The Latest News

2022 Year in Review

2022 was a very creative year for me, in terms of writing and recording.

By this time last year, EULOGY TO CHRISTA was starting to take shape: I had recorded most of the songs by NICO and it was in January that I started writing the songs about her life. I have to thank author JENNIFER OTTER BICKERDICKE for her book YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU ARE ALONE which was a real treasure trove of knowledge, and Jennifer’s support and enthusiasm was incredible. I have been overwhelmed at the response to the album, mostly because I want her story to be out there. Just like STELLA CARTWRIGHT from THE BIRTHDAY POEMS, Nico was an artist — a very important artist. Often this side of her was maligned or ignored in favour of her affiliations with people like Iggy, Dylan, Reed — and, of course, heroin. But her art was unique: she invented her sound, along with the empathy, talent, and skill of John Cale, of course.

SONS OF THE SILENT AGE finally got to play in May and it was a wonderful experience, with our friend MICHAEL SHANNON bringing T REX back to life in front of our eyes! Later that summer, we, along with many of his musical friends, would play a set to honour our late friend JOE CASSIDY. Joe was a beautiful man, and a brilliant musician, he died far too young. Joe and I became friends when he moved to Chicago in the 90s, and he generously scored the strings for the album BLONDE EXODUS.

I had another appearance later in the summer after the passing of CYNTHIA PLASTERCASTER, someone I have been friends with since I moved here in 1988. It was a pleasure to throw down with THE HANDCUFFS playing “Tae the Poets” (from THE BIRTHDAY POEMS), a Mothers of Invention song – “Why Don’t You Do Me Right”, and “Where Have All the Good Times Gone by The Kinks.

In March, to commemorate BILL RIEFLIN’s death, I recorded the LARGO 22 EP — reworking three of the songs we had written together and writing “Largo’s Prayer” in his honour. Between this release and Prayer birthday tribute, we raised $585 this year for the clinic where Bill spent his last times.

A new JOY THIEVES EP was recorded and released — “6 TO 3”, a violent musical reaction to the supreme court overturning ROE V WADE. I wrote the lyrics and sang “Property” to remind the world that a woman’s body is her body. All money raised from this brilliant EP (which has a ton of amazing remixes) is going to the NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS.

The documentary “WHAT YOU COULD NOT VISUALIZE” about the brilliant band REMA REMA came out this year. Both myself and FRANK NARDIELLO were interviewed about this unique and incredible band who released one EP in 1980, whose flame has never died.

…And then there was the REVOLTING CORPSE. This was the last run of this incarnation — who knows what will happen in the future. I just know that although I am (skeptically) proud of this band, but I am not going back. The final show in Denver was just wonderful, followed by a night in a hotel that looked like a set from “Saw”. Hmmmmm. The audiences were great and I don’t take it for granted, but I am hanging up that battered old Stetson. I do have to say, the fun and camaraderie of PAUL BARKER, JASON NOVAK and DAN BRILL (and the lads from FRONT 242) is a real tonic.

So now it is 2023! I am focusing on the next album, which I am recording right now, and looking forward to new music in 2023.

Thank you SO much for listening to what I do. I get emails and messages from all over and I am often overwhelmed at the kindness and sincerity of these.

“Union Square West” video out to celebrate CD release of EULOGY TO CHRISTA

The CD release of EULOGY TO CHRISTA is out today! Two different editions are available: the US release from Shipwrecked Industries and the UK release from Easy Action.

Both releases are double CD sets featuring the 24 track album; the UK edition comes in a card gatefold with 12-page booklet while the US edition ships in a plastic tray with a 16-page booklet.

Buy US CD on Bandcamp Buy UK CD from Easy Action

To celebrate the release of the CD version of the album, a new video has been released — this time for “UNION SQUARE WEST”, a track which celebrates NICO‘s arrival at Andy Warhol’s Factory in NYC. The video, filmed by Chris himself, imitates the Lou Reed screen test film made by Andy Warhol — two characters who also feature prominently on the album.

The music press has continued to praise EULOGY TO CHRISTA — check out these reviews and interviews:

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the album — do share below!

EULOGY TO CHRISTA released, new video for FEMME FATALE

It’s November 11th which means two things: first, it’s Chris’s birthday, and second, EULOGY TO CHRISTA is now available for streaming and digital purchase!

If you’ve not heard about EULOGY TO CHRISTA: A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC & MYSTIQUE OF NICO until now, you can get all of the details here.

To celebrate the release of the album, a new video for the track FEMME FATALE, made by Iain W. Mutch/Walkerandwilliam, is also out — watch below or on YouTube.

There’s been loads of great press and positive reviews of the singles popping up online, and Chris has done a few interviews as well. Here’s a small sampling of some — keep up with Chris on social media for more:

Buy on Bandcamp (US CD and digital)
Buy UK CD from Easy Action

Ripcord, Ripcord – the second single from Eulogy to Christa

RIPCORD, RIPCORD, the second single from Eulogy to Christa: A Tribute to the Music & Mystique of Nico, is out today!

The song is a powerful opener to the album, based on a pivotal event in the young life of Christa Päffgen. Chris learned of this story when reading Jennifer Otter Bickerdicke‘s biography of Nico, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU ARE ALONE. “When Nico was in her mid-teens, she worked in a U.S. army office in Berlin. She was raped by an American soldier and the soldier was executed. Some have said this may not have happened. Some have gone so far as to call her a liar. This event and the trauma of being in the rubble of post-war Berlin clearly, in my opinion, helped create the haunted spirit of Nico.”

Listen to the track on Bandcamp or Soundcloud, and watch the video by Kimberly Blessing on YouTube or below.

Get full details on the album and pre-order below:

Pre-order from Bandcamp (US and digital)
Pre-order from Easy Action (UK)
Tickets to see Chris at Gman Tavern on November 10th

Video for ‘Eulogy to Lenny Bruce’ released

Today sees the release of the music video for EULOGY TO LENNY BRUCE, created by EMMA KATHAN. Check it out below or on YouTube.

“Eulogy to Lenny Bruce” written by Tim Hardin, published by Spirit Music, copyright Spirit One Music o/b/o Allen Stanton Productions.