Born on June 26: Chris Isaak, the romantic rocker with the velvet voice
Chris Isaak, born in 1956 in Stockton, California, led several lives before recording his first album "Silvertone" in 1985, on the eve of his 30th birthday.
This first effort was a masterstroke, with several songs that have become classics for the handsome man with the broken nose (he was a boxer before he became a singer), such as "Dancin'", the emblematic "Voodoo", "Tears" and "Gone Ridin'". From the start, Chris Isaak laid the foundations for an eclectic musical universe, a subtle alchemy of vintage 1950s rock'n'roll, slick rockabilly, timeless blues and romantic ballads. His teenage idols were Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and even Johnny Cash.
Apart from his musical career, the tender Adonis has more than once answered to the sirens of the 7th art by taking on some major roles. He made his discreet debut as a SWAT officer in "The Silence of the Lambs" in 1991, alongside Jodie Foster. Thereafter, he also answered the call of David Lynch ("Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me" in 1992), Bernardo Bertolucci ("Little Buddha" in 1993) and John Waters ("A Dirty Shame" in 2004). Chris Isaak has yet to win an Oscar, but he has played some delightful roles....
Christmas albums are an obligatory step in an American artist's career. Mariah Carey still grabs a lot of money every December with her syrupy "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Chris Isaak also succumbed to temptation in 2004 with "Christmas", 16 well-crafted but generally redundant versions of Christmas classics. Despite a rather funny "Dogs Love Christmas Too", he should not have tried again in 2022 with "Everybody Knows It's Christmas"....
For fans of romantic rock and velvet vocals, Chris Isaak is touring Europe in July and August.
(KM/Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)
Photo: Chris Isaak on the set of Generation 80 in Brussels in 1987 (© Etienne Tordoir)
Some upcoming concerts:
5 July: Theater Carré - Amsterdam (Netherlands)
16 July: Salle Pleyel - Paris (France)
18 July: Sous les Etoiles - Sion (Switzerland)
21 July: Théâtre de la Mer - Sète (France)
28 July: Palladium - Köln (Germany)
2 August: Chapiteau - Marciac (France)
6 August: Den Atelier - Luxembourg (Grand Duchy)
7 August: Lokerse Feesten - Lokeren (Belgium) with Richard Hawley
9 August: Stadium - Cardiff (UK) with Billy Joel
11 August: Palladium - London (United Kingdom)
12 August: Pavilion - Bournemouth (UK)
13 August: Symphony Hall - Birmingham (UK)
