Ian McP Posted June 19 Share Posted June 19 (edited) James Chance RIP aka James White and The Blacks Behind all that "noise" he and the band were pretty damn tight! https://www.discogs.com/artist/55644-The-Contortions?anv=James White&filter_anv=1 < The Contortions were one of the most important -- and accessible -- bands in New York's short-lived No Wave movement, playing a noisy, clattering avant-funk that drew from punk and free jazz. The group was formed in 1977 by the flamboyantly dressed vocalist/saxophonist James Chance (born James Siegfried), also featuring guitarists Pat Place and Jody Harris, organist Adele Bertei, bassist George Scott, and drummer Don Christensen. The Contortions' live shows embodied the nihilistic ethos of No Wave, as Chance actively picked fights with the audience. The group contributed four tracks to the seminal Brian Eno-produced No Wave compilation No New York in 1978; the following year, Buy the Contortions marked their official album debut, by which time Chance was being billed ahead of the group name. Aside from a few live recordings, the original Contortions lineup didn't release much more material. Chance used most of the group for his funk/disco project James White & The Blacks (with the album Off White also appearing in 1979), and although he continued to lead versions of the Contortions through the early '80s, the original lineup split up in 1980. Place went on to join the acclaimed Bush Tetras, while Harris, Scott, and Christensen formed The Raybeats. [Steve Huey, All Music Guide] https://variety.com/2024/music/news/james-chance-dead-no-wave-contortions-1236041979/ < James Chance, the confrontational, controversial saxophonist and singer of the Contortions and Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, who helped start the No Wave movement of the late 1970s in New York City, died Tuesday in New York, his Facebook page confirmed. He was 71. > https://www.discogs.com/master/174581-Contortions-Buy https://www.discogs.com/master/13431-James-White-The-Blacks-Off-White https://www.discogs.com/master/13451-James-White-And-The-Blacks-Sax-Maniac That's Joe Bowie (later in Defunkt) on trombone, brother of Lester https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Bowie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Bowie Edited June 19 by Ian McP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylene Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 I saw him at the Northcote Social Club (backed by the Banging Rackets). He signed a couple of LPs for me. Top bloke!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylene Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 James Chance & the Contortions (not on vinyl) but at the Northcote Social Club After the complete downer earlier in the week that's caused me to totally iggy music for the last couple of days I repented and ventured northerly to the NSC. The support band sounded like Can, then ACR, then Gainsbourg's band with Billy Rush (except they didn't have a guitar). Then after a long wait in total darkness James Chance and his Aussie Contortions (members of The Drones and The Banging Rackets, I think) came on with Designed to Kill and Almost Black. A cover of Home is Where the Hatred Is followed, then a song which turned into a cover of What Becomes of The Broken Hearted repeated over and over again. Next there was a song about Lydia Lunch (Roving Eye) and a 'dance' song dedicated to Bowie. James' nose was running and he was sweating like a pig after two songs (most of which followed the pattern of a short staccato organ solo, a couple of verses, then a honking sax solo, then a complaint that he couldn't hear a. the bass. b. his vocals. c. the sax or d. the organ in the foldback). After Bedroom Athlete he played a version of Cold Sweat that included (almost) every James Brown song known to man, followed by the only JB song he didn't play .... King Heroin (when he finally mentioned heroin and cocaine at the end of the song the hipsters in the audience went hog wild) segueing into Contort Yourself (five times!!!). The encore was an even longer version of Cold Sweat incorporating many more James Brown songs. After the show he signed albums and posters (some people bought some really obscure records to get signed which Mr Chance probably couldn't remember making). A great night. A splendid time was had by all. PS I got free tickets so this is my 'official' review. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McP Posted June 26 Author Share Posted June 26 Still very appropriate for our times Allergy For The US: Defunkt feat James Chance and the Sax Pistols Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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