Cris Kirkwood
Encyclopedia
Christopher "Cris" Kirkwood (born October 22, 1960) is an American
music
ian who is the bassist
and a founding member of the Meat Puppets
, an alternative
punk rock
band.
, Cris took up the banjo after seeing Deliverance
, moved on to guitar, and ultimately picked up the bass
when he started playing together in bands with his older brother Curt
. In 1980 the brothers and their friend Derrick Bostrom
, a drummer, decided to form a band, which they eventually named the Meat Puppets
. Besides playing bass Kirkwood's role in the band grew over the years to include singing and songwriting. Their certified gold album of 1994, Too High to Die
, featured two songs written and sung by Cris.
Unfortunately, Kirkwood's use of drugs began to spin out of control, and he developed a heroin addiction. Kirkwood retreated to his house in Tempe, Arizona, where he and his wife, Michelle Tardif, who was also an addict, lived in virtual isolation. Tardif eventually died of a drug overdose in August 1994. After the release of the album No Joke!
in 1995, Kirkwood's compulsive behavior during what was already a stressful time for the band led to the Meat Puppets entering a period of inactivity. Despite numerous interventions and rehab stays, Kirkwood remained addicted to narcotics for a number of years.
. A security guard got involved in the scuffle, which escalated when Kirkwood grabbed the guard's baton and began striking at him. The guard drew his handgun and shot Kirkwood in the back, resulting in his being hospitalized. In August 2004, Kirkwood pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. While incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution in Phoenix
, Kirkwood met Jerry Posin
, who had been a drummer for Steppenwolf
, and joined in Posin's exercise routine. The two eventually joined in jazz and other original music performances at the facility. Kirkwood's time in prison, which he said "was actually pretty tolerable", helped him kick his drug addiction cold turkey
. However, no recordings of Kirkwood's jail band performances are known to exist. He served out his time and was released on July 7, 2005.
"I haven't seen my brother since like 1998, but I'm talking to him a lot," Curt was quoted as saying. "He's [been] clean for more than two years and he's all raring to go. Cris' resurrection is no less than miraculous -- it's like a Lazarus-type thing. I was just like, 'If Cris is back, I know his frame of mind.' If he's upright and walking, it's hard to knock him down."
Cris appeared on the Meat Puppets' first post-reunion album Rise to Your Knees
(2007) and its follow-up Sewn Together
(2009).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
ian who is the bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and a founding member of the Meat Puppets
Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood , his brother Cris Kirkwood , and Derrick Bostrom . The Kirkwood brothers met Bostrom while attending Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix...
, an alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band.
Biography
Raised in Paradise Valley, ArizonaParadise Valley, Arizona
Paradise Valley is a small, affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2005 Census Bureau, the population of the town was 14,558. Despite the town's relatively small area and population compared to other municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise...
, Cris took up the banjo after seeing Deliverance
Deliverance
Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast members include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty in his film debut. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the...
, moved on to guitar, and ultimately picked up the bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
when he started playing together in bands with his older brother Curt
Curt Kirkwood
Curtis Matthew Kirkwood is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, but currently resides in Austin, Texas....
. In 1980 the brothers and their friend Derrick Bostrom
Derrick Bostrom
Derrick Bostrom is an American musician. He was the original drummer of the band Meat Puppets, which he founded together with the Kirkwood brothers, Cris and Curt, in 1980....
, a drummer, decided to form a band, which they eventually named the Meat Puppets
Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood , his brother Cris Kirkwood , and Derrick Bostrom . The Kirkwood brothers met Bostrom while attending Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix...
. Besides playing bass Kirkwood's role in the band grew over the years to include singing and songwriting. Their certified gold album of 1994, Too High to Die
Too High to Die
Too High to Die is the eighth album by the Meat Puppets, released on January 25, 1994. This album sold very well due to the success of its single "Backwater", which reached #2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The album itself also reached #1 on the Heatseekers chart, making it one of...
, featured two songs written and sung by Cris.
Unfortunately, Kirkwood's use of drugs began to spin out of control, and he developed a heroin addiction. Kirkwood retreated to his house in Tempe, Arizona, where he and his wife, Michelle Tardif, who was also an addict, lived in virtual isolation. Tardif eventually died of a drug overdose in August 1994. After the release of the album No Joke!
No Joke!
No Joke! is the ninth album by the Meat Puppets, released in 1995 , and their third album for London Records. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful release Too High to Die, and was the last Meat Puppets release with bassist Cris Kirkwood and drummer Derrick Bostrom .- Track listing...
in 1995, Kirkwood's compulsive behavior during what was already a stressful time for the band led to the Meat Puppets entering a period of inactivity. Despite numerous interventions and rehab stays, Kirkwood remained addicted to narcotics for a number of years.
Imprisonment
In December 2003, Kirkwood got into an argument with a woman over a parking space at a post office in downtown Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. A security guard got involved in the scuffle, which escalated when Kirkwood grabbed the guard's baton and began striking at him. The guard drew his handgun and shot Kirkwood in the back, resulting in his being hospitalized. In August 2004, Kirkwood pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. While incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution in Phoenix
Federal Correctional Institution, Phoenix
Federal Correctional Institution, Phoenix is a U.S. federal prison located in Phoenix, Arizona. Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, it is a medium-security facility housing male inmates and also has an adjacent satellite prison camp that houses minimum-security female offenders...
, Kirkwood met Jerry Posin
Jerry Posin
Jerry Miles Posin is an American drummer known for his contributions to Steppenwolf in the late 1970s. During this time he penned at least two songs heard at Steppenwolf concerts, "It's Alright" and "Sinsemilla", now available only on bootleg recordings. He later was the drummer for Blues Image...
, who had been a drummer for Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
, and joined in Posin's exercise routine. The two eventually joined in jazz and other original music performances at the facility. Kirkwood's time in prison, which he said "was actually pretty tolerable", helped him kick his drug addiction cold turkey
Cold turkey
"Cold turkey" describes the actions of a person who abruptly gives up a habit or addiction rather than gradually easing the process through gradual reduction or by using replacement medication....
. However, no recordings of Kirkwood's jail band performances are known to exist. He served out his time and was released on July 7, 2005.
Return to the Meat Puppets
In April 2006, Billboard announced that Cris and Curt Kirkwood would be recording again as the Meat Puppets. Curt said the brothers planned to release an epic album of "big Meat Puppets stuff", followed by a tour. The original drummer, Derrick Bostrom, was replaced by drummer Ted Marcus."I haven't seen my brother since like 1998, but I'm talking to him a lot," Curt was quoted as saying. "He's [been] clean for more than two years and he's all raring to go. Cris' resurrection is no less than miraculous -- it's like a Lazarus-type thing. I was just like, 'If Cris is back, I know his frame of mind.' If he's upright and walking, it's hard to knock him down."
Cris appeared on the Meat Puppets' first post-reunion album Rise to Your Knees
Rise to Your Knees
Rise to Your Knees is the Meat Puppets' eleventh full-length studio album, which was released on July 17, 2007. Not only was it their first studio release since 2000's Golden Lies, it was also their first to feature the original bassist Cris Kirkwood since his departure after the release of 1995's...
(2007) and its follow-up Sewn Together
Sewn Together
Sewn Together is the Meat Puppets' twelfth full-length studio album. It was released on May 12, 2009, both on CD and vinyl. It was the follow-up to their 2007 reunion album Rise to Your Knees.-Album information:...
(2009).