Hiya – I’ve just been reading your comments to Chris and he’s enjoying them. They’re a really good thing to read to Chris at the moment – so thanks and keep ’em coming guys! Everyone here also likes the positive recovery stories which help to keep our spirits high. We’ve had a good day up here so a buoyant mood permeates the Whanau room we have camped in.
I was talking with Chris about a Velvet’s book “Up-Tight” to which he gave the nod. I tried a bit of JL on him yesterday but got stared down for possibly a) the crap choice of playback medium (cellphone ….. sorry Chris) or b) banal song choice (“Norwegian Wood” …… ok ok), so I’m going to try a Miles Davis Live at the Isle of White 1970 DVD on him in the next wee while.
Chris has had a good healthy vego meal and is sleeping soundly, so we’re about to decamp.
Best to all
Roy
Lovely to hear Roy. Will be up again on Friday. See you soon Chris!
Try a Little Bill Hicks everyday !
All the Best
!!!
Dear Chris,
I hope that the public health system is treating you like the national (no, not “National”) treasure you are.
I hope your recovery is fast and not too painful. Almost everyone I have spoken to in the last 6 days has asked about you or given the latest news about you. Everyone has a story about how you and your music, or your cartoons or something else you’ve done, has changed them and the way they see the world. There is an awful lot of atheists out here praying (possibly to Max Media) for you.
And I would have understood if you’d just said “no’ to TalkTalk last Friday! This is extreme displacement activity!
Love to you and the family,
Judithxx
Best wishes Chris, for a rapid recovery. Peter.
Hi Chris & family,
I’ve been a fan for a few years now and send my love, good vibes, and best wishes for a speedy recovery! I’ve been a fan of Chris’s work and have found him hugely inspiring. The bit about “Norwegian Wood” made me smile. Heh.
Best,
Aimi in Vermont
woops, I ought to proofread comments before posting. I suppose I was just too excited to be able to write something to pass along good tidings from the other side of the world!
Chris – wishing you a speedy recovery and easy convalescence. Don’t worry, B flat.
Johnp., Dublin, Ireland.
Dear Chris, and all those who love you,
I hope your amazing character holds you through this time. You will certainly be thought of around this little country, and around the world as you journey with your healing.
You probably never really know what impact your art has on others. For me, it has been profound. From seeing you live at Massey University and taking the piss of your own song, and what the ad did to it, to seeing you heckle with Bing Turkby…to watching you perform ‘Beat’ live down at the old Bar Bodega (back in the good old days) and forget your lyrics…you will never know that I was sat right at the back singing along with you word for word for word even when you lost yours. that is how profound your lyrics and music are.
I even quoted you in my Masters thesis so there!
when my own Dad abandoned ship for a new life, it was your journey with your Dad that held me through – expressing things I had no words for.
I have danced and cried to your songs. I have laughed at your humour on TV and celebrated your connections with your family. And when my lover came to join me from Britain, there was one song of yours that I sat and sang to him: “My only Friend”. Profound! (its our third wedding anniversary today)
So rock on Chris,
journey well in your healing
you are much loved
Arohanui
Kirsti
Chris it’s John Darnielle and I must insist you make a speedy & full recovery. I am sending you all my love, what’s left of my strength & youth, and prayers from every known creed. But not from the band called Creed, because I think you would like them even less than you’d like the prayers.
Thinking of you all the time man! Know that all of us who love you are doing the same!!
your student always
jd
Hi Chris,
can i say that all of us here in Los Angeles are hoping for a full& swift recovery for you? i think i can, why not?
your music has meant a lot to me over the years, and i need more
take care,
joel
Hey Chris from New York! I’m delighted that there’s this blog so we can all send you bucketloads of love and affection from around the globe. I was talking to some guy on Facebook who said you kissed his belly once. Everyone is thinking about you and wishing you safe and speedy recovery. I hope to get out there one of these days, so I can give you a hug… lots of love, Claudia Gonson (Magnetic Fields)
Wonderful to hear about this good progress. Lots of love and prayers for you, Chris, from this corner of the world.
Best wishes for your recovery Chris– all the good vibes we can wrangle are heading your way!! All our love to your family too. Laura, Karl and Maja. xxx
all the very best of the best there matey, and we’re keeping the page warm for Max’s return.
AlanP
Dear Chris Knox,
It’s unimaginable to think of someone as irrepressible as yourself laid up in your current condition. After all your tireless output perhaps you just need a good long lie down. But please get up soon. The world is a better a place with the likes of you in it.
Thanks for being You.
Anonymously and respectfully
bRg
Kia ora chris
Kia kaha!
from a fan who saw you a few times playing in your cool boxer shorts….
Hey Chris
The family are all thinking of you…even my folks (in their late seventies now) who have heard so much about you over the years are concerned for you – and very keen to send love and best wishes. I must admit I am still shocked and a little distressed each time I think of your situation, knowing your family and friends however is my best tonic, as the support and aroha is there in buckets, a fair return for someone who has given so much to others (thanks to them for the news and emails). Look forward to catching up. All our Love, Paul, Jo, Sam Erin & Tom
Man, get better.
As somebody born and raised on your hemisphere… i know what it is to try and do interesting shit on the wrong side of the planet.
This fellow southern-hemisphere’er wishes you a speedy recovery so you can get back to spreading the word on the cool shit.
And making a racket.
-G.
Hi Chris
Hope the recovery is speedy.
My mum has a stroke when she was in her early 70’s and thanks to some very nifty innovations from my engineer father, she was able to live independently. Floor to ceiling poles at strategic points throughout the house enabled her to get in out out of her wheelchair without any help at all. The looked a bit odd but they were very practical. Not relying on others for physical activities made her recovery much faster.
However, I’m sure you won’t need poles at all and you will make a fast and complete recovery.
Thinking of you, Barb and the kids.
Annabel
Chris
Catherine Marks has asked me to say “You can not kill a weed”. I think its a compliment. Certainly better than any of mine if it is. Hope all is well there. So bloody cold here that I am wearing the gardening gloves as I type this.
Saw Deerhunter the other night. Good and mad but could have been LOUDER. Have decided to learn the bass as a result. Approached the young man who lives down the road who is in a “real” band about some pointers this morning and he blanked me completely and then ran off. I was surprised that he could move so quickly more than anything else. Anyway Deerhunter have a whole song half that sounds exactly the same as “Point That Thing”. I was going to say something but foresaw a terrible misunderstanding developing. Is stealing the new shareing.
Mountain Eater tonight so will do some “thinking of you” dancing and make a fool of myself. For a change as usual. Might have done that last night as well as I have something that feels like a terrible hang over but actually think is more related to my new head wound. Anyway, very different to yours as its on the outside and sort of lumpy and sticky and sore. Thinking is the same so anything could have happened. Who would know? Certainly not Catherine or the kids.
So Mountain Eater tonight. Might wear something black and stick my head in the speaker. Booked myself in to get the ears checked tomorrow. Hope to get drugs rather than plugs but suspect wishful thinking.
Talk soon I guess. Am enjoying this one way conversation. I know that like all good things it won’t last.
Roger
Dear Chris’s Whanau, my heart goes out to you. We are 6 months down the road from my husband’s stroke. Keep strong. It is a long hard road indeed. Look after Chris, but also make sure you look after yourselves.
Chris like so many others I was won over by your charm and warmth
the moment I met you, and long before that via the wealth of
amazing music you have given us over the years. Please count
me amongst your friends far and wide that are thinking of
you each hour of the day, and hoping our love for you transpires
into a swift recovery.
So sad to hear about Chris’s stroke. He and his music has been so important to me for so long. I only ever caught him live once in Sydney way back in Toy Love, but have been amazed at his influence on so much music that I love. Only 2 weeks ago I had a sudden inspiration to search out old Flying Nun stuff that I hadn’t heard for ages. I bought a copy of the soundtrack to Topless Women, and it’s impossible to hear ‘Not given lightly’ without crying now. Thankfully the news seems to be getting better, but however much he recovers I truly want him to be happy. I never thanked him for the happiness he gave to me through his music, and I just hope my gratitude can somehow make it to him.
Hi Chris and family&friends.
I think you’ve been the first Kiwi I’ve ever seen and you’ve been as well the reason for my first road trip ever. We had just turned 18 (must have been 1994) and the four of us mounted a very old and very small red car to drive from a small town near Munich to Berlin to see you play at some Lo-fi-festival.
You’ve been our hero when we were awkward teens growing up in the Bavarian Hinterland.
I still love your music and keep my fingers cross that you recover speedily!
All the best to you, your family and friends. Stay strong!
jule
Hi Chris, Barbara and family
You may remember Chris, that we did a gig at Western Springs College years ago and you improvised about my wheelchair. I knew you were secretly gunning to be part of the club
Seriously – well as serious as I can be – it was one of the great moments in my performance career.
All the best and my warmest thoughts and love are with you all.
Philip Patston
Hi Chris and Barbara and Family, Guess you know there are heaps of people out there like me who don’t really know you well but are wishing you all the very best. Have you seen the link Barbara to that neuroscientist who had a stroke. That is inspiring. if you want the link I can find it on youtube. I think it would be good if there was a time each day (NZ time) when we could know to tune in and send healing energy/prayers/light/love. What do you reckon, With love, Miriam
Chris and family, We (The Pukeora Piccasso’s and families) are all thinking of you and sending strong positive get well thoughts from Waipukurau. We loved the four days we spent with you as we all fell for your charm, coolness and of course that great big smile. Love Steve and co.
Rooting for ya … as our American friends would say … !
Lots of love and thoughts from Brendan and David, Tania, Mike and Emily at NZ On Air XXX
Yay Chris!
Now you can have wheelchair races…..
Chris
Where did that blog picture come from? It looks so like ….. you. Or is it me? I mean my perception of you. Because I know thats not me cause its you. Although I do not remember you being so orange but otherwise it is very good photo. Did I mention the wild mushrooms I found down by (twisted foot) Ropers place last time I was up? And why are they so friendly at that wine shop around the corner…..
Anyway, see you soon Chris as I will be up within the next couple of weeks and plan to visit. Sorry mate, you might have to speak up as I am as deaf as a door mouse (that was the way I heard it anyway).Despite trying not to am actually thinking of you lots. Bugger.
Roger
Get well soon
I’m a great fan of your group (Toy Love)
You did a great job of fronting the programme for the Levin and Districts Brass Band, when they played a concert in the hot air balloons one easter in Levin.
Clive Hudson
Hi Chris,
I guess 36 years isn’t too long a gap before getting in touch and often times I’ve thought I should make the effort.Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery.
Love. Maree Glass (O’Connell)
Hey Chris
Thinking of you, a lot. The music, the drawing, the writing, the anything you care to do: more, please.
Damn! Forgot to enter the Anti-Spam word – now I’ve got to start all over. The daily feed of Comments has ceased, so figured to add another of me own to keep the regular daily fix coming in. I think about you a number of times a day, and have read all comments; some of them more than once. It’s Great! I Love it! There sure is a Whole Heap of Love and Good Will out there for you Ol’ Pal – and why wouldn’t there be. I mean, you’ve been around so damned long, have put together such a vast array of weird stuff (some of it even listenable), that I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t receive something from the Prez his-self. Nah – wouldn’t surprise me at all…
Hey Chris, Barbara, Leisha and John,
So glad to hear how well Chris is progressing, the blog is a great idea. Thinking about you all lots sending much love.
Warmest regards
Barb C
Hi Chris and family,
I want to let you know about following in case you are interested.
Excellent book by Ram Dass called “Still Here”, written after he had a stroke. He was a pioneering spiritual seeker, ex Harvard Professor, who did some experimentation into LSD with Timothy Leary in the 1960’s, before meeting his Guru, Neem Karaoli Baba, in India. Author of “BE HERE NOW”
Also, inspiring video called “RAM DASS FIERCE GRACE” – offers an engrossing, poignant meditation on consciousness, healing and the unexpected grace of aging.
Ram Dass is still travelling, teaching and inspiring people to live fully now.
Many blessings for your recovery and future life,