INTERVIEW: Chris Connelly On Bowie, Benefit Show

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 10, 2013 5:40PM

Photo by: Paul Elledge

Years ago one of the main reasons we got into Chris Connelly's solo career was because of all the comparisons the music guide books we bought by the truckload made between his music and the canon of David Bowie. So it makes perfect sense that Connelly will be fronting a Bowie cover band, Sons Of The Silent Age, for a benefit at Metro tomorrow night. What doesn't make sense is that it took him this long to put together a band to do this! And who is in this band? It's chock full of music veterans but the two most recognizable names are Matt Walker (Filter, Smashing Pumpkins) and Shirley Manson (Garbage) who will be helping bring the songs to life.

The support acts ain't too shabby either. The Waco Brothers will transform themselves into T. Rex, turning longtime Bowie foil Marc Bolan's songs into what we can only assume will be some unholy marriage of glam, country and punk. And the show will open with a set of Kraftwerk number performed by Death on the Autobhan. Proceeds from the show will go to benefit pediatric cancer research performed by The Pablove Foundation, as well as Rock For Kids.

Connelly took a few minutes to chat with us ahead of the show.

CHICAGOIST: Obviously the first question is why Bowie? Does the choice have a personal meaning to you?

CHRIS CONNELLY: Oh, absolutely, his music has resonated with me since I first became aware of him in the early '70s, I consider myself very intimate with his music and it has never lost it's fascination-I think I can speak for everyone involved in this, as well.

C: What led you to put together the concert as a whole?

CONNELLY: Firstly, to put a band together dedicated to playing Bowie's canon, and doing something very positive with it (i.e. the benefit).

C: How did you wrangle the acts and special guests? Did you give them parameters for who they could cover or did this just all fall in line naturally?

CONNELLY: Oh no, I already knew that the Wacos were playing T-Rrex, and yes: the rest just fell into place, I think it's a pretty fun proposition, who wouldn't want to do it?

C: How did you pick the two charities to align with?

CONNELLY: We have alignments with both: Pablove especially.

C: And finally, you couldn't have planned this, but you must be pleased with the sudden Bowie-mania this week. Any thoughts on his return to the public eye?

CONNELLY: I am really thrilled to have him back, I was sad not having him around-he's always been there, and I think he still has a lot to offer.

Sons Of the Silent Age, The Waco Brother and Death on The Autobahn play Friday, Jan. 11, at Metro, 3730 N Clark, 7:30 p.m., $19 advance / $25 at the door, all ages