About Chris

Chris was born in Canada a long time ago. His introduction to the World of Music came at the tender age of five when his father, a music professor by trade, undertook to teach young Christopher how to play the piano. The idea of having a son who, in time, would become a renowned concert pianist was a laudable thought. In reality however, having a parent tutoring you to play a musical instrument is about as good an idea as having them teach you to drive. Needless to say, progress was slow but to this day, if you ever require a one-fingered rendition of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ at your next function, Chris is your man!

Chris’ next progression up the musical ladder was being forced to play ‘Michael Rowed The Boat Ashore’ on recorder, in unison with his 1st grade classmates. Participation was mandatory as part of the primary school curriculum at the time. This has since become one of his darkest and most tormenting memories which Chris has repressed for many years. The therapy is proving beneficial though.

Dedicated efforts with the high school’s music program met with considerably more success and in short order, Chris became proficient on both the trumpet and euphonium (the thing which looks like a tuba that’s been shrunk in the wash). Regrettably, as enjoyable as being a mega-star of the school’s brass section proved to be, there was little demand in the real world for renditions of ‘When The Saints Come Marching In’ - no matter how uplifting the performance.

In an effort to boost his musical profile, and much to the chagrin of his parents and neighbours alike, Chris took up the drums which he practiced with great determination and vigour for a number of years. Following a move to Australia, his drumming then slowly progressed from playing in the garage with friends to actually performing with bands in the lower echelons of Perth’s music scene.

A chance meeting one day with some fellow musicians rehearsing in an adjacent room provided the catalyst for Chris’ swift migration to the bass guitar. Invited by said musicians to ‘have a go’ at playing a bass which was lying unattended in the corner of the room, Chris was rewarded with instant satisfaction at playing his first song. Coincidentally, that first song was U2’s ‘With or Without You’. The fact that this was a relatively easy song to play on bass (only four notes you see), and would be followed by months, nay years, of endless scales, blisters and bleeding fingers left Chris’ enthusiasm for the instrument undiminished.

It wasn’t long before Chris was playing bass with Perth’s top drawing bands performing both cover songs and original compositions. This would sound pretty impressive were it not for the fact that every other bugger wanted to play either guitar or drums, but that’s beside the point. Subsequent tours then ensued in support of noted Australian artists ranging from Baby Animals and Jimmy Barnes to international acts such as Bon Jovi.

The inevitable move to Sydney ensued whereby Chris, as a long-time member of Wildcatz, then began playing regularly around Sydney’s premier venues in addition to performances interstate and overseas. This was followed by a nomadic period in which Chris started playing in a freelance capacity with numerous groups, duos and jug-bands – anybody that’d have him - playing rock, dance and assorted Top Forty fodder until he joined with the popular funk outfit D-Lish.

After many years, Chris finds he has competed the circle of evolution and is now a member of Achtung Baby playing that first song, ‘With or Without You’, which he’d learnt all those years ago.