CHESTERFIELD KINGS R.I.P.

[Rob Filardo]

i love being the bearer of this bad news. i was told from a very inside source that the Chesterfield Kings have (finally) called it a day. :)

[Joey Fuckup]

Unfortunate, but it doesn't surprise me, though...Wonder what the story is?

[kopper]

Bummer. They're one of those bands who everyone into "garage rock" knows about... and they either seem to be loved or hated. I always had a lot of respect for them, and thought their music was pretty cool and solidified the whole Rochester, NY garage scene. I have all of their early LPs and there's some great stuff on those, and I also really liked their "Mindbending Sounds" LP that came out on Sundazed several years back. I don't think I ever heard their last one on Wicked Cool (Little Steven's label)... probably should try and find that one. Got to see them live open for the New York Dolls several years back, too, and they stole the show. Great live band.

[Joey Fuckup]

Hey Rob, if you possibly come across any links announcing this, please post it here. It really sucks it's the end for these guys, so any news clearing up the fog would be great!

[Jeff of the Future]

I have a separate source than Rob's that told me this news a few months ago, but I was not sure if it was true.

[Adam Payne]

no!!!!!!!

[Jeremiah Richards]

herd about this. it sux. i haven't even got to see them yet and were from the same turf

[Wipeout!]

Got to see them open up fer the Cramps about five years ago and gotta say, I don't dig their records at all but they were one helluva live band...(as I recall the lead singer got a bit too wild fer the club's liking and got ejected from his own show near the end of their act...to this day I think the Cramps were pist that CK was tryin' to one-up them in the rock star department)

[Rob Filardo]

they were always great onstage - it's *offstage* where they always sucked.

[kopper]

I remember talking to one of them (drummer Mike Boise) after their show here w/ the NY Dolls & Supersuckers (who Supersucked that night, btw), and he was really nice and friendly. Never got a chance to talk to Andy or Greg, though. But I can say that they were always really great in the promo department when I had my radio show... sent me all their albums to play, even sending signed Christmas cards every year and stuff. Not many bands do that sorta thing anymore!

Rob Filardo said:

they were always great onstage - it's *offstage* where they always sucked.

[doornail]

That is horrible news!!!! The Chesterfield Kings were one of the most amazing garage rock bands ever.  I remember buying that first 45of the cover tune, I Ain't No Miracle Worker back in 81, and I never looked back.  The only thing was I was never able to see them live. 

[Factory Girl]

Sad news.  They were the first '80s revival band I got into way back when their first LP came out.  I was fortunate enough to see them in London in the mid-'80s and they were amazing.  I hung with them before and after that show and they were truly wonderful guys.  I owe my love of 60s garage/punk to them.  Time to go and spin "Hey Little Bird" xoxo

[MikeL]

I'm also very sorry to hear about this.  I really didn't get into them until I saw them in November 2006 during one of Little Steven's Rolling Rock tours.  I bought "Mindbending Sounds" shortly afterward from Wicked Cool Records, and later I bought "Psychedelic Sunrise," their first original release on Wicked Cool, which I really loved.  Later on I bought "Lets Go Get Stoned," which I also really liked, and again I have Little Steven to thank for that, because the band played several songs from that album on a live CD/DVD released by Wicked Cool, which made me want to get it.  I also saw them at Halloween a Go Go in 2007 at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in NYC, and that was another great show.

Yes, I've heard stories from a former drummer of the Cynics that the CKs can be real assholes, especially Gregg Prevost, but it doesn't change the fact that they made some great music.

I'll bet Gregg Kostelich is giggling about this, because he's been on a warpath with the CKs for quite some time.