I owned it before Born To Run...before Darkess On The Edge Of Town. You've probably never heard of it. Heck, chances are you're unfamiliar with the artist as well. Live at the Loft was my first Bill Chinnock album. That album is a part of a long chain of memories that came to an abrupt halt this past Friday when I discovered that Chinnock had taken his own life.
Bill Chinnock was a major player in the early Asbury Park scene. As Vini "Maddog" Lopez said, "Bill was the BOSS before Bruce." Before moving to Maine in his early 20's, he played in a number of bands with future E-Streeters Lopez, Gary Tallent, Danny Federici, and David Sancious. Like Springsteen, Chinnock was discovered by John Hammond, Sr. One listen to Chinnock's Badlands record makes it clear what Hammond heard.
What was shocking to me about Chinnock's death was not the surrounding details (a long battle with Lyme disease, the recent death of his mother), but the frightening speed at which all Chinnock-related memories flew through my stunned mind. It was a thread running through half a life, my life, compressed into a few seconds.
Yes, one minute I'm scanning for some concert information at a Southside Johnny message board and the announcement of Chinnock's death sends me to: Michelle Pease (who we called "Gracie"), the girl who loaned me her copy of Live at the Loft — my bedroom stereo, with its plastic turntable resting atop a single wooden speaker cabinet (the cabinet was a leftover from a failed 8th grade woodshop project) — hearing "Something For Everybody" on local FM station WTOS (short for "top of Sugarloaf") — playing Chinnock's records Bandlands and Dimestore Heros over and over again in my UMaine dorm room (208 Somerset Hall) — the show at UMaine's "Pit" with warmup acts Bebe Buell and Syl Sylvain & the Teardrops (I still have the poster from that one) — another concert at a rock club called the "Show Ring" in Brewer, Maine (ever been to a club with a bouncer in the bathroom?) — the show I passed up on at Raoul's in Portland (me and some buddies were on our way back from a one-day roadtrip/beer run to Bar Harbor; after twelve hours of driving, we were kind of worn out) — drooling over a copy of his Blues album at The Record Connection in Waterville, Maine (it turned out to be just the jacket, no actual vinyl to be had) — finding a Dimestore Heros CD on eBay long before it had generally been available in that format.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Nice tribute (and remembrance) Mark. I believe theres an iterview with Vini Lopez about Chinnock over at Backstreets.com. definitely a sad piece of news.
-Glen
2 - Paul Roy
I remember seeing Chinnock at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, while I was in high school (early 80's). What a great live performer he was. Chinnock was sort of a cult hero up in Maine around that time. I remember the song "Desperate Men" being a radio hit at the time. Nice tribute, and thanks for the memories.
3 - Mark Saleski
yea, didn't they refer to him as the "legend of the north country"?
ah waterville, my old stomping grounds. i went to high school not far from there.
4 - carl p. mayfield
Billy,
god bless your musical soul and thanks for sharing your amazing gift and friendship.
i never mentioned it to you, but hanging out with peter criss during his nashville days, he told me that members of Kiss would come in off the road and stand in line with other fans to see you at the stone pony. (they didn't have to stand in line of course) peter also said, 'the world should thank you for Bruce'. peter was not the only musician to suggest that your music influenced the future of rock and roll.
i want to thank you for the time you spent playin' live and makin' radio history with me in nashville. thank you too for always being onstage when i called with another benefit show. the people who benefited from your appearances are better off today because of your kindness. man, it was so exciting watching you take nashville and local rock fans by storm with your unforgettable live shows.
as for the albums you made for nashville's major labels they were light years ahead of their time. released now, you would be where you always belonged,on top.
say hello to the other Boss up there and tell Waylon it aint him,
carl p. mayfield
Sirius Radio
5 - Davy
I suffer from the same disease Bill had and when I heard we had lost him, I was shocked. He was always so positive about the battle against Lyme and so hopeful. Bill, we all understand how overwhelming the pain can become. As hard as it is to have lost you, I know you are free now. Thanks for all the encouragement you gave to me and so many. I pray that your death will not be in vain. Good-bye for now...
6 - Dale
The other day I had been talking to a friend about my days growing up in Maine and about one of the great musicians I occasionally worked for doing sound for - you guessed it, Bill. I did a search for him wondering about buying any new CDs he might have released since I last looked and was shocked to hear about his passing.
Right now I am listening to a tape of a live show I worked with Bill at Colby College back in 1981 or 1982 (starting in 1982 I went to work for Buffalo Chip Tea, a jazz rock band based in Portland).
After this tape, probably time to through on Dime Store Heroes (the one Bill released vs. the record label version).
One of the coolest memories I have of Bill was when we were playing at the Beachcomber and Bill was playing at a club off Route 1 that same night. I had borrowed a microphone from Bill's sound guy and was returning it that night after the gig. There was Bill and the guys in his band (his Bass player soon left to go on tour with Cyndi Lauper) hanging out in front of the motel talking and jamming.
I returned the mic, said my hellos to the guys in the band and Bill said, Hey Dale, you are working with BCT now right? I said sure, he then said I have a song I just wrote I think would be great for you guys to play. He then looked around and asked if anyone had a cassette player, the only one available was the one in my car, so Bill and I got in the car, put the windows down and all the guys in the band gathered around my car to listed to this new song that none of them had yet heard.
That was such a cool night. A friend of mine that was riding with me couldn't stop talking all the way home about how he was sitting in the seat Bill Chinnock had just been sitting in!
Bill, you will be missed.
7 - Dale
Correction on my last post. The tape I was listening to was a show at Colby College held on April 15th, 1983, Bill was opening for SouthSide Johnny and the Ashbury Jukes.
8 - Tom
I have some very fond memories of seeing Bill perform at the Stable Inn in Calais in the 70's.
Thanks for those memories Bill, and thanks for the tribute Mark.
9 - Richard
I was shocked to hear about Bill, he played at Jonathan Swifts, Cambridge, Ma & Headliners North, Nashua, NH in late 1970's & early 1980's
He was one of my favorties
One of former owners
10 - Betty
Seems impossible that a year has passed by since we lost Bill; I can't count how many times I saw him, all around Maine from the 70's up through 2005 at the Forks. Will always love his stories and music. And Yes, I was one of those at UMO in Somerset Hall who listened and followed.
11 - Mark Saleski
he really was a beloved figure in the state of maine betty, no doubt.
i even received an email from Harry King not long after posting this.
somerset hall eh? i graduated in 84.
12 - Teresa Jones
In my fight to keep my son alive, I came across an article on Bill Chinnock's death and his long battle with Lyme disease.
TEXAS does not reconize Chronic LYME Disease so we have to go out of STATE for treatement.
My son's pain is overwhelming, I can't even begin to imagine, I watch and can't do anything about it.
WE are rasing money for medical treatment, we have no choice, I can't loose my son and I need help. If anyone knows of anyone who has a foundation that can help me please send message through the myspace.
My God people it's antibotics what is TEXAS thinking. We treat people from other countries no questions asked, but doctors wont treat Lyme in TEXAS because they disagree... I just don't understand.
Mom on a mission to save her son
I live in Cedar Park Texas which is close to Austin.
13 - Michael Green
Lyme disease is a growing problem all over the world.
The problem of Lyme disease has no borders. It does not know any nationalities or races, and no political systems. As a powerful bacterial disease, Lyme disease simply spreads and if something is not done, the worldwide cases of Lyme disease will do nothing but continue to boost .
14 - Dan
I had lost touch with Bill's career over the years and just recently Googled him only to find out of his death. It brings back memories.
I was Director of Student Entertainment at Fairfield Univ. in Connecticut in 1980 . We were having an outdoor festival and I booked Bill to play. He was one of several bands to play that day but he was the headliner. As he sat in his bus waiting to go there grew increasing complaints from the community neighbors about the noise level. Before Bill was to go the Dean of the school said we had to shut down the concert.
In shock I pleaded to let Bill play just one song since he was waiting for most of the day and we had to pay him anyways. The Dean said yes.
Well, Bill came on the stage and completely rocked the house with one long 20 minute song. He just went from one song to the next without skipping a beat. He was incredible and the crowd went crazy. The Dean eventually got pissed off and shut it down. Just about pulling the plug at the sound board.
We had Bill come back to perform the next semester inside this time and again, his raw energy was incredible.
Throughout the whole experience at the outdoor festival Bill was gracious and understanding of the position I was in. I will always remember Bill and his wonderful music.
15 - Lindsey Dean
Some really nice comments about Bill. I remember this guy has having tremendous stage presence; either singing, cutting some lead on his Strat, or playing some brilliant harp. Particularly on the harp, I think he was as good as any; and I heard James Cotten and James Montgomery about that same time.
God Bless you Bill! We miss you!
16 - randy mayes
the wkda kdf shows on the riverboat " the music city queen " here in nashville are forever a part of my rock and roll memories
I remember it was so hot in there because of all the people and the fact that the windows would not open that the candles in the candlabras melted and they were not even lit ! thanks to billy and long live rock and roll oh thanks to carl p for exposing us all to billy chinoock
17 - Craig Heavey
We friends from Canaan would often hear Chinnock at the Red Barn. Another Man going down and Bills' Harmonica got me over my self and I began to Dance..One summer night at the Solon Hotel Chinnock came out to the parking lot and danced with us in a big circle while the band played May the Circle be un broken..How bout the Chez..."been thinking of the man on the line" I bought three cds at Bullmoose in waterville...Really beginning to enjoy "Promised land cd"...I think he is still alive....more sensitive and touching as the years go by....bye?
18 - Craig Heavey
I wonder how Terry is?
19 - Miles
William Chinnock, son of Bill actully goes to my school. He is in the same grade as me
20 - Cindy Allen
Bill put on one of the best concerts at I saw at UMO in the late 70s. Think of him often, I now live in NJ. Funny thing Miles, William Chinnock popped up on FB as a friend suggestion for me, that was a little eerie.
21 - Robert
Remember that show at The Pit, well, as well as I can remember most of the shows I saw way back then. Graduated in '83, spemnt my time in Corbett. Chinnock always was a tremendous live performer, which doesn't come across even on the few live clips you can see on Youtube, you just had to be there. .