Chris D. (born Chris Desjardins; January 15, 1953) is an American punk poet, singer, writer,
rock critic
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on ...
, producer, and filmmaker. He is best known as the lead singer and founder of the early and long-running
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
/
death rock
Deathrock (or death rock) is a rock music
Rock is a Music genre, genre of popular music that originated in the United States as "rock and roll" in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of styles from the mid-1960s, prima ...
band
the Flesh Eaters
The Flesh Eaters are an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1977. They are the most prominent of the bands which have showcased the compositions and singing of their founder, punk poet Chris Desjardins ...
.
Music (as performer)
Flesh Eaters
Desjardins was a feature writer at ''
Slash
Slash may refer to:
* Slash (punctuation), the "/" character
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Slash (Marvel Comics)
* Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'')
Music
* Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band
* Nash th ...
'' magazine in 1977, when he formed the Flesh Eaters with several friends from the Los Angeles punk scene, including
Tito Larriva
Humberto "Tito" Larriva (born 1953) is a Mexican-born American songwriter, singer, musician, and actor. He came to prominence leading The Plugz, one of the earliest Los Angeles punk rock groups. Since the 1990s, his main musical outlet has been ...
John Doe
John Doe (male) and Jane Doe (female) are multiple-use placeholder names that are used in the British, Canadian, and American legal systems, when the true name of a person is unknown or is being intentionally concealed. In the context of law ...
and
DJ Bonebrake
Donald J. Bonebrake (born December 8, 1955) is an American musician who first emerged as the drummer of the punk rock band the Eyes (also featuring Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go's). He is best known as an original member of and drummer for punk b ...
Dave Alvin
David Albert Alvin (born November 11, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is a former and founding member of the roots rock band the Blasters. Alvin has recorded and performed as a solo artist since the late 1980s ...
Steve Berlin
Steven M. Berlin (born September 14, 1955, in Philadelphia) is an American saxophonist, keyboardist and record producer, best known as a member of the rock group Los Lobos and, before that, Top Jimmy & the Rhythm Pigs, the Blasters, and the Fl ...
from
The Blasters
The Blasters are an American rock music, rock band formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar), with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman (drummer), Bill Bateman. Their s ...
. The band recorded two further albums; ''Forever Came Today'' (1982) and ''A Hard Road to Follow'' (1983) with Don Kirk on guitar, Robyn Jameson on bass and Chris Wahl on drums, Chris D. on vocals and occasionally Jill Jordan on backing vocals.
The Flesh Eaters were a staple of the L.A. punk scene in the 1980s. The band played alongside seminal bands like The Misfits and
The Meat Puppets
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
. A number of original Flesh Eaters releases, like ''River of Fever'', were recorded through Shakeytown Music/BMI. Others were produced by Upsetter, Invasion/Bomp, Zippo/Demon or SST.
From 1989 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2000, Desjardins performed live with varying line-ups of The Flesh Eaters. During the first of these periods, three more albums came out on SST Records: '' Dragstrip Riot'' (1991), ''Sex Diary of Mr. Vampire'' (1992), and ''Crucified Lovers in Woman Hell'' (EP - 1993).Two additional albums, ''Ashes of Time'' (1999) and ''Miss Muerte'' (2004), were released.
In early 2006, to mark the 25th anniversary of ''A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die'', Desjardins performed three shows in California and one in London, with Doe, Bonebrake, Alvin, Bateman, and Berlin. This Flesh Eaters lineup had not performed together since 1981.They reunited briefly in 2015 for a five-show tour and again for an eight-show run in 2018. They issued a new album, ''
I Used to Be Pretty
''I Used to Be Pretty'' is a studio album by American band the Flesh Eaters. It was released on January 18, 2019, through Yep Roc Records.
Track listing
Personnel
* Chris D. - lead vocals
*Dave Alvin - guitar
*John Doe - bass
* Bill Bateman - ...
'', in 2019.
Divine Horsemen
Desjardins was the co-leader, with then-spouse
Julie Christensen
Julie Christensen (born January 21, 1956) is an American singer and songwriter. Noted for its versatility, Christensen's music has been praised by critics. As a solo artist, Christensen has released nine albums as of 2023.
Christensen, a foundi ...
, of the
Divine Horsemen
The Divine Horsemen are an American punk/roots band founded in 1983 by Chris D. (Desjardins), formerly of L.A. punk rock band the Flesh Eaters. More than three decades later, Divine Horsemen reformed. A new album called ''Hot Rise of an Ice Cream Phoenix'' was released in 2021.
Solo and other works
Desjardins issued a solo semi-acoustic LP on America's
Enigma Records
Enigma Records (also known as Enigma Entertainment Corporation) was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s.
History
Enigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/d ...
and the French
New Rose
"New Rose" is the first single by British punk rock band the Damned. It was released on 22 October 1976 on Stiff Records, and in 1977 in the Netherlands, Germany and France. It is notable as the first ever single released by a British punk band ...
label, titled ''Time Stands Still'' by Chris D./Divine Horseman in 1984. The album was later released in Australia by
Dog Meat Records
Dog Meat Records was a record label releasing music from bands in the Australian independent rock music scene in the 1990s. It released music from such artists as Hoss, The Philisteins, Powder Monkeys, Splatterheads and Blues Hangover, includ ...
of
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
. It features guest musicians John Doe,
Jeffrey Lee Pierce
Jeffrey Lee Pierce (June 27, 1958 – March 31, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and author. He was one of the founding members of the band The Gun Club, and released material as a solo artist.
Early life
Pierce was born ...
Dave Alvin
David Albert Alvin (born November 11, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is a former and founding member of the roots rock band the Blasters. Alvin has recorded and performed as a solo artist since the late 1980s ...
.
Desjardins issued a second solo album titled ''I Pass for Human'' as "Stone By Stone" following the end of his marriage to Julie Christensen.
He released a further solo album ''Love Cannot Die'' through the Sympathy for the Record Industry label in 1995.
Music (as producer and in other roles)
Chris D. worked as an A&R and in-house producer for
Slash
Slash may refer to:
* Slash (punctuation), the "/" character
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Slash (Marvel Comics)
* Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'')
Music
* Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band
* Nash th ...
and
Ruby Records
Ruby Records is an American record label, founded predominantly as a rock music label subsidiary of Slash Records. The original version of the label released seven albums in 1981 and 1982.
Ruby was distributed through the same independent distri ...
from 1980 until early 1984. He produced all the Flesh Eaters' albums and co-produced
The Gun Club
The Gun Club were an American post-punk band from Los Angeles that existed from 1979 to 1996. Created and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce, they were notable as one of the first bands in the punk rock subculture to i ...
's debut album, ''
Fire of Love
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products.
Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion reaction when the fuel ...
'', with
Tito Larriva
Humberto "Tito" Larriva (born 1953) is a Mexican-born American songwriter, singer, musician, and actor. He came to prominence leading The Plugz, one of the earliest Los Angeles punk rock groups. Since the 1990s, his main musical outlet has been ...
in 1982. Desjardins produced the debut albums of
The Dream Syndicate
The Dream Syndicate is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1981 to 1989, and reunited since 2012. The band is associated with neo-psychedelia and the Paisley Underground music movement; of the b ...
(''
The Days of Wine and Roses
''The Days of Wine and Roses'' is the second record and the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band the Dream Syndicate. It was released in October 1982 through Ruby Records, a division of Slash Records. Produced by Chris D. (o ...
''),
Green On Red
Green on Red was an American rock band, formed in the Tucson, Arizona punk scene, but based for most of its career in Los Angeles, California, where it was loosely associated with the Paisley Underground. Earlier records have the wide-screen p ...
Walk Among Us
''Walk Among Us'' is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band Misfits, released in March 1982 by Ruby Records and its parent label Slash Records. It was the first full-length album to be released by the band, although it was the th ...
'' with
Glenn Danzig
Glenn Allen Anzalone (born June 23, 1955), better known by his stage name Glenn Danzig, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, film director and record producer. He is the founder of the rock bands Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig. He ...
What We Do Is Secret (EP)
''What We Do Is Secret'' is a 12" EP compiling material recorded by the Germs. It was released posthumously by Slash Records in the United States in 1981 as SREP-108. It was later also released in 1982 in Italy on the Expanded Music label as EX- ...
'' with
Pat Smear
Georg Albert Ruthenberg (born August 5, 1959), better known by his stage name Pat Smear, is an American musician. He was the lead guitarist and co-founder of Los Angeles–based punk band The Germs and a rhythm guitarist for grunge band Nirvana ...
.
Upsetter Records
Upsetter Records was a
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, California-based
record label
"Big Three" music labels
A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...
founded in 1978 by Chris D. and his then-girlfriend, the animation and graphic artist Judith Bell.Morris, Chris (October 16, 1999) "Declarations of Independents: Flag waving" ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
Feral House
Feral House is an American book publisher founded in 1989 by Adam Parfrey and based in Port Townsend, Washington. Feral House is known for its taboo and provocative publications, but has had significant influence in both underground circles an ...
. . p. 269.
Named in tribute to
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, songwriter and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development ...
and the
dub reggae
Dub is a musical style that grew out of reggae in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is commonly considered a subgenre of reggae, though it has developed to extend beyond that style.Dub: soundscapes and shattered songs in Jamaican reggae, p.&nb ...
compilation
Compilation may refer to:
*In computer programming, the translation of source code into object code by a compiler
**Compilation error
**Compilation unit
*Product bundling, a marketing strategy used to sell multiple products, such as video game co ...
released
Released may refer to:
* Released (Jade Warrior album), ''Released'' (Jade Warrior album), 1971
* Released (Patti LaBelle album), ''Released'' (Patti LaBelle album), 1980
* ''Released: 1985–1995'', an album by Kronos Quartet, 1995
* ''Released'' ...
the Controllers
Controller may refer to:
Occupations
* Controller or financial controller, or in government accounting comptroller, a senior accounting position
* Controller, someone who performs agent handling in espionage
* Air traffic controller, a person w ...
,
Middle Class
The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. C ...
Negative Trend
Negative Trend was an American punk rock band active between 1977 and 1979. Before they disbanded, the band released one self-titled EP in September 1978.Charles Strong, Martin''The Great Indie Discography'': Negative Trend Canongate Books Ltd. ...
, and the Flesh Eaters themselves.
In parallel with their record label, Desjardins and Bell, in collaboration with
Exene Cervenka
Exene Cervenka (born Christene Lee Cervenka; February 1, 1956) is an American singer, artist, and poet. She is best known for her work as a singer in the California punk rock band X.
Music career
The 21-year-old Cervenka met 23-year-old m ...
, published the short-lived
punk zine
A punk zine (or punkzine) is a zine related to the punk subculture and hardcore punk music genre. Often primitively or casually produced, they feature punk literature, such as social commentary, punk poetry, news, gossip, music reviews and ar ...
Slash
Slash may refer to:
* Slash (punctuation), the "/" character
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Slash (Marvel Comics)
* Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'')
Music
* Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band
* Nash th ...
'', ''
Forced Exposure
''Forced Exposure'' was an independent music magazine founded by Jimmy Johnson and Katie The Kleening Lady (Goldman) (zine). It was published sporadically out of Boston from 1982 to 1993, edited by Jimmy Johnson and Byron Coley. It was printed o ...
'', ''Asian Trash Cinema'' and ''Cult Movies''.
He also wrote
liner notes
Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or cassette j-cards.
Origin
Liner notes are descended from the prog ...
and audio commentary tracks for
DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...
s of a variety of classic Japanese genre films, Italian cult and arthouse films.
Non-fiction
In 2005, Desjardins' tribute to fringe directors of Japanese cult, action and exploitation cinema of the period 1950 to 1980, was published by I.B. Tauris, entitled ''Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film''.
Desjardins spent almost 20 years researching and compiling an encyclopedia of Japanese
yakuza films
is a popular film genre in Japanese cinema which focuses on the lives and dealings of ''yakuza'', Japanese organized crime syndicates. In the silent film era, depictions of ''bakuto'' (precursors to modern yakuza) as sympathetic Robin Hood-l ...
. Titled ''Gun and Sword: An Encyclopedia of Japanese Gangster Films 1955-1980'', research for the book was partly funded by the Japan Foundation Artist Fellowship. This work was published by Poison Fang Press in April 2013.
Fiction
* ''No Evil Star''
* ''Dragon Wheel Splendor & Other Love Stories of Violence and Dread''
* ''Shallow Water''
* ''Mother's Worry''
All were published in 2012.
Anthologies
Illiterati Press published ''Double Snake Bourbon'', a 139-page collection of Desjardins' poetry, lyrics, and prose.
''A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die'', a 500-page anthology of Chris D.'s written work, was published at the end of 2009.
''Writing for Slash: 1977-1981 - The Know-It-All Years'', a collection of reviews, was issued in 2022.
Film
Desjardins has acted in a number of films, both independent and big budget. In 1987, he had a small role in the Orion film '' No Way Out'' alongside
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Kevin Costner, various accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Primeti ...
and
Gene Hackman
Eugene Allen Hackman (January 30, 1930 – ) was an American actor. Hackman made his credited film debut in the drama ''Lilith (film), Lilith'' (1964). He later won two Academy Awards, his first for Academy Award for Best Actor, Best Actor for ...
as an assassin. The same year, Desjardins appeared in '' Border Radio'', an independent film that was later released as part of the
Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection, Inc. (or simply Criterion) is an American home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films". A "sister company" of arthouse film distributo ...
, as a musician who struggles with the consequences of a robbery.
In 2002, Desjardins wrote and directed his first feature film, '' I Pass For Human'', which was produced and edited by Lynne Margulies. It was released in theaters in March 2004 and on DVD in October 2006. Desjardins had been attempting to produce the film since the 1980s under the original title "Hell's Belle".
He worked in the programming department of the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles from 1999, and was a programmer there from January 2006 until August 1, 2009.
He teaches film studies in California and also provided DVD commentary for several films.
Personal life
Desjardins was married to Julie Christensen. The pair divorced in 1988. Following the divorce, Desjardins sought help for drug and alcohol problems in a 12-step program.