Chris Constantinou

Chris Constantinou
Background information
Also known as Chris De Niro
Origin London, England
Genres Rock
Instruments Bass guitar, flute, Guitar, Harmonica
Labels Ebony, RCA, Sony, Howl, Damaged Goods, Sony ATV, Universal
Associated acts Drill, Adam Ant, Annabella Lwin, JackieOnAssid, The Wolfmen, Sinéad O'Connor, Wilko Johnson, Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Wayne Kramer, Wayne Kramer, Neville Staples,
Website chrisconstantinou.com

Chris Constantinou is an English musician. Famous for being the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for Adam Ant.

Childhood and early bands

He was born at Charing Cross Hospital in London and at the age of three he moved to Plymouth. He went to Plymouth College before a brief spell at Plymouth Art College. He performed with school and garage bands supporting 1970s artists such as King Crimson, Snafu, and Sassafras. His professional career started when he joined Diz Watson, the renowned exponent of New Orleans/Professor Longhair-style piano and barrel house blues, as bass player. In 1977, he formed the rock band Drill. Acting as co-writer and bassist, they first signed to Ebony Records before moving to RCA Records for a string of singles, several of which were produced by Chas Chandler.

Music career

1980s: Chris De Niro era

In 1982 Chris joined Adam Ant as bass guitarist[1] and backing vocalist from his UK top 5 single "Puss in Boots". Under the pseudonym Chris De Niro, he became an integral part of the mid-80s Ant line up, highlights including the top 20 single "Apollo 9" and the Vive Le Rock album, both of which were produced by Tony Visconti. Chris was part of every Adam Ant TV appearance, video and tour until 1986, which included Top of the Pops, Saturday Night Live, American Bandstand and, on stage, Radio City Music Hall and 1985's Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium.

1990s: JackieOnAssid era

Chris took centre stage to form post-punk outfit JackieOnAssid in 1996. As lead singer, songwriter and bassist, JackieOnAssid toured Europe three times, released two albums (2001's 4Play and 2002's Zip Me Up) and supported Iggy Pop. The videos for these singles were directed by award-winning British film maker Paul Hills. He later featured the band's Meditation Man single in his 2003 movie The Poet (Dougray Scott/Laura Elena Harring).

2000s: The Wolfmen era

In 2004 Chris began work on his project, The Wolfmen for which he handled lead vocals, co-writing, bass and various other instruments. It saw him reunite with another former Ant, songwriter/guitarist Marco Pirroni, to blend a sound described by Mojo magazine as "exuberant filth... Chris and Marco do growing old disgracefully with style.”

Constantinou played on The Slits' EP, Revenge of the Killer Slits in 2006 and co-wrote tracks "The Wolf Is Getting Married" (Single 2012) "I had a Baby" (Album track 2012) for Sinéad O'Connor's album, How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?, released in March 2012.

Other projects

Parting with Adam Ant in 1985, Chris spent time with SF Go, a Miles Copeland III-managed band he had formed with Danny Kustow (TRB, Glen Matlock).

He then joined forces with Bow Wow Wow's Annabella Lwin. Together they formed a band, fronted by Annabella with Chris as co-writer, bassist and backing vocalist. They built a substantial following hit singles like Do What You Do (Sony, 1994), a dancefloor hit thanks to remixes from Farley & Heller and Junior Vasquez. The project was produced by Steve Lironi (Fun Lovin' Criminals, Happy Mondays).

Discography

With Adam Ant

With Annabella Lwin

With The Slits

With The Wolfmen

With SSG

With Sinéad O'Connor

With Andreas Grega

With The Mutants

Interviews

References

  1. ↑ P.I.X. (3 January 2008). "The Wolfmen Interview". Retrieved 21 November 2009.

External links