View source for Chris Knox

{{Short description|New Zealand musician, composer, illustrator, writer}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Chris Knox
| image            =
| image_size       =
| landscape        = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt              =
| caption          =
| birth_name       =
| native_name      =
| native_name_lang =
| alias            =
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|df=y|1952|09|02}}
| birth_place      = [[Invercargill]], New Zealand
| origin           =
| death_date       = <!-- {{death date and age|df=y|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) -->
| death_place      =
| genre            = [[Indie rock]], [[punk rock]]
| occupation       = Singer, songwriter, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer, reviewer, filmmaker, cartoonist, artist
| instrument       = Vocals, guitar
| years_active     = 1977–present
| label            = [[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]]
| associated_acts  = [[The Enemy (New Zealand band)|The Enemy]], [[Toy Love]], [[Tall Dwarfs]]
| website          = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}

'''Chris Knox''' (born 2 September 1952) is a New Zealand [[rock and roll]] musician, cartoonist and movie reviewer who emerged during the [[punk rock]] era with his bands [[The Enemy (New Zealand band)|The Enemy]] and [[Toy Love]]. After Toy Love disbanded in the early 1980s, he formed the group [[Tall Dwarfs]] with guitarist [[Alec Bathgate]]. The Tall Dwarfs were noted for their unpolished sound and intense live shows. His [[Multitrack recording|4-track]] machine was used to record most of the early [[Flying Nun Records|Flying Nun]] singles.

He has also released a number of solo, self-produced albums which feature his [[Casiotone]]. Knox has also released an album under the pseudonym 'Friend'.

==Career==
At the 2001 [[New Zealand Music Awards]] Knox's ballad "[[Not Given Lightly]]" (1990) was announced as New Zealand's thirteenth best song of all time, as voted by [[Australasian Performing Right Association|APRA]] members.<ref>Chris Knox, "Not Given Lightly", ''The Listener'' 194(3352), 7–13 August 2004.</ref> A love song written for "John and Liesha's mother"—his then-partner Barbara—this track never scaled commercial heights though it has belatedly generated some income for the songwriter through its use in TV advertising (notably for Vogel's bread).

Knox has played live in front of audiences all around New Zealand, winning a reputation for his sometimes confrontational style, and performed annually at Wellington's [[Bar Bodega]]. He has also extensively toured internationally. His swing through the US in 1995 included, among others, stops in Seattle to play the [[Crocodile Cafe]]. His minimalist, [[DIY]] sound played well to ears then-focused on [[grunge]], with its retro-punk stylings.

A long-time resident of [[Auckland]], Knox spent time as a newspaper columnist and film reviewer for Real Groove. In 1986-1987, he edited and published three issues of a New Zealand comics anthology ''Jesus on a Stick''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=From Earth's End: The Best of New Zealand Comics|last=Kinnaird|first=Adrian|publisher=Random House New Zealand|year=2013|isbn=9781869799953|location=Auckland, New Zealand|pages=55}}</ref> Starting in 1987, his satirical comic strip ''Max Media'' appeared in ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' every week until 2009. He has also been an occasional television film reviewer, hosted a [[Television New Zealand]] season of classic movies 'The Vault', and presented two seasons of arts series New Artland.

Knox launched his own label 'A Major Records' in 2006 to release the album ''Chris Knox and the Nothing''. This was the first album Knox recorded in a professional studio, rather than in his trademark DIY style, since his time with Toy Love.

Knox's "It's Love", from the 2000 album ''Beat'', has been used in "Share the Good", a [[Heineken Premium Light]] commercial directed by [[Todd Haynes]] and cinematographed by [[Edward Lachman]].

In 2009 Knox was awarded a New Zealand Arts Foundation Arts Laureate Award.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609980|title=Arts award brightens trying time|last=Herrick|first=Linda|date=2009-11-17|work=[[New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=2019-01-25|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref>

On 11 June 2009 Knox was admitted to Auckland Hospital suffering from a stroke.<ref name="radionz">{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/13/1245b5db98e0 |title= Radio New Zealand : News : Story Not Found|website=www.radionz.co.nz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222060714/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/13/1245b5db98e0 |archive-date=22 February 2012}}</ref> The album ''[[Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox]]'' was released in New Zealand on 16 November 2009. It features 33 artists performing Knox's songs. The album is a way for Knox's fans to contribute to the costs of his rehabilitation. All artists contributed their time and talent without charge. Artists include [[Jay Reatard]], [[David Kilgour (musician)|David Kilgour]], [[The Mint Chicks]], [[Shayne Carter]], [[Yo La Tengo]], [[Bonnie 'Prince' Billy]], [[Bill Callahan (musician)|Bill Callahan]], [[The Mountain Goats]], [[The Bats (New Zealand band)|The Bats]], [[The Chills]], [[The Verlaines]], [[Jeff Mangum]], The Nothing (including Chris), Tall Dwarfs and [[Lou Barlow]].

The [[Greenwich Village]] arts venue Le Poisson Rouge hosted a benefit concert for Knox on 6 May 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jeff Mangum Announces Rare Performance at Chris Knox Benefit|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/38295-jeff-mangum-announces-rare-performance-at-chris-knox-benefit/|work=Pitchfork|date=26 March 2010|access-date=29 March 2010}}</ref> Artists included Jeff Mangum and Yo La Tengo, who both participated in the 2009 benefit album for Knox.

Since his stroke, Knox has done a very small number of live appearances, for instance at the presentation of ''Stroke – Songs For Chris Knox'' in November 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last=Gilchrist |first=Shane |url=http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/music/83750/local-legends-rally-knox?page=0%2C0 |title=Local legends rally for Knox (page 1) &#124; Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=28 November 2009 |access-date=13 December 2012}}</ref> on 22 April 2012,<ref>{{cite web|author=Marika Hill |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/6786958/Chris-Knox-returns-to-the-stage |title=Rock Legend Chris Knox Returns to the Stage |date=21 April 2012 |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=13 December 2012}}</ref> on 29 September 2012 in Auckland, with Rackets, as Knoxious<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/5777/Rackets-Announce-Auckland-Show-With-Chris-Knox.utr |title=Rackets Announce Auckland Show With Chris Knox – Music News at Undertheradar |publisher=Undertheradar.co.nz |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> and in support of [[Neutral Milk Hotel]] on 23 and 24 of November, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lumiere.net.nz/index.php/two-little-birds-jeff-mangum-chris-knox-neutral-milk-hotel/|title=Two Little Birds: Jeff Mangum, Chris Knox and how broken nerves get better|date=2013-12-16|website=The Lumière Reader|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-13}}</ref>

==Discography==

===LPs===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! rowspan="2" | Details
! Peak chart<br />positions
|-
! <small>[[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]</small>
|-
| 1981
| ''Songs for Cleaning Guppies''
|
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: ME 1
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1988
| ''[[Seizure (album)|Seizure]]''
|
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN125
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1991
| ''Croaker''
|
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN165
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1993
| ''Polyfoto, Duck-Shaped Pain and Gum''
|
* "Polyfoto" (introduction), ''Duck-Shaped Pain'' (LP), "Gum" (bonus EP)
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN249
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1995
| ''Songs of You And Me''
|
* Double album – ''Hanging Out for Time to Cure Birth'' and ''A Stranger's Iron Shore''
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN313
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1997
| ''Yes!!''
|
* Released: 23 September 1997
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN400
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 2000
| ''Beat''
|
* Released: 22 August 2000
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN444
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 2002
| ''Inaccuracies & Omissions''
|
* Released as Friend
* Released: 31 March 2003
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN471 
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 2005
| ''Chris Knox & The Nothing''
|
* Released as Chris Knox & The Nothing
* Label: A Major Label
* sometimes called ''Play Loud for Best Results''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 2008
| ''A Warm Gun''
|
* Released as The Nothing
* Label: A Major Label
* Catalogue: AMAJ001
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| colspan="4"  style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Compilations===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! rowspan="2" | Details
! Peak chart<br />positions
|-
! <small>[[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]</small>
|-
| 1993
| ''Meat''
|
* Compilation of tracks from ''Seizure'' and ''Croaker''
* Label: Communion
* Catalogue: COMM 28-2
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1999
| ''Almost''
|
* Bonus CD with ''Yes!!''
* Label: Dark Beloved Cloud
* Catalogue: DBC 220
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| colspan="4"  style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Tribute albums===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! rowspan="2" | Details
! Peak chart<br />positions
|-
! <small>[[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]</small>
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox]]''
|
* Various artists
* Released: 15 November 2009
* Label: Merge Records
* Catalogue: AMAJ002
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| colspan="4"  style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Singles and EPs===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! rowspan="2" | Details
! Peak chart<br />positions
|-
! <small>[[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]</small>
|-
| 1989
| "[[Not Given Lightly]]" / ''Guppiplus''
|
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN127
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1990
| "Not Given Lightly"
|
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN152
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1990
| ''Song For 1990''
|
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN155
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1993
| "Under The Influence"
|
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN266
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1993
| Chris Knox/Tall Dwarfs split
|
* Label: Forced Exposure
* Catalogue: FE-031
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1993
| "Not Given Lightly"
|
* Label: Communion
* Catalogue: COMM 26-1
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1995
| ''One Fell Swoop''
|
* Label: FN316
* Catalogue: Flying Nun
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1996
| ''Songs From 1990''
|
* Label: Caroline
* Catalogue: CAR 7528
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1996
| 15th Anniversary Etching
|
* Label: Flying Nun
* Catalogue: FN372
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1998
| "Not Given Lightly"
|
* Label: Curveball
* Catalogue: Curve 3CD
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| colspan="4"  style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===See also===
{{mainlist|Toy Love}}
{{mainlist|Tall Dwarfs}}

*[[:Category:Albums produced by Chris Knox]]

==Awards==
===Aotearoa Music Awards===
The [[Aotearoa Music Awards]] (previously known as ''New Zealand Music Awards'' (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in [[music in New Zealand|New Zealand music]] and have been presented annually since 1965.

{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 1993 || Chris Knox for ''Duck Shaped Pain and Gum'' || Album Cover of the Year|| {{nom}} ||rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-history/|title=Aotearoa Music Awards|website=aotearoamusicawards.nz|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025201023/https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 1994 || Chris Knox for ''[[3 EPs]]'' by [[Tall Dwarfs]] || Album Cover of the Year|| {{nom}} 
|-
| 1995 || Chris Knox for ''Songs of You and Me'' || Album Cover of the Year|| {{nom}} 
|-
| 2006 || Chris Knox for ''As Sweet As Sin'' (Bleeders) || Album Cover of the Year|| {{won}} 
|-
| 2012 || Chris Knox (as part of Toy Love) || [[New Zealand Music Hall of Fame]] || {{yes2|inductee}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musichall.co.nz/home/inductees/|title=HOME INDUCTEES|website=www.musichall.co.nz|access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref>
|-
{{end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051129214112/http://www.listener.co.nz/default,2247.sm NZ Listener Interview with Chris Knox] ()
*[https://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/chris-knox Audio Culture Profile on Chris Knox including artwork and video collection]
*[https://www.myspace.com/chrisknoxandthenothing Chris Knox + 0] – official MySpace site
*[http://www.nzonscreen.com/collection/chrisknox NZOnScreen collection of Chris Knox's music videos]
*[http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/chris-knox/biography NZOnScreen biography]
*Interview with Knox by Roger Shepherd [http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/interviews/roger-shepherd-talks-to-chris-knox Part 1] and [http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/interviews/roger-shepherd-talks-to-chris-knox-part-2 Part 2]
*[https://tiaki.natlib.govt.nz/#details=ecatalogue.1006724 Chris Knox master tape archive] at the [[National Library of New Zealand|Alexander Turnbull Library]]

{{Tall Dwarfs}}
{{Arts Foundation Laureate Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knox, Chris}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:APRA Award winners]]
[[Category:New Zealand comics artists]]
[[Category:New Zealand comic strip cartoonists]]
[[Category:New Zealand male guitarists]]
[[Category:New Zealand male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:New Zealand singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand male artists]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand male artists]]
[[Category:Flying Nun Records artists]]
[[Category:Dunedin Sound musicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Invercargill]]