Chris has just finished recording his next album, provisionally titled Artificial Madness. Here’s what Chris had to say about the mood of this upcoming release:

[This] record is the best since “Shipwreck”–a LOT harder, even acknowledging Ministry in certain ways, many tracks very fast & very loud, a few slow, darker moments… the band is a four-piece, traditional guitar-bass-drums lineup of some of the best musicians I have ever worked with:

Noah Leger on drums (from Tight Phantomz, Head of Skulls)
Dallas Thomas on guitar (Swan King, High Confessions)
Will Lindsay on bass (Nachmystium)

It’s produced by Sanford Parker (High Confessions, Minsk, Nachmystium).

While you’re waiting to hear what this endeavor sounds like, here are the song titles:

• Artificial madness
• A career in falsehood
• Classically wounded
• Cold blood in present company
• Compatibility
• British drug lords
• Imperfect star
• Modern swine
• The paraffin hearts
• The subjects
• The goner
• Wait for amateur

The Friday and Saturday night WaxTrax! Records Retrospectacle shows were a wonderful way to honor the memories of Dannie and Jim and the years of wonderful music they brought us. Chris performed a set of Revolting Cocks songs with Paul Barker and Luc Van Acker on Saturday night and did it up right, complete with horseshoe mustache and cowboy hat!

Here’s the set list:

• Beers Steers and Queers
• Attack Ships on Fire
• Stainless Steel Providers
• (Let’s Get) Physical
• Something Wonderful
• No Devotion
• Do Ya Think I’m Sexy

More pictures and videos are available on Flickr. Enjoy!

Chris recently participated in the WaxTrax! Auction and Show Fundraiser. Rather than playing a few tunes, he treated the audience to a few readings from his autobiography, Concrete, Bulletproof, Invisible and Fried: My Life As a Revolting Cock (because what would be more appropriate?).

Listen to Chris read selections from “Concrete”

Haven’t read “Concrete” yet? Buy it! (Seriously, you’ll love it.)

Cynthia Reeser of Prick of the Spindle reviews Ed Royal:

“But what were the eighties, if not disjointed, and further, as Connelly shows us, the eighties with drugs and young love and hotheaded mothers sprinkled into the mix. Ed Royal ultimately captures this scene, this time of life in particular for the young main character, in all his youthful, desperate hunger in a youthful, desperate age.”

Read the full review.

Chris will be reuniting with Luc Van Acker and Paul Barker to perform as the Revolting Cocks at this special two-night event! Tickets go on sale Saturday, February 19 at noon via the Metro Box Office or online at www.metrochicago.com.

UPDATE (March 10): A third show has been added on Sunday, April 17! Tickets for this night only are $40 and go on sale Saturday, March 12 at noon.

WAX TRAX! RECORDS RETROSPECTACLE COMES TO METRO APRIL 15 & 16, 2011

In honor of the 33 1/3 year anniversary of Wax Trax! Records and the legacy of its creators Jim Nash & Dannie Flesher, The Nash family is producing a 2 night multimedia concert event that will celebrate the legendary Chicago record label and store on April 15th & 16th. The event will feature friends & artists of the Wax Trax! label and store including Front 242, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Luc Van Acker, Paul Barker, Chris Connelly, En Esch, Guenter Schultz, Raymond Watts, Rights of The Accused and more. In addition to the live performances, there will be special guests as well as an all star cast of Chicago DJ and VJ’s to commemorate the label and store. More information.

Chris will perform an intimate acoustic set later this month in Chicago! Also performing will be Sinderella Pussie of the Thrill Kill Kult, doing a short set including acoustic TKK, and W.O.R.M. (acoustic).

Chris will also spin old-school WaxTrax-era industrial between bands!

Lucky Number (1931 N. Milwaukee, Chicago)
Saturday, Feburary 26, 2011
9:30pm
$7

Check out WZRD in Chicago this Sunday, February 6, 2011 around noon for an interview with Chris!

Appearing Friday, January 21st at The Abbey Pub, 420 West Grace Street in Chicago with Zelienople, Locrian, and Implodes.

Doors at 8 PM, show starts at 8:30 PM.
Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
This is a 21+ show.
More information

Chris will be performing at this benefit!
Acoustic show, Saturday, November 26
$10, Doors at 9:30 PM
Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western, Chicago

The Bicycle Music Company issued the following press release on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. The news was picked up and published by Billboard.biz as well.

Los Angeles, CA – October 20, 2010– The Bicycle Music Company and its affiliate the AF Circle C Fund are proud to announce that they have acquired a significant interest in the catalog of singer, songwriter, poet, novelist, and industrial music pioneer Chris Connelly. As part of the comprehensive agreement, Bicycle will also publish Connelly’s future works.

Chris Connelly started his musical career in his native Scotland in 1980 with his first band The Fini Tribe. In 1988 he moved to the U.S. to become a full-time member of The Revolting Cocks and Ministry, fronting the former and contributing songwriting to both ground-breaking industrial bands. He quickly started collaborating with other artists such as Killing Joke, Jah Wobble, KMFDM, Cabaret Voltaire, and Shirley Manson, among many others. He has also been front-man for numerous industrial super-groups including Pigface, Murder Inc. and The Damage Manual. At the same time, Connelly has enjoyed a long solo career with his work often compared to David Bowie and the latter works of Scott Walker. Since his 1991 solo debut release “Whiplash Boychild,” Connelly has released 12 solo albums and continues to be a prolific songwriter. Recently, Connelly authored two books: Concrete Bulletproof Invisible and Fried: My Life as a Revolting Cock, the tell-all memoir of his days in Ministry and The Revolting Cocks, and this year he published his first novel, Ed Royal.

“It is a pleasure for us to be working with Chris Connelly and his diverse catalog of songs. From his early work with Ministry, The Revolting Cocks, and others at the vanguard of industrial music’s crossover to the mainstream, to his most recent acoustic and experimental solo record ‘How This Ends,’ Chris’ music is storied, impactful, and always on the cutting edge” said Bicycle President and Chief Investment Officer Roger Miller. “I look forward to the new opportunities we will create together through our partnership.”

On his new relationship with Bicycle Connelly says, “I am more than thrilled to be associated with Bicycle and its roster of great writers and song catalogs. It is a real pleasure working with such knowledgeable people who believe in what I do and have such vision for the future of my works.”

Check out the full press release (PDF).