Happy New Year! Well, here’s some news to start us off…
Chris has very little of a voice left after last night’s party at WaxTrax! He joined Bill Rieflin, Paul Barker, and a few others in a covers band at the party.
Chris has already recorded 3 new songs for his next album, which he’d like to have finished by spring. Sales on the Bells’ album are supposedly very good, despite AP’s recent review.
Chris and his band have been playing shows in the Chicago area… there are dates upcoming (hopefully!) for Austin, TX (in March) and the east coast (in late February). The band also had some photos taken, which I’ll put on the web site as soon as I get them!
As for some of the questions we had, the Gary Numan band was a one-off thing at a charity show. Chris performed with the band the Cupcakes, which is Solomon’s band (Solomon was on the Shipwreck tour). I forgot to ask about Catherine, however, so I’ll get that next time!
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More information on The Bells’ new album, The Ultimate Seaside Companion is available in the discography.
The album was recorded in Seattle and Chicago, from 1995 to 1997, with Bill Rieflin, Jim O’Rourke, and Chris Bruce. Touring will take place in the fall!
Chris has a new band called The Bells. Their first album will be available September 19, 1997 on the HitIt! label. Stay tuned for more info.
Recording of the new album will commence next month! In the meanwhile, Chris is playing a few shows in the Chicago area (see dates below). A tour of college campuses and bookshops is in the works, to commence at the start of the new year. Stay tuned for details, or write to Kimberly to suggest locations for Chris to play!
October 7 – Double Door in Chicago – with John Cale
November 1 – Normal, IL – with Sister Soleil
November 2 – Champaign, IL – with Sister Soleil
November 8 – Der Rathskeller, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison
November 9 – Hyde Park, Chicago – CANCELLED!
November 14 – Milwaukee, WI – Marquette University
November 23 – Chicago, IL – benefit for Filmmakers Co-op
On Friday, July 12, Jonathan Melvoin (keyboardist on the Shipwreck tour) was found dead of a heroin overdose. Jon and Chris were great friends and Chris asked me to post the following for him:
“Jonathan was a great friend and I will really miss him. I was so looking forward to his performing on my new album… I was really relying on him to help with the arrangments and whatnot. Just let everyone know that I loved him dearly and that I will miss him very much.”
Brad submitted a JPEG of the article run by Rolling Stone, which speaks about Jon’s death and Jimmy Chamberlin’s arrest and dismissal from the Smashing Pumpkins.
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Chris has decided (finally) to publish a book of his writings! The book will be made up of about 84 song lyrics and poems that he has written. The title: Confessions of the Highest Bidder: Poems and Songwords 1982-1996. Check back for more information!
Chris participated in an online chat Monday, April 22. He also answered some questions posed by list members. Check out the chat transcript here.
Andy McGregor has informed us that Chris will be travelling to Scotland in late May, and may possibly do some work with Fini Tribe… stay tuned for more!
Chris hasn’t joined KMFDM, but he does appear on their new album. Read this radio interview (4/6/96) with Chris to learn more about it!.
Chris recorded an acapella version of Wire’s “A Mutual Friend” which will be found on a compilation album, Various Artits Play Wire “Whore”, to be released March 5th. See the links page for more info.
