the first stories shared was an unforgettable encounter with ZZ Top.
Citizen Zero had the opportunity to play two nights with the legendary band at Pine Knob in Detroit when they were still relatively young. For Sammy, the experience became even more memorable when he realized Billy Gibbons was watching their soundcheck.
Afterward, Gibbons approached Sammy and began asking about his guitar setup and tuning. He eventually gave Sammy and the band's producer a tour of his guitar rig, allowing Sammy to play one of Gibbons' famous guitars. Gibbons even gave Sammy a stack of his unusual guitar strings, which Sammy says he still has.
Perhaps the biggest lesson came from Gibbons' approach to guitar. While Josh remembered playing extremely heavy Les Paul guitars and using thick strings, Gibbons used remarkably light strings and still produced his unmistakable sound. For Citizen Zero, the encounter was a reminder that great tone and great musicianship do not necessarily require doing things the hardest way possible.
When Chemistry Happens
The story of Citizen Zero goes back to the late 2000s, when Josh and the Dudley brothers were developing as musicians and spending enormous amounts of time writing and playing together.
Josh grew up surrounded by music. His grandfather played country and bluegrass, while his father was also a musician. His musical world eventually expanded into bands such as King's X, Incubus, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Alter Bridge, and other artists who showed him the possibilities of combining powerful instrumentation with memorable melodies.
Sammy came from a similarly musical family. His parents were both musicians, with his mother singing and his father playing trumpet and other instruments. He began playing piano before eventually convincing his parents to let him get a guitar. By age ten he was playing guitar, and by eleven he had his first electric guitar.
Sammy was studying music at the University of Michigan and planning to move to Boston to continue his education when Citizen Zero came calling. He initially told the band he was moving and would not be able to join them. Then he heard their music.
When Sammy finally walked into the rehearsal room and started playing with the band, the chemistry was immediate. Within a few months, he had changed his plans, left school, and stayed in Detroit to pursue the band.
For Sammy, it was the first time he had experienced that kind of musical connection with musicians his own age.
“There’s nothing better than being in a band,” he said during the conversation.
The Road Back
Citizen Zero's journey was interrupted by tragedy when guitarist Matt Dudley passed away in 2012. Josh described the loss as something that completely derailed the band's trajectory.
The Dudley brothers were exceptional musicians, and Josh struggled with the idea that the chemistry they had created could ever be recreated. The band auditioned other guitarists, but something was always missing.
Then Greg Dudley discovered Sammy through YouTube.
Sammy came into a small rehearsal room at Rust Belt in Royal Oak, and according to Josh, it took only a few notes for Greg to know they had found the right person. That connection eventually led Sammy to leave college and fully commit to Citizen Zero.
The band eventually signed in 2015, marking another major turning point.
Years later, after time away from playing together, the members began reconnecting. What initially started as the idea of simply doing a show quickly became something much bigger.
They flew to Los Angeles last fall to record new material, including “Queen of the Damned.” The recording became especially meaningful because it marked the first time the members had physically played together in years.
“Queen of the Damned”
“Queen of the Damned” had actually been sitting around for years.
Sammy explained that the song was originally written around 2017 or 2018 while the band was working toward a second album. The demo remained on his computer until the members began playing together again.
Once the old chemistry returned, the band knew they needed to record the songs they had been carrying with them.
The result is a track filled with dark attraction and danger. The song centers around a powerful, tortured woman who draws the narrator in despite the fear that she could ultimately destroy him.
Its repeated chorus also gives it the kind of immediate quality that can translate naturally to a live audience.
The Emotional Power of Coming Home
That return to the stage became particularly emotional during Citizen Zero's reunion show at the Machine Shop in Flint, a venue that had supported the band when they were young.
Sammy remembers looking into the crowd as the band began playing and seeing people crying. The reaction overwhelmed him to the point that he had to turn around because he was close to crying himself.
For a band that had experienced so much together, the moment represented more than simply playing another concert. It was a reunion with their audience, their past, and with each other.
Music Without Boundaries
Both Josh and Sammy have continued looking beyond the music that originally influenced them.
Josh spoke passionately about discovering newer artists such as Gang of Youths, Sam Fender, Treaty Oak Revival, and Return to Dust. He appreciates artists who can combine strong songwriting with powerful instrumentation and lyrics that tell meaningful stories.
Sammy's foundational influences include Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, and Ozzy Osbourne, while his musical upbringing continues to evolve.
That openness is part of what has always defined Citizen Zero. Their sound is rooted in rock, but their influences stretch across generations and styles.
As the band looks toward new music and upcoming shows, the most important element remains the same one that brought them together in the first place: chemistry.
Sometimes musicians spend years searching for it. Sometimes they find it within the first few notes.
For Citizen Zero, they found it again.