Hi All – I’ve just been in with Chris & we played an early Mickey Mouse cartoon which Chris enjoyed. Then we tried to work out what music he liked – I scrolled through the ‘Imagine’ album but that got the thumbs down (!) and it was ‘Hey Bulldog’ (mono of course) that Chris glommed onto. He listened attentively through the entire track and bopped his head along to the beat. Then we went to ‘Across the Universe’ and it was kinda beautiful as Chris stared out over Auckland from his view on the 8th floor with Barbara beside him.
This afternoon I’ll try ‘Odessey & Oracle’ on him – Alec & Chris put me on to this rekkid & I’m in love with it! I’ve also been into an el-cheapo Cole Porter CD whose rolling tunes Chris may like.
Thanks again for all the comments that are coming in! I’m working my way through them with Chris, and John and Liesha read them regularly.
Chris seemed to really love old Roxy Music ,…or better yet ENO.
Try some of those tunes for his amusement,…and please tell him Barry sent the suggestions.
Here’s wishing him and his whole family the best of luck!
Love from the USA…Barry,Maria,and Adrian too!
Please pass on to Chris my best wishes and I hope he recovers from his “punch” asap. I was at a party at Chris Moody’s and Pauline’s last night and we all sent lots of good vibes. In tribute Chri played a track from The Nothings which I’d never heard before. Loved it. Kind of T Rex’ish? Lots of love xox
Hi,
My name is Graham Wilde. I’m originally from Manchester and therefore fan of The Fall, Joy Division, The Smiths etc. etc. Used to listen occasionally to Tony Michaelides and John Peel and therefore got to hear stuff by The Chills and other gear from Flying Nun.
Really sorry to hear of Chris’s illness, we in the UK know what a national treasure he was to music over there, a bit like Peely was to us Limeys.
I am looking at the updates every day. I’m praying for his recovery.
Take care and keep the blog going.
Really sorry to hear about Chris’ stroke. Good luck for a full recovery. Hope the food at Auckland Hospital has improved since I spent time in there for cancer surgery.
hi chris, you’re a great friend to many good friends of mine so i know how dearly loved you are. just want to add my love and very best wishes to you and your family. you’re all in my thoughts each day.
as this is my second comment – i missed the opportunity to write ‘ long time listener , first time blogger.I have a wonderful memory of seeing chris leaping amongst the crowd at the summer zoo gig ( and a rather distorted digi movie of it too) .Reminded me of the old windsor castle days and toylove belting out with Chris out on the tables amongst the punters.
It’s great to read the updates and we feel encouraged by the sense of optimism in his improving condition.Hope the medics meeting goes well and you can all be together at home again soon.
xxkerri
Greetings from Greece. I’m a old fan of Tall Dwarfs and Chris Knox since the mid-80s and just read about Chris. I’m glad his condition is improving and I’m sure he’ll return home very soon.
All the best.
RDS
“Odessey & Oracle” is one of those albums that sticks in your consciousness. I’m sure it’s both soothing and healing. Strangely enough, Toy Love “Squeeze” from the AK79 CD came on shuffle whilst negotiating Chicago traffic today. Blasted out, it made the tedium more enjoyable.
Hey,
Great to hear Chris is doing so well. Please send him my best wishes and let him know the whole NZ Beats community is sending him good vibes. I dedicated the last podcast to his well being and played a bunch of his songs from throughout his musical past; everything from The Enemy to The Nothing. Anyone who wants to have a listen can head over to http://www.nzbeats.com !
Strength, Chris, take strength.
from old Toy Love fan to whom you were very kind – William Englert of Wanganui
and
Ann-Marie Houng Lee
hiya chris..just got back to nz last night and will be spending the next week looking at your mug mixing the tele show…..ill pop in this week some time
love ant
Hi Chris and Barbara
I’ve just been sampling tracks from ‘A Warm Gun’ – great stuff, definitely getting myself a copy soon. Hope it has an autograph-able cover, Chris, and your challenge is to come up with something other than ‘epiphany’ to rhyme with my name this time!
We’re thinking of you both lots, particularly at this time, but also because we have been really slow (guilt, guilt) to let you know that we are hugely enjoying your gift preserves – which were a wonderful idea! We are eeking them out ‘cos they are precious. We think of you on all chutney occasions and more!
Hoping for a speedy recovery Chris – the brain is a mighty powerful beast (yours in particular from a look at your back catalogue!) and has some canny ways of healing itself. Hoping to provide encouragement, support, and soup and muffins along the way and will be in touch more directly soon.
Much love from Stephanie and Yid-Ee
Hi Chris and family
We are thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery.
Michelle and Al (that nice boy from the Warners)
xx
Melbourne
Hi!
I’m Peter from Tucson, Arizona. I spent 6 months in your beautiful country last year (did NOT want to leave!). I only had a vague notion of the music there, mostly some Verlaines and The Clean. Then I met someone who turned me on to Tall Dwarfs. From there I was hooked, and got all the Chris and Alec and Toy Love I could find (no easy task!)
Anyway, I was devastated to learn of your illness, and I wish you all the best for a full and speedy recovery!
I have a pirate radio show here in Tucson and feature you in the show in some guise or another virtually every week since the first program.
This afternoon I dedicated my show to you, played lots of stuff as well as covers, etc and just generally try to spread the word here in the desert.
Check out my blog entry on the front page of our website if you get a sec: http://freeradiochukshon.org/
Lots and lots of love,
Peter “Pierre Camembert” Mattsson
Hi!
I am the person that gave Chris the Sgt. Pepper Mono and Magical Mystery Tour Mono recordings he has…
Please tell him that I am thinking of him and wish him a speedy recovery…
You are a class act Chris!
All you need is L.
Paul K in Canada
I wanted to clue you in to a wonderful tribute to Chris that occurred last night in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
First, some background: I’ve been a DJ at the student/community radio station WMBR-FM for the past 25 years. I began to host the Breakfast of Champions program on June 28, 1984. I still remember the thrill of discovering the Tall Dwarfs in the spring of ’86. This week, in honor of my silver anniversary, I put together a pair of concerts with some of my favorite bands. Part One was last night and featured Sleepyhead, the Bevis Frond, and headliners the Condo Fucks (an alter ego of Yo La Tengo).
As the Condo Fucks were about to begin their final encore, Guitarist Ira Kaplan reminisced that the last time they’d played at this particular club (TT the Bear’s Place), they were touring with the Tall Dwarfs. Ira wished Chris Knox a speedy recovery and proceeded to invite the other bands up on stage. The group of them (8? 9 people?) then tore into “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die”, with Ira eventually going out into the audience, jumping up onto the bar and screaming the lyrics with a ferocity that left the sell-out crowd in a daze. It was an inspired way to close out what had already been a perfect evening of amazing music.
Whoops! Correct link to my show is http://wmbr.org/boc