Born and raised in Milwaukee and Brookfield, Wisconsin, Chance attended Michigan State University, then the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee, dropped out and moved to New York City in 1976. He quickly became active in both the free jazz and no wave punk rock scenes. His first band in New York in 1976 was an instrumental quartet with violin, drums and bass called Flaming Youth. After studying for a short time under David Murray, Chance formed The Contortions, who fused jazz improvisation and funk rhythms, with live shows often ending in violence when Chance would confront audience members. The Contortions reached a wider audience with their contribution to the Brian Eno-compiled No New York collection of No Wave acts.
Chance’s stage and musical persona were finalized by romantic partner and agent Anya Phillips, who
died of cancer in 1981. Frictions between Chance and band members eventually led to a breakup of the Contortions in the fall of 1979. The Contortions released one album, Buy, in late 1979, and another album, Off White, under the pseudonym James White and the Blacks in 1980 (featuring Lydia Lunch under the pseudonym Stella Rico). Chance re-formed James White and the Blacks with a completely different lineup that appeared on the 1982 album Sax Maniac which was dedicated to Phillips. The group released one more album, Melt Yourself Down, a very limited Japanese release.
died of cancer in 1981. Frictions between Chance and band members eventually led to a breakup of the Contortions in the fall of 1979. The Contortions released one album, Buy, in late 1979, and another album, Off White, under the pseudonym James White and the Blacks in 1980 (featuring Lydia Lunch under the pseudonym Stella Rico). Chance re-formed James White and the Blacks with a completely different lineup that appeared on the 1982 album Sax Maniac which was dedicated to Phillips. The group released one more album, Melt Yourself Down, a very limited Japanese release.
The first version of the Blacks was set up by Joseph Bowie. Shortly after, Defunkt emerged out of the Blacks. In 1982 Chance toured with the re-formed James White and the Blacks with his brother David “Tremor” Siegfried and his band David and the Happenings from Carbondale, Illinois, playing Chicago, their hometown Milwaukee, and much of the Midwest. Chance briefly relocated to Paris, returning to New York City in 1983 to record the album James White Presents The Flaming Demonics. In 1987, he contributed saxophone to The False Prophets’ Implosion album.
In 2001, Chance reunited with original Contortions members Jody Harris (guitar), Pat Place (slide guitar) and Don Christensen (drums) for a few limited engagements. Original keyboard player Adele Bertei appeared briefly, but bass player George Scott III had died of an accidental drug overdose in 1980 and his slot was filled by Eric Sanko. The reunited group has played twice at the All Tomorrow’s Parties music festival, and, in 2008, at the PS1 Warm Up series. Chance has also recorded with Blondie since coming out of his semi-retirement. Tiger Style records released the 4-CD box set retrospective Irresistible Impulse to critical acclaim in 2003.
In addition to limited engagements with the original Contortions, Chance has occasionally performed and recorded with the Chicago band Watchers. In Europe he performs with James Chance & Les Contortions, French musicians who have been his backing band since 2006. They played a 15 show Europe tour in April and May 2007 and were back in Europe in October 2007. In May 2012 they released the CD Incorrigible! on the French label LADTK, comprising seven Chance originals and two covers, all of them brand new recordings.
In 2009 Chance made occasional appearances playing keyboards in NYC with a trio, with the material restricted to close readings of jazz standards. In June 2012, Chance played in Portland, OR with local group Ancient Heat as his backing band. They played a number of songs from various points in his career, including a new cover of Gil Scott-Heron’s “Home is Where The Hatred Is.”
In early 2013, James toured Europe extensively with Les Contortions, and also made his first ever South American appearance, in Sao Paolo, at Virada Cultural 2013. He continues to play engagements in NYC and elsewhere.
Official Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/JamesChanceOfficial
Official Twitter - https://twitter.com/JCContortions
Album Discography (for links to purchase please click here):
• The Contortions - Buy (ZE-Arista 1979)
• Theme from Grutzi Elvis (EP ZE 1979)
• James White & The Blacks - Off White (ZE-Buddah 1979)
• Second Chance (ZE-PVC 1980)
• The Contortions - Live aux Bains Douches (Fr. Invisible 1980)
• The Contortions - Live in New York (cassette tape ROIR 1981)
• James White & The Blacks - Sax Maniac (Animal 1982)
• James White Presents The Flaming Demonics (ZE-Island 1983)
• Melt Yourself Down (Selfish Records Japan 1986)
• The Contortions - Soul Exorcism (tape ROIR 1991)
• Lost Chance (ROIR 1995)
• Molotov Cocktail Lounge (Enemy Records / Zebralution 1996)
• White Cannibal (ROIR 2000)
• Christmas with Satan (single Tiger Style 2002)
• Irresistible Impulse (retrospective Tiger Style 2003)
• Sax Education (2004)
• James Chance & Terminal City - Get Down and Dirty! (Wind bell 4 2005)
• Pre-Teenage Jesus, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks (EP ZE 1978)
• James Chance & Terminal City - The Fix Is In (decade 01 / Interbang Records IBR005 2010)
• Twist Your Soul - The Definitive Collection 2xCD (History Records 2010)
• James Chance and Les Contortions - Incorrigible! (LADTK 2012)
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