Chris Knox | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Friend |
| Born | Christopher Alexander Knox (1952-09-02)2 September 1952 (age 73) Invercargill, New Zealand |
| Origin | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Genres | Indie rock,punk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer, reviewer, filmmaker, cartoonist, visual artist |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Labels | Flying Nun |
Christopher Alexander Knox (born 2 September 1952) is a New Zealandrock and roll musician, cartoonist and movie reviewer who emerged during the 1970spunk rock era with his bandsthe Enemy andToy Love. After Toy Love disbanded in the early 1980s, Knox formed the duoTall Dwarfs with guitarist,Alec Bathgate. The Tall Dwarfs delivered unpolished sound and intense live shows. His4-track machine was used to record most of theFlying Nun label's early singles.
He has also released a number of solo, self-produced albums which feature hisCasiotone, and an album under the pseudonymFriend.
Knox began his musical career in 1977 as a "local version (not copy) of Iggy Pop", as lead vocalist, fronting New Zealand's punk rockersthe Enemy, which formed inDunedin.[1][2] He has played live in front of audiences all around New Zealand, winning a reputation for his sometimes confrontational style, and performed annually at Wellington'sBar Bodega. He has also extensively toured internationally. His swing through the US in 1995 included, among others, stops in Seattle to play theCrocodile Cafe. His minimalist,DIY sound played well to ears then-focused ongrunge, with its retro-punk stylings.
A long-time resident ofAuckland, Knox spent time as a newspaper columnist and film reviewer for Real Groove. In 1986-1987, he edited and published three issues of a New Zealand comics anthologyJesus on a Stick.[3] Starting in 1987, his satirical comic stripMax Media appeared inThe New Zealand Herald every week until 2009. He has also been an occasional television film reviewer, hosted aTelevision New Zealand season of classic movies 'The Vault', and presented two seasons of arts series New Artland.
At the 2001New Zealand Music Awards Knox's ballad "Not Given Lightly" (1990) was announced as New Zealand's thirteenth best song of all time, as voted byAPRA members.[4][5] Knox wrote it for "John and Liesha's mother"—his then-partner Barbara—this track never scaled commercial heights though it has belatedly generated some income for the songwriter through its use in TV advertising (including for Vogel's bread).
Knox launched his own label 'A Major Records' in 2006 to release the albumChris Knox and the Nothing. This was the first album Knox recorded in a professional studio, rather than in his trademark DIY style, since his time with Toy Love.
Knox's "It's Love", from the 2000 albumBeat, has been used in "Share the Good", aHeineken Premium Light commercial directed byTodd Haynes and cinematographed byEdward Lachman.
In 2009 Knox was awarded a New Zealand Arts Foundation Arts Laureate Award.[6]
On 11 June 2009 Knox was admitted to Auckland Hospital suffering from a stroke.[7] The albumStroke: Songs for Chris Knox was released in New Zealand on 16 November 2009. It features 33 artists performing Knox's songs. The album is a way for Knox's fans to contribute to the costs of his rehabilitation. All artists contributed their time and talent without charge. Artists includeJay Reatard,David Kilgour,The Mint Chicks,Shayne Carter,Yo La Tengo,Bonnie 'Prince' Billy,Bill Callahan,The Mountain Goats,The Bats,The Chills,The Verlaines,Jeff Mangum, The Nothing (including Chris), Tall Dwarfs andLou Barlow.
TheGreenwich Village arts venue Le Poisson Rouge hosted a benefit concert for Knox on 6 May 2010.[8] Artists included Jeff Mangum and Yo La Tengo, who both participated in the 2009 benefit album for Knox.
Since his stroke, Knox has done a very small number of live appearances, for instance at the presentation ofStroke – Songs For Chris Knox in November 2009,[9] on 22 April 2012,[10] on 29 September 2012 in Auckland, with Rackets, as Knoxious[11] and in support ofNeutral Milk Hotel on 23 and 24 of November, 2013.[12]
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 1981 | Songs for Cleaning Guppies |
| — |
| 1988 | Seizure |
| — |
| 1991 | Croaker |
| — |
| 1993 | Polyfoto, Duck-Shaped Pain and Gum |
| — |
| 1995 | Songs of You And Me |
| — |
| 1997 | Yes!! |
| — |
| 2000 | Beat |
| — |
| 2002 | Inaccuracies & Omissions |
| — |
| 2005 | Chris Knox & The Nothing |
| — |
| 2008 | A Warm Gun |
| — |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 1993 | Meat |
| — |
| 1999 | Almost |
| — |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 2009 | Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox |
| — |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 1989 | "Not Given Lightly" /Guppiplus |
| — |
| 1990 | "Not Given Lightly" |
| — |
| 1990 | Song For 1990 |
| — |
| 1993 | "Under The Influence" |
| — |
| 1993 | Chris Knox/Tall Dwarfs split |
| — |
| 1993 | "Not Given Lightly" |
| — |
| 1995 | One Fell Swoop |
| — |
| 1996 | Songs From 1990 |
| — |
| 1996 | 15th Anniversary Etching |
| — |
| 1998 | "Not Given Lightly" |
| — |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
TheAotearoa Music Awards (previously known asNew Zealand Music Awards (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence inNew Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Chris Knox forDuck Shaped Pain and Gum | Album Cover of the Year | Nominated | [13] |
| 1994 | Chris Knox for3 EPs byTall Dwarfs | Album Cover of the Year | Nominated | |
| 1995 | Chris Knox forSongs of You and Me | Album Cover of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Chris Knox forAs Sweet As Sin (Bleeders) | Album Cover of the Year | Won | |
| 2012 | Chris Knox (as part of Toy Love) | New Zealand Music Hall of Fame | inductee | [14] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
