James Chance

James Siegfried (April 20, 1953 – June 18, 2024; known professionally as James Chance, originally as James White) was an American saxophonist, keyboard player, and singer. A key figure in no wave, he played a combination of improvisational jazz-like music and punk in the New York music scene from the late 1970s on, in such bands as Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, James Chance and the Contortions, James White and the Blacks (as he appeared in the film Downtown 81), The Flaming Demonics, James Chance & the Sardonic Symphonics, James Chance and Terminal City, and James Chance and Les Contortions.

Background James Siegfried was born in Milwaukee in 1953, growing up there and in the suburb of Brookfield, Wisconsin. Siegfried attended Michigan State University, then the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee. He quickly became active in both the free jazz and no wave punk rock scenes. His first band in New York in 1976 was an instrumental quartet with violin, drums and bass called Flaming Youth. He started Teenage Jesus and the Jerks with Lydia Lunch the same year. In 1977, after studying for a short time under David Murray, he formed The Contortions, who fused jazz improvisation and funky rhythms, with live shows often ending in violent confrontations with audience members. He discussed issues of race and working with black musicians in a number of interviews.

In 1979, Chance collaborated with Arto Lindsay, Bradley Field, and George Scott on the soundtrack to Diego Cortez's film Grutzi Elvis. He gave his final performance in 2019.

Death Chance was in poor health in the final years of his life, and he died from a gastrointestinal disease at a nursing home in East Harlem on June 18, 2024, at the age of 71. Buy (ZE Records, 1979) (as Contortions) Live aux Bains Douches (Invisible, France 1980) Live in New York (ROIR cassette, 1981) Soul Exorcism (ROIR cassette, 1991) Lost Chance (ROIR 1995, recorded 1981) Molotov Cocktail Lounge (Enemy Records, 1996) Incorrigible! (LADTK, France 2012) (as James Chance et les Contortions) The Flesh Is Weak (True Groove, 2016) James White and the Blacks Off White (ZE Records, 1979) Sax Maniac (Animal, 1982) Melt Yourself Down (Selfish Records, Japan 1986) James Chance and Pill Factory Theme from Grutzi Elvis (EP) (ZE 1979) James White's Flaming Demonics James White's Flaming Demonics (ZE 1983) James Chance and Terminal City The Fix Is In (decade 01 / Interbang Records IBR005 2010) Solo James Chance – Chance of a Lifetime: Live in Chicago 2003 (RUNT 2005)

Appears On No New York (compilation, 1978) (with The Contortions) Teenage Jesus and the Jerks: Pre Teenage Jesus and the Jerks (EP ZE 1978) (prehistory of the band) Downtown 81 (soundtrack, 1981) Debbie Harry: Rockbird (album, 1986) Medium Cool (compilation, 1991), Chet Baker tribute with Alex Chilton, Adele Bertei, and Angel Torsen Somewhere in the City (1998) Blondie: No Exit (album, 1999) guest artist on alto saxophone Red Hot Chili Peppers Jukebox Track "Contort Yourself" (compilation, Mojo Magazine, 2004) TV Party (2005) Watchers: Rabble (guest artist) (album, 2006) Watchers: Vampire Driver (guest artist) (album, 2006) Acoustic Ladyland – Skinny Grin (album, 2006) Kirin J. Callinan – Bravado (album, 2017)