Bobby Conn
Encyclopedia
Bobby Conn is an American musician
based in Chicago
, Illinois
, known for his pop-rock. He often collaborates with other artists such as musicians Colby Starck
and Jim O'Rourke
, and film-maker Usama Alshaibi
. In 2003, Conn produced a session for UK punk band The Cribs
, whom he met when they were a support band on his UK tour. A part of that session was used on The Cribs' self-titled debut release in 2004.
, but spent much of his young life in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles
. He started a hardcore punk trio in high school called "The Broken Kockamamies" (The BK's, or BKS) who were noted for using eight-foot strobe lights on a darkened stage as their only prop. The strobes were affectionately called "the pillars of fear."
In 1989, Conn played guitar in the Chicago progressive rock trio Conducent. He went solo in 1994 after Conducent broke up. His first lineup consisted of ex-Conducent member DJ Le Deuce on turntables, as well as his future wife Julie Pomerleau (a.k.a. Monica BouBou) on electric violin. Conn went on to release five studio albums to date: Bobby Conn (1997), Rise Up! (1998), The Golden Age (2001), The Homeland (2004) and King For A Day (2007), along with a live album Live Classics (2005) and an E.P. called Llovessonngs (1999).
The following excerpt is from Bobby Conn's Southern Records
biography:
In more recent years, Conn has been more candid in interviews, and has admitted that all of these early fabrications for the press were merely a charade. Conn told Magnet magazine
that "I always thought it was part of the creative process. Creativity is lying. My own story doesn’t seem very interesting to me... You don’t want to be who you are onstage everyday. What’s the point in that?" Conn also said in another interview that the source of his onstage persona was "egomaniacal delusions that I've had since I was a kid - I tried to hyperbolize them to see how far it would go. To me when I came up with the whole idea of trying to promote myself as a potential Antichrist I figured that no-one is going to take this seriously or even acknowledge it because it's about the dumbest thing you could say."
While Conn would usually be considered more avant garde than a protest singer
, he said of his art that "All the records that I've done are a critique of what's going on in contemporary America", and he was an outspoken critic of the George W. Bush
administration. However, Conn has admitted he was not always at ease with the "protest singer" label for himself. He told Magnet Magazine
, "I’ve always done lots of social commentary that I believe in pretty strongly but I am very uncomfortable with the role of the artist as a meaningful social critic...my whole generation [is] a confused group of people with an ambivalent way of dealing with protest."
Regarding his 2007 album "King For a Day", Conn said "it's political, but just in a contemporary culture kind of way[...] Two of the songs are about Tom Cruise
, and I don't know if there's a more political statement than Tom Cruise. He kind of symbolizes a lot of what's going on in this country right now and how people are responding to it."
, Chicago
with his wife, violinist and session musician Julie Pomerleau, and their two children.
In 2001, Conn and Pomerleau became the first couple who were cast by Cynthia Plaster Caster
.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, known for his pop-rock. He often collaborates with other artists such as musicians Colby Starck
Colby Starck
Colby Starck is a Chicago-based drummer who plays with Bobby Conn and Head of Femur . He began playing with Lincoln, Nebraska bands Roosevelt Franklin and Pablo's Triangle in the '90s....
and Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
, and film-maker Usama Alshaibi
Usama Alshaibi
Usama Alshaibi is an Iraqi-American independent filmmaker and visual artist.Starting in early 2004, Alshaibi worked on a documentary on his homeland, and its current situation, titled Nice Bombs...
. In 2003, Conn produced a session for UK punk band The Cribs
The Cribs
The Cribs are an English three-piece indie rock band from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The band consists of twins Gary and Ryan Jarman and their younger brother Ross Jarman. They were subsequently joined by ex-The Smiths and Modest Mouse guitarist Johnny Marr who was made a formal member of the group...
, whom he met when they were a support band on his UK tour. A part of that session was used on The Cribs' self-titled debut release in 2004.
Biography
Conn was born as Jeffrey Stafford in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, but spent much of his young life in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles
St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles is a Chicago suburb in Kane and DuPage counties of Illinois, United States, and is roughly west of Chicago on Illinois Route 64. According to a 2004 census estimate, the city has a total population of 32,134. The official city slogan is Pride of the Fox, after the Fox River that runs...
. He started a hardcore punk trio in high school called "The Broken Kockamamies" (The BK's, or BKS) who were noted for using eight-foot strobe lights on a darkened stage as their only prop. The strobes were affectionately called "the pillars of fear."
In 1989, Conn played guitar in the Chicago progressive rock trio Conducent. He went solo in 1994 after Conducent broke up. His first lineup consisted of ex-Conducent member DJ Le Deuce on turntables, as well as his future wife Julie Pomerleau (a.k.a. Monica BouBou) on electric violin. Conn went on to release five studio albums to date: Bobby Conn (1997), Rise Up! (1998), The Golden Age (2001), The Homeland (2004) and King For A Day (2007), along with a live album Live Classics (2005) and an E.P. called Llovessonngs (1999).
Bobby Conn and the press
Bobby Conn is known for his elaborate and fabricated press releases, and for making outrageous statements in interviews.The following excerpt is from Bobby Conn's Southern Records
Southern Records
Southern Records is an independent record label closely associated with Crass Records, Corpus Christi Records and Dischord Records. It is based in London and previously had offices in Chicago , Le Havre and Berlin .Southern was originally a recording studio owned and operated by John Loder...
biography:
In more recent years, Conn has been more candid in interviews, and has admitted that all of these early fabrications for the press were merely a charade. Conn told Magnet magazine
Magnet (magazine)
Magnet is a music magazine which generally focuses on alternative, independent, or out-of-the-mainstream bands.-History:The magazine is published four times a year, and is independently owned and edited by Eric T. Miller. Music magazines with a similar focus in the 1990s era included Option,...
that "I always thought it was part of the creative process. Creativity is lying. My own story doesn’t seem very interesting to me... You don’t want to be who you are onstage everyday. What’s the point in that?" Conn also said in another interview that the source of his onstage persona was "egomaniacal delusions that I've had since I was a kid - I tried to hyperbolize them to see how far it would go. To me when I came up with the whole idea of trying to promote myself as a potential Antichrist I figured that no-one is going to take this seriously or even acknowledge it because it's about the dumbest thing you could say."
Protest
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
, he said of his art that "All the records that I've done are a critique of what's going on in contemporary America", and he was an outspoken critic of the George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
administration. However, Conn has admitted he was not always at ease with the "protest singer" label for himself. He told Magnet Magazine
Magnet (magazine)
Magnet is a music magazine which generally focuses on alternative, independent, or out-of-the-mainstream bands.-History:The magazine is published four times a year, and is independently owned and edited by Eric T. Miller. Music magazines with a similar focus in the 1990s era included Option,...
, "I’ve always done lots of social commentary that I believe in pretty strongly but I am very uncomfortable with the role of the artist as a meaningful social critic...my whole generation [is] a confused group of people with an ambivalent way of dealing with protest."
Regarding his 2007 album "King For a Day", Conn said "it's political, but just in a contemporary culture kind of way[...] Two of the songs are about Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
, and I don't know if there's a more political statement than Tom Cruise. He kind of symbolizes a lot of what's going on in this country right now and how people are responding to it."
Personal life
He currently lives in Humboldt ParkHumboldt Park, Chicago
Humboldt Park is one of 77 officially designated community areas located on the northwest side of Chicago, Illinois. The Humboldt Park neighborhood is widely known for its large Puerto Rican presence...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
with his wife, violinist and session musician Julie Pomerleau, and their two children.
In 2001, Conn and Pomerleau became the first couple who were cast by Cynthia Plaster Caster
Cynthia Plaster Caster
Cynthia Plaster Caster , whose real name is Cynthia Albritton, is an artist and self-described "recovering groupie" who creates plaster casts of famous persons' penises and breasts. She began her career in 1968 by casting penises of rock musicians. She later expanded her subjects to include...
.
Albums
- Bobby Conn (1997)
- Rise Up!Rise Up! (Bobby Conn album)Rise Up! is a 1998 concept album by Chicago-based rocker Bobby Conn released on Truckstop Records.-Track listing:# "Twilight Of The Empire" - 1:41# "Rise Up!" - 4:36# "Axis '67 " - 6:14# "United Nations" - 2:47# "California" - 3:30...
(1998) - LlovessonngsLlovessonngsLlovessonngs is an EP released by Chicago-based musician Bobby Conn, which was released in 1999 on Thrill Jockey-Track listing:All songs by Bobby Conn, except Without You by Pete Ham and Tom Evans, and Maria B by Caetano Veloso...
[E.P.] (1999) - The Golden AgeThe Golden Age (Bobby Conn album)The Golden Age is a 2001 album by Chicago-based rocker Bobby Conn, released by the Thrill Jockey label.Conn said that the album "is really about this depressing realization that I managed to extend the teenage years into my mid-30s—that’s happened to a lot of people. American society is structured...
(2001) - The HomelandThe HomelandThe Homeland is an album by Chicago-based rocker Bobby Conn and his backing band, the Glass Gypsies released on January 20th 2004 on Thrill Jockey records. It is noteworthy for taking a more openly political approach than any of Conn's previous albums, being particularly critical of George Bush...
- with The Glass Gypsies (2004) - Live Classics (2005)
- King For a Day (2007)
Singles
- "Who’s the Paul?" b/w "The Sportsman" 7" (1995)
- "Never Get Ahead" b/w "Me, Most of All" 7" (1996)
- "Winners" CD Single (2002)
- "On the Farm" b/w "Don't Worry" 7"(2007)
External links
- Southern Records website for Bobby Conn
- MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
archive of King For A Day reviews - Official Myspace Page
- SiouwWIRE Bobby Conn Interview
- With Splendid on 'Satire' and the release of "The Homeland
- An Interview with Mr Bobby Conn in Freq E-zine during to 2000 US presidential election
- Interview on Centerstage Chicago (December 2006)
- YouTube promo video for "Never Get Ahead"
- YouTube promo video for "We Come in Peace"
- YouTube promo video for "King For a Day"